Evening star., 1927-11-04
IHARLAND APPROVES
!: ROUTE SIGNS HERE
Traffic Director to Ask City
for Markers to Aid Auto
I Tourists.
By WILLIAM CLLMAN.

By WILLIAM ULLMAN.
Visitors to the Capital next year wi
not be forced to grope their wa
a'rom one point of interest to another
nor be obliged to stop frequently t
esk directions as to streets that cor
meet with main highways leading ou
of the city. Agreeing that there is
definite need for directional signs {
guide tourists. as pointed out in TIL
Star yesterday. Traffic Director Wi
liam FL. Harland has declared his viii
ingness 10 make immediate recon-
inendation to the Commissioners tina
such markers be placed Throughout
The city.
Already Mr.. Iarland has begun {
survey 10 determine .he number o
Signs necessary and their approximat'
cost in relation to funds now available
Another significant indication tina
the situation rejecting upon the dis
trict's hospitality is about to end /:
Found in the animation that the Com
uliSSioners " | look with favor upol
such a recommendation from MIR
Harland The question Of affordins
every assistance to Capital visitors il
known 20 be viewed by the Commis
sioners as entirely noncontroversial.
Backed BY Arts Body.
NO objection to the erection oi
necessary signs for the guidance oi
strangers will be raised by the Fine
Arts Commission. according to Charles
eioore, chairman Of the commission
who declares that the obvious utility
pf such markers outweighs any other
consideration.
j Thus. in place Of the confusion,
Ehich now prevails when the visiting
motorist attempts to find his way to
public buildings and monuments, or
out Of the city. there will be set UP
Under a well-developed plan. a series
OF directional signs.
Mr.. Harland has had such plan
under consideration, it was learned
but has been unable to give 1t specific
formulation because Of the press OF
rector Of traffic has recognized the
failure of Washington to assist its
Visitors. In addition to the desirable.
ity Of adopting a proposal Of this kind
on the ground that 1t is gesture OF
courtesy to motorists from other
cities, he views it as holding possibili-
ties for speeding up traffic and pre-.
venting situations which may arise
through tie-ups caused when great
numbers Of out-of.town drivers are In
the city.
/ Approves Sign Plan.
There is no question that Washing.
ion Ii lacking in this one respect and
Loes not give helping hand to the
fnotorist who comes here unfamiliar
twi& Gf~ n$c ND <>f O.
every spot Of national interest he can
visit during his stay" said Mr.. Har.
land. II have considered the prac.
fica bility Of remedying this situation
at the earliest possible moment. and
believe that proper signs should be
erected to guide strangers through the
Capital, or show them the way to the
public buildings and other places
which they seek.
THE chief consideration In formu.
letins q sign plan should be to make
taeir position and design uniform.
They must be placed in the same place
at every intersection to make them
intelligible and helpful to those whom
they are designed to aid. Their de-
sign also should be uniform to give
them utility.
II believe that the signs should be
signs and those which are Of local
EirectionaI character. It must not be
overlooked that the first difiiculty the
visitor experiences La to find his way
into the heart Of the city, and IL he
Is continuing his journey Immediately.
Ind his way out with the least diff.
Guilty. Continuation Of highway mum.
bering signs at intervals throughout
the District will remedy this phase
OF the present unsatisfactory situation.
I Numerical Designations.
Z 'In this connection, adoption Of the
numerical designations of the United
states system Of highways would
seem to be the proper course. Route
No. l. for example, 10 a main route
southwark. This might be continued
Through Washington for the assistance
ef the southbound tourist. Route No.
s<o. the connecting link with Route
no. 20, an important transcontinental
highway, also will assist the visitor
coming from Baltimore or going to
Frederick. Md. The standard shield
adopted for the United States system
should be used for the continuation OF
the highway markers.
Z AS for the local directional signs
Il will be desirable to have these uni.
form in size and shape, with legibIe
lettering and placed SO that the motor.
1s viii experience their helpfulness
Both types Of sign should be of a per.
snanent and durable character"
Mr.. Moore holds the view that Sc
long as the need for directional signs
exists in Washington, all other con.
Siderations are Of minor importance.
Z There seems TO be no objection to
th1 placing Of these signs" he said
THE need Is clear, for Washington Is
seriously lacking in such assistance
1or the visitor. know that l have
5.ad the need for directions Of this
kor: in other cities and, therefore, can
well appreciate the effect Of their
absence here. The need, THEREFORE
seems to be 30 well tablished that
p -ler considerations must OF necessity
z subserved to the main objective Of
helping the stranger here.
Z In planning erection Of these signs
4he principal aim must be uniformity.
II this is achieved. they will not only
De free from any characteristics that
fntght mar the appearance OF the
?. cts OF the Capital, but they will
blend effectively with their surround.
4ngs. They should be permanent and
devoid Of establishment which would
tend to make them conspicuous.
: Held Urgent Need.
81 can readily see the advisability
OF posting sign, for example, al
washington Circle. directing motorists
90 the Lincoln Memorial, or at Six
teenth street and Park road or Har.
ward street. to point the direction OF
Rock Greek Parkway. or in the
vicinity OF the Congressional Library
and other public buildings which are
atot readily accessible to a stranger
At the same time. signs should be
.splaced to show the road to Balti.
more. TO Frederick or to Fredericks.
burg. thus giving the person who
motors through Washington tn,
opportunity TO find his way In with
ease and to leave without confusion