Evening star., 1927-11-05

American AulOf1loULS0 i<so9'NA'teA'
provide the city With all the markers
necessary for this purpose.
The A. A. A. proposal, which also
included an offer of cooperation IN
the DEVELOPMENT of a marking plan,
followed closely the announcement Oh
Traffic Director William H. flarland 81
his willingness to make immediate
recommendation to the Commissioners
that the citys inhospitality i'll regard
to directional facilities be remedled at
once. In announcing its Willingness 10
hear the expense of the signs. the Of
ticials of the District OF Columbia Di'
vision of the A. y. A. believe tn&t
whatever funds might be available Tor
this purpose in the traffic office can De
applied usefuily elsewhere.
Plan Widely Approved.
The orderly and rapid development
Of the program since the need was
pointed out in The Star two Gays ago
has won it unanimous ana uhqualliieu
approval on all sides. To the lndorse-
ment of municipal ana Federai vi
ficials concerned Yesterday was added
the approval of trade and civic organ
izations. whose leaders voiced gratiticd'
ton that Washington's backWardness
brought to a decisive END.
The formal offer OF the local A. A. A.
division to bear the cost of the signs
and TO devote its full facilities 10
assisting traffic authorities in placing
them was made at the regular montn'
" meeting of the board OF governors
Yesterday. Explaining the A. A. A.
nroposal. Charles p. Clark, assistant
general manager, declared two types
of signs, artistically designed, are
ready, and that only a system OF
nlacement remains to be worked out.
Shield. Shaped Markers.
Markers which will designate
through highways will follow the Unit
ed States highway marker design,
shaped as a shield. and IL inches deep
and II inches broad. the same dimen-
sions as those used in other cities. The
signs indicating turns, also shield
shaped and bearing the legend RI
for right turns and IL" for left, are
s inches deep by 8 inches wide. The
larger signs. of course. yill carry the
number Of the through highway, such
as so"
Those directing the traveller TO
points within the city will be of varied
tering necessary. For instance, sign
that points only to the Lincoln Memo
rial" will be different in size and shape
from one that designates the route
10 a group Of public buildings.
In coloring, the local signs will fol-
low the new street marking. com
bina tion-a gold lettering against
black background.
The plan for the placing Of these
markers contemplates facilitating the
movement Of both tourist and local
traffic by keeping them separated in
so far as possible For instance, In
selecting the streets that will become
part Of the through highways, an ef-
fort will be made to route this type
Of traffic around congested centers
At the same time. direct arteries will
not he reserved altogether for local
traffic to the Inconvenience and con-
fusion Of the stranger.
Need Held Obvious
Recognition of the different objec-
tiyes of the sightseer and the local
motOrist will govern the development
of the local sign system, as well.
In proffering the assistance of the
A. A. A., Mr.. Clark declared his or
ganization desired to help in the solu-
ton Of the problem because OF its po-
sition in the motoring field. Rep
resenting both the local motorist,
through the local division, and the
visitor through affiliation with the
A. A. A., we feel that we are doing
no more than our duty in Offering to
bear the expense Of adequately mark
ing fha National Capital, both fot the
mOtorist who wishes to stop here and
the one who plans to go through.
THE need is quite obvious. Offer
ing, the traveller unparalleled oppor-
tunity TO see points Of historic, parti-
otic and cultural interest. the National
Capital has been far behind other cit
les in respect to directional facilities.
The result, as pointed out, has been
confusion, inconvenience, enbarrass-
ment and delay both for the visitor
and the local driver.
But Washington very tardiness in
recognizing and solving it's problem
may result in a more effective soiu-
ton than would have been possible
had the situation been considered pre-
viously. The best thought of the en-.
tire city is available now. and from
1t undoubtedly will arise a system OF
marking that will be credit TO Wash
jngton and a blessing to the stranger
who comes here TO see the Federal
city.
Signs to BE Artistic.
I'm addition to it's utility, the solu-
ton will have harmony in that the
signs will be artistic in design and
construction. An aluminium alloy, Of
sufficient lightness that the signs may
he suspended from lamp posts, will be
the material used. These signs can
be guaranteed to wear well.
The serious need for ending Wash
ington's inhospitality TO its guests IN
this respect Is clearly recognized by
leaders in trade and civic organlza-
tions. and they are enthusiasticalIy IN
ia vor Of the steps that have been
-allen TO remedy the situation, their
comments show.
Washington has been far behind the
times in abishjng II system 20 guide
us guests to points OF interest as well
as TO streets connecting with main
highways al the city borders, in the
opinion Of f.. &. Graham, president Of
the Board Of Trade. The mecca for
50 many tourists. more go than any
ether city the National Capital has
been inhospitatle to the :housa nds
who have come here to visit various
points of interest" said Mr.. GrahJm
Where other cities have taken every
step to assure the stranger seeing
everything Of interest. we have been
guilty Of real negligence.
Nowhere else in a city Of anything
ike comparable size is the visitor left
to founder help!essly in his quest for
places which attract him The pro.
pC3al 10 Put Washington upon a bet
Ter plane in this respect decidedly is
worth while and should be carried out
without delay"
Star Service Praised.
Rudolph Jose, president OF the City
/ Club ana a veteran Of many years in
automobile circles declares ."rhe Stnr