Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-10
WASHINGTON WARS
ON B|LLBOARDS
Civic Groups to Seek Re-
movaI of UnSightIy Signs
Near D. c.
Continued From First Page.)

Continued From First Page)
roadside stands on the landscaping of
the greatly used Maryland and Virginia
roads leading directly into Washington
These views she had obtained from a
survey of all approaches which she has
just completed for the American Civic
Association.
Ways and means of eliminating the
roadside nuisances and bars to safe
driving were consider ed at the meeting,
under the auspices Of the executive
board and officers of the Committee Of
One Hundred on the Federal City,
of which Frederic A., Delano is
chairman. Representatives of many
citizens associations and civic bodies,
including railroad officials of Mary
land and Virginia, attended the
session, which was held in the
Cosmos Club. Mr.. Delano, who also
is chairman of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission, pre-
sided and Lieut.. Col u. S. Grant, Sd,
which is cooperating with the Mary
land Park and Planning Commission to
beautify the approaches to the National
, Capital, also was present.
Work Has Been Success.
Mr.. Delano explained that the Park
and Planning Commission, the District
Commissioners and others were trying
to put our house in order" for the
! Washington Bicentennial opening on
February %, 1892. One of the things
I that had to be done, he said, was to
make a survey. of actual conditions.
Having heard of Mr.. and Mrs. Law
/ tons excellent work in identifying the
roadsides in Oregon and North Caro-
lima Mr.. Delano explained, the COM
mittee Of the American Civic Associa-
ton had asked them to make a similar
survey Of the roads in the Washington
area. This was done with the entire
| concurrence of the Park and Planning
Commission. he stated.
A communication from DR.. j. Horace
Mcfarland, chairman of the Roadside
improvement Committee of the Ameri-
can Civic Association, indorsinR the
movement to rid the roads Of unneces-
sary and indiscriminate advertising signs
was read at the meeting. The survey
OF highway approaches now is being
printed by the American Civic ASsocia-
ton and will be made available to all
interested individuals and organizations
in the hope that the deplorable con-
the Nations Capital will be recognized
and remedied
Signs Line Main Roads,
Illustrations shown by Mrs. Lawton. of
views seen daily by thousands of motor
lists, show that the billboards IRE so
thickly placed along the Baltimore,
Marlboro. Alexandria and other pixies
That almost a continuous corridor of
signs Is formed On the Lee Highway
a count shows 78 to a mile, Mrs Lawton
Uttered with billboards, stands plastered
with signs, unsightly oil stations and
automobile dumps, according to her
survey.
+ Mrs. Lawton found that along High
way No !, entering Washington from
Richmond Va, from the southern
boundary OF Fairfax to the District line,
there were % billboards to the mile
This means that an automobile would
pass a billboard every three seconds
she said. From the north on the same
highway there is almost a continuous
row OF signs. In a distance of PIT
miles there are 1909 signs, an average
OF 80 to the mile. A car at an average
rate of speed would pass a sign every
two seconds on this road. The adver-
tlsements announce gas and oil, auto
mobiles and accessories hotels, radios
brands of tobacco and miscellaneous
foods and drinks. Religious advertise
ments such as Prepare to meet thy
Maker" and others of like nature, she
explained, are popular at curves which
even undertakes utilize.
Monuments Draw Clutter.
She cited the Peace Cross on the
Bladensburg road around which 18
billboards are assembled, as an example
OF how historic markers are being util-
lied by advertisers to make known their
various brands in the great outdoors
campaign. On the popular Baltimore
pike, she counted 80 signs to the mile
and similar conditions exist on the De-
tense Highway, Conduit Highway and
particularly the beautiful Langley road.
which, She claimed, is being ruined
scenically by many new billboards re-
Gently erected.
What some other States are doing to
eliminate the ugliness along their road
sides, Mrs. Lawton and others at the
meeting declared, can be done through
cooperation of the public with the
Maryland and Virginia authorities.
Though the State of Virginia at the
last meeting of its Legislature passed
law to prohibit billboards within 200
feet Of highway and rail crossing or
curves the Virginia entrances to the
Capital still are far from creditable,
she said. Since coming has been au-
thorized for the City of Alexandria
and the Counties of Arlington and
Fairfax, she said, billboards are being
erected in great numbers to become
established before the proposed coming
laws become effective. In that way
they cannot be removed.
Virginia Takes Action.
H. ]. Neale, Landscape engineer of
the Virginia Highway Commission,
sounded an encouraging note when he
told that he has a force of men re-
nnnvinO hundreds NJ illa1aI l1iIilaoa ~