Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-20
n ESIDENTS of many States
~ are banding together to
y preserve the beauty of the

~ are banding together t
preserve the beauty of tn
roadsides and augmen
their attractiveness. This worl
consists of saving of the trees AM
shrubs, planting of more of them
and campaign against the bill
boards.
The elimination of the insight
" billboardS Is regarded essential
Not only do many Of them ruiz
the beauty of the scenery, blu
often they are menace to safety
BillboardS often distract the at
tention of the motoriSt and otter
prevent necessary vision on
curve in the road.
Recently an interesting booklet
entitled The Roadside Bulletin,
made its appearance. 1t is pub
liShed by the American Nature
Association of 1914 Sixteenth
street, of this city for the Ma,
tional Council for the Protection
of Roadside Beauty, 119 East Nine
tenth street, New York City. The
publication is declared dedicated
to public education with relation
to the problems and the progress
of roadside identification in the
United States"
Described in Booklet.
This booklet describes the con-
ditions existing in many of the
States and what is being done to
change them. Illustrations in the
booklet show many dissertations
of the public highways. '"The
Roadside Bulletin" should prove
of great assistance in the work OF
the various organizations aSSo-
ciated in the undertaking of pro-
tecting natures wonderfulness.
Residents of the National Cap
ital are well aware of the uglineSs
of the billboardS. They abound
in both States adjacent to the Dis
trict of Columbia. No short Sun
day run can be taken without en-
countering many examples OF
hideouSneSS.
What various officials and or
CARNATIONS have to say on the
subject is of interest.
National Automobile Chamber
of Commerce:
Advertising billboardS erected
in large numbers along and ad-
jacent to the highways unneceS-
Sarily mar the appearance OF the
countryside and detract from the
pleasure Of motoring. Such signs
are in many cases erected at
points, such as curves, and rail-
road and highway intersections,
where they are a positive menace
to the safety of operators and
users of motor vehicles. BY dis
tracing the attention of drivers
they may be a contributing cause
to accidents"
Opposed by State Officials.
American Association of State
Highway Officials:
whereas, advertising signs
along highways not only destroy
the scenic beauty, but create as
we'll a serious traffic hazard by
dfstracting attention of drivers, in
the interest of safety and the pro-
the several States to bar all ad-
vertising signs from the highways
and the vicinity thereof by legis-
lation prohibiting such advertiS-
ing signs within a distance of at
least 500 feet of the rights of way
of all highways"
American Institute of Archi-
tects:
"This selfish dissertation of the
landscape has aroused the antag-
oniSm of those whose journeys by
boat, train and automobile are
rendered disagreeable and dan
gerouS by such blatant and OBJ
truSive uglineSS. The institute,
through its chapters and its in
dividual members resident in all
sections of the country, is con-
WINGED that this type of advertiS-
ing is highly Objectionable to a
great majority of good citizens.
The board hereby calls to the at
tention of the civic organizations
of the country, the public, the
press and the legislative bodies Of
the several States, a national con-
dition which we regard as mex
cuSable on either eSthetic or
economic grounds. The board
earnestly urges that those agen-
cieS which are properly concerned
with the cultural and spiritual
welfare of the American people,
as we'll as those concerned with
their material well being and
safety, take vigorous action to
bring about by regulation, legis-
lation or the force of public opin-
ion, the complete removal of bill
boards, Signboards and related
structures from the roads, high
ways and boulevards of the coun-
try, except in such limited areas
as may be set aside for such ad-
vertising."
Opposition to the billboards also
has been expressed by Thomas
H. Macdonald, chief United
States Bureau of Public Roads,
and by the Real Estate Board of
this city, and officials of Mary
land and Virginia.
Joining in with the previous
action of various organizations
and officials, the American Auto
mobile Association takes up its
cudgel this week.
Program of A. A. A.
AS the first step in the formula
ton of a national program of
highway Identification, the legis-
lative committee of the American
Automo bile Association will
shortly launch a survey of road
conditions throughout the coun-
try.
An announcement to this effect
was made by Thomas P. Henry OF