Evening star., 1928-05-20
KANSAS PUTSL|M|T
ON HIGHWAY SIGNS
All but Official Markers to Be
Semoped From Rights OF
Way Under Court Rule.
-s., ,>... - 4V,s Star

Special Dispatch to The star
TOPEKA KanS May lo.-The mo-
to-ist who travels in Kansas is not
going to be bothered With road signs
excent those that tell him how TO so
and where he is going, This was made
certain earlv this month when the
State Slnreme Court upheld the valid
ity of the Law authorizing the Highway
Commission to order the removal OF all
but official road signs from within the
right Of way of the State highway SyS-
tenn
One Of the constant troubles Of the
rnotorist Is to see a sign ahead and
slow I'D to obtain directions and then
discover that the sign is advertising
somebody's pills or . remedy that may
be good for the pip. Beginning in
January Of this year the Highway Com
mission directed all the county engi-
neers 70 give notice to the owners OF
all SIGNS within the rights of way of
the State hirs'wavS TO remove them.
July has BIN fixed as the approXi-
mate date when the engineers will
begin cutting down all the signs which
have not been removed.
Warming Signs.
This will leave the entire right of
way clear Of every sign except those
designating the highway. warning of
curves, hills. construction work, rail-
roads and other dangerous points, and
those Of directional nature and giving
T7ileaCeS. Most of the highways have
e right Of way of at least so feet and
tne nictn roads have right of way Of
66 feet So that there will be nothing
except Official signs within the crdi-
nary line Of vision Of the motorist.
BillboardS and signs may be erected
outside the right of way, but the COM
mission has ruled that none of these
may be placed within 1000 feet of
any curve in the highway or railroad
crossing. The law itself prohibits the
signs which might obstruct the view
20 be erected within $50 feet of any
corner. The commission is also given
authority to direct where signs may be
placed at dangerous points along the
highway.
Sign Firm Loses Suit.
The suit which determined the power
OF the commission TO remove the signs
wRs brought by the National Sign Co
against the county commissioners OF
Douglas County. The company sold a
sign to bank. the sign to be erected
on the fence posts along the roadway
II projected over the highway right of
way only to 10 inches.
But even this was declared to be too
much.
@Tn this day of the rapidly moving
automobile the traveller is entitled TO
an unoi1sfructed view CT the highway
said the opinion Of the Supreme Court
seThe signs under consideration, or other
similar objects. may interfere with prop
er view and are included within the
statement. A distinction or ciiscrimina-
ton cannot BE- made between a sign
or obstruction which extends 8 or
8 Inches into the highway and one
which may extend 1S or so inches into
the highway Either may cbstruct the
view OF TIE motorist especially on
tllrnl from an object which IN the prop
er handing Of his Car he should be
able TO see"
A coincidence in connection with
the decision is that the opinion was
written by r. J. Hopkins, associate
justice. the only member Of the court
who has not and does not now own
and operate a motor car of his own
But he is a frequent guest Of motorists
and understood some Of the troubles
drivers encounter n their trips Ia this
State. The decision Of the court was
unanimous