Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-06
PLAN CAMPAIGN
TO BEAUT|FY ROADS
LEADING TO CAPITAL
BiIIboards, Dumps and Un-
slightly Stands Will Be
y Warred Against.
CIVIC ASSOCIATION SEEKS
CLEANUP BEFORE 1882
Grant Asks Status of Legislation
to Clear Highways for
Bicentennial.

A vigorous campaign to rid the Vlr'
pinia and Maryland highways leading
into the National aCpital of billboards
dumps and unsightly roadside refresh
ment stands, as we'll as ''eyeSore" gaso-
line filling stations was agreed upon
Yesterday afternoon at a meeting unoel
the auspices of the American CIVIC AS
ISOLATION The clean-tp campaign Is
planned so that these areas may DC
bcautified for the George washington
Bicentennial celebration in 1882. 4
series of meetings are being arranged
for early next month.
Under the Craftsmanship of Frederic
A. Delano, chairman of the Nationa
Capital Park and Planning Commls-
sion. the meeting was informed thai
billboards might be discouraged by tax
alton, the planting of trees along the
highways. the offering of prizes for
cleanup campaign, the removal OF signs
placed along the wayside without the
consent of property-owners, puono
health supervision over hot doc" StanoS
and the insistence on the part of the
consuming public that it will not
uatronize products of advertisers who
display their wares las blot on the
landscape"
hdulO ldAhS SuCSCSSAuh
Talks by radio, advising housewives
not to purchase goods advertised on the
landscape, has met with success, MIS-:
Edward H McKeon, State chairman OF
the committee on billboard RESTRICTION,
of the Garden Clubs of Maryland, told
her hearers, in detailing her personal
experiences. This she said, is one OF
the most effective methods of convlnc-
ing the billboard advertisers that their
present methods are economically I'M
sound.
The planting of trees along the high
ways to block the views of the sign
boards and make IL economically un-
profitable for advertisers 20 resort 10
this method was advocated by r. w.
Besley Maryland State forester, Illus
tratine lis point with the aid of slides.
The whole problem was dealt with
eyhaustively by Mrs. w. l.. Lawton OF
the National Council for the Protsction
of Roadside Beauty who has Travelled
extensively over the Nation in TINS
cause. She outlined the steps that are
being taken elsewhere and showed
series of slides of photographs of Mary
land and Virginia roadways leading into
washington. She pointed out the dan
ger of billboards To safety in automobile
driving, tending to divert the atSention
(
Oregon. she said, the State Highway
Commission secures the cooperation OF
farmers in oiscouraging the posting OF
bills and signs on their barns and places
a sign ON each barn reading Post NO
PMS 4" In Pennsylvania, she continued,
rats are conducted on signs that are
placed on the highways, without the
consent of the property owners. Case
/ line filling stations, she insisted, can
be made attractive and the numerous
signs adjoining them can be elm
mated.
Seeks Status of Legislation.
The status of legislation on this sub
feet in the various States was requested
by Lieut.. Col. u. S. Grant, Sd, vice
chairman and executive officer OF the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, who expressed q desire To
have this situation cleared up. If posi-
BILE, SO that by 1892 the roaoWays TO
washington in the area covered by his
commission would be attractive. he In
vited attention to the work Of the Amer
lean Automobile Association in offering
prizes to beautify the countryside.
Col. Grant said he believed a good
deal could be accomplished by asking
the owners of stores, gasoline filling sta
lions and refreshment stands along the
W2ySlds TO cooperate.
The plan of formation of community
groups along the highways in the metro
politan area was explained to the meet
ing by d. L. Mstzler, representing the
American Automobile Association, who
said that prizes are to be offered as a
stimulus TO the cleanup campaign
Prizes will be offered for the best filling
station, the best refreshment stand. etc
Several advisory boards are being set up
in the outlying districts, he explained
adding that large response can be Sc
cured by direct civic appeal.
Richard W. Westwood, assistant Sec
rotary of the American Nature AS socia-
ton. said that definite recommends
lions should be embodied in the pub
lished report.
ID. G. BiIlboards Doomed.
Billboards in the District of Columbia
are doomed, Mai D. A. Dawson. AS
siStant Engineer Commissioner, assured
his hearers. He said that no new bill
boards would be sanctioned here. The
problem that confronts him, he said,
is whether existing billboards should be
permitted to rot out under the pro-
vision that they cannot be touched
structurally, or whether their owners
should be given permission to modern
ize" those in exi-tenee at present and
count on the building up Of the city
10 eliminate them altogether
Henry Curtis Morris, Arlington
County. Va. real estate operator. called
attention to the unsightly dumps or
Virginia roads alcng the approaches tc
Washington. He explained, however
that the District has forced these
dumps on the adjoining sections Of
Virginia and suggested that plans
should be made to eliminate them.
There is wide interest in the work
OF highway Identification, not only In
States near washington, but all over
the Nation. c. III. CollingWood, forester
Of TIRE American Forestry Association
said He pledged the aid Of his group
in any move for the Identification OF
the countryside
Elimination of billboards on the
ground OF public safety might be &C.
complished Horace W. Pesslee. vice
president Of the American Institute oi
Architects and chairman Of its Com
niittee on the National Capital asserted
IN recalling the provisions of the Vir-
gina law that foroids these signs In
the future on curves end within zoe
feet of intersections.
Alexandria Ordnance Aids.
ALEXANDRIA. Va, has coming ordnance
now in course OF preparation and this
VIII aha the situation there, Charles w
Eliot, I'd. director Of planning of the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning Com
mission, said. An enabling act Ter zon-
ing IN the nearby counties was passed
by the Virginia Legislature. but so far
nothing active has been accomplished
ne said. Fairfax and Arlington Coun
ties can zone now, IL they want to- HI
asserted, but nothing is yet in sight
MT. Delailo said that he does no
want TO resort to legislation 70 clear tn