Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-03-31
VENDORS and
SIGNS BANNED
ON HIGHWAYS
State Department Will
Start Campaign For
Right-o Way Clean
Up in the Valley

A thorough cleanup of all signs
upon the state highway right-of-
ways in the Valley and also all ven
doris and others who are using the
highway right-of-way and issuance
Of warnings to persons throwing
debris or trash upon the right-of-
way has been inaugurated by G. A.
Bradshaw of Corpus Christi, SUI
perintendent of maintenance for
the state highway department for
South Texas.
On a recent trip over the state
highways in the Valley the super
intendent found a number Of signs
on the right-of-way, which is state
property. At several points he
found vendors of fruit and other
commodities had established stands
on state property. A number OF
these stands come almost to the
edge of the pavement, and in adj
dition to being unsightly, consti-
tute a menace to traffic, the super
intendent said.
Another practice which the high
way department proposes to sup
press is the filling up of the side
drains in order to construct cross
ing, and placing of water, gas or
sewer lines under the highway
without securing a permit from the
department. The maintenance
crews have been compelled to de-
stroy several crossings which were
acting as dams and prevented
proper drainage of the highway.
Can Secure Crossing Permits
Persons desiring crossings can
always secure a permit from the
state highway department" Brad
shaw said. we require construc-
ton of a culvert of ample size to
handle the drain water. After the
crossing is constructed it Is main
tanned by the state without further
expense to the property owner. We
cannot permit crossings to be con-
Structed which do not conform to
the specifications of the depart
ment."
The superintendent also stated
there would be no objection to run
ming water and other lines across
the state property, but that a per-
NIT must first be secured, and such
lines installed in accord with the
departments specifications. The
maintenance machines of the de-
partment frequently cut water and
gas pipes placed across the high
way for which no permit had been
issued and the existence of which
was not known to the crews.
I'VE are endeavoring to beautify
the highway here in the Valley"
Bradshaw said, land the depart
ment would appreciate the Coop
Grafton of the public in this effort.
are should be taken not to throw
trash on the right of way. 1t is
not a public dumping ground.
Some stretches Of state highway III
the Valley are among the most
beautiful in the state, and others,
due to lack Of cooperation in keep
ing the. right-of-way clean, are
among the most unattractive."
Will Invoke Law
The maintenance superintendent
spent two days here this week con-
ferrin gwith j. B. Poteet of San
Benito, who is in charge of mainte-
nance of stat ehighwayS in Cam
d1IO VII1dCy COQIlGl6S. lIl6y
conferred with the county attorney
and made arrangements for the i'm
mediate arrest of all persons VIC
lating the state laws with respect
to trespassing upon state property.
Announcement was made Friday
that action would be started imme-
diately to remove all signs on state
property and also to compel all
vendors to remove their stands or
trucks beyond the right-of-way.
"The department has no desire
to prosecute anyone the superin-
tendent said, but if it is necessary
to force cooperation in making the
highway safe or in improving it's
appearance there are statutes that
give the department the necessary
We will file complaints
whenever necessary, but I am con-
fident it will nc The necessary when
the public realizes what the de-
partment is endeavoring to do in
improving traffic conditions and
identifying the highways through
one Of the most beautiful sections
of the state"