Evening star., 1928-06-16
D. c. GETS HIGHWAY
SIGNS At ONE CENT
A. A. A. Offer Accepted After
Protest on Advertising.
Insignia Eliminated.
BY G. ADAMS HOWARD.

Alter their offer to give to the city
d.rectional markers free of charge had
been refused, because the District COM
mssioners held it would be unfair to
other motor associations on account Of
the advertising contained, the Amer
ican Automobile Association yesterday
was awarded the contract to erect the
signs by submitting the lowest bid
This bid was s348 for 348 markers. or
/ cent per sign. compared with the
next lowest bid of s756 asked for by a
manufacturing concern Erection OF the
signs. which viii be started within the
next two or three weeks. is the out
growth Of campaign waged by The
Star for the proper marking Of high
ways to direct tourists in and out of
the city.
The American Automobile Association
at the outset offered the city these signs
free Of cost. They were to conform to
the requirements of the Fine Arts Com
mission and the only recompenSe the
autp club asked was to be allowed to
have the emblem of the organization
appended to the marker. After several
conferences the motoring body believed
the offer had been accepted.
Protest Filed.
The association had a great number
Of the signs manufactured. During that
time another motoring association pro-
tested to the Commissioners against any
advertising on the signs.
II was then aScertained that the
ice no o1-sa 4nA MAJ
mission TO any one to construct the
signs. For long time the matter nung
fire. without any action being taken
Finally it was found that the Dis
trict government had $1,000 available
for the procuring of such signs. The
Commissioners authorized William H.
Harland. director of traffic. TO have
proper specifications drawn up and offer
bids. This was done. The signs speci-
fed correspond TO the United States
standard signs. and are of gilt letter
ing on black background. Bids were
made and yesterday the lowest bid was
accepted-that of the American Auto
mobile Association. The markers will
be placed throughout the city on main
arteries which connect with the princi-
pal highways entering the District from
the adjoining States of Maryland and
Virginia. They include the standard
shield bearing the numerical designa-
ton of the United States Highway Sys-
TEN of Maryland
DirectiOnal Signs.
The signs will route traffic through
the city avoiding as much as possible
the congeSted areas. In addition. there
will be erected at vantage points by
the local traffic office. directional signs
hn IN
BUILDINGS of the National Capital.
In submitting the bid OF the A. A, A,
for the signs, which will be turned
over to the District government at the
cost of $34S. r. F.. Behler. manager OF
the District division of the national
motoring organization, addressed the
following explanatory letter TO the Com
misSionerS:
We feel that in submitting the In
closed bid for route directional signs
in the District of Columbia, the amount
Of our bid requires an explanation.
For number of years the District
of Columbia division of the American
Automobile Association has been vital
ly interested in the proper signposting
and marking of the District of Column
bia. 1t Is with these interests at heart
that We have decided To bid on the In
closed proposals at the rate of | cent
per sign. And we feel that In so do
Ing we shall have rendered 10 the Dis
trict OF Columbia q civil service wholly
IN keeping with the character OF our
organization"
That the immediate erection OF direc-
tional signs throughout Washington Is
a vitally necessary step was the opin-
ion voiced by Stanley H. Horner, chair
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