Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-25
.SIGNBOARD DRIVE
IS NATIONWIDE
American Nature Association
is Also Cooperating in
Local Campaign.

Besides cooperating in the local
campaign to improve roadside condi-
tons in the Greater Washington area,
the American Nature Association, with
headquarters at 1914 Sixteenth street,
is undertaking Nationwide move
ment in an effort to preserve rural
beauty on the highways and further
augment the naturaIneSS of the land
scape by the elimination Of unsightly
billboards.
In this connection the association
recently published the first issue of
THE Roadside Bulletin" in co-opera-
ton with the National Council for
Preservation of Roadside Beauty of
New York City, whose chairman, Mrs.
veal conditions on the highway ap-
proaches to Washington. 1t is believed
this is the first concentrated effort of
any organization to campaign against
the billboarGS and other forms of out
door advertising signs in a national
manner. The bulletin contains the
views of various public officials and or
CARNATIONS interested in the move
ment. It is illustrated with many ex-
amples of how the beauty of rural and
city highways is being destroyed by in
discriminate advertising signs, placed
often at dangerous curves in a manner
that constitute a hazard to safe driving.
Traffic Is RecreatiOnaI.
In the bullstin is a statement by
Thomas H. Macdonald, chief of the
United States Bureau of Public Roads.
He states:
"A very large part of the traffic upon
our main highways is recreational and
pleasure travel. Highway service for
this kind of traffic is not complete until
the roads have been made attractive
and pleasant as well as strong and
smooth. Expenditures for roadside
Identification are merited on eSthetic
grounds only, but there are few States
in which the tangible return in the
form of increased gasoline taxes will
not more than repay the cost, and this
is particularly true in States, such as
North Carolina, that are the mecca of
large numbers of persons from other
States, seeking recreation and enjoy
meLt. The Federal Government stands
ready to pay half the cost of the i'm
provement of roads in the Federal aid
system"
Believe Boards Unfair.
The National Association of Real
Estate Boards is quoted as saying:
I'VE believe outdoor advertising
where it detracts from the sightliness
of residential areas and mars rural
scenic beauty, is unfair to the general
public and the property owners. We
recognize the natural beauty of cur
country as public heritage to be con-
served. and the gigantic expenditures
by the public in its highways as an in
veStment to be protected"
It is known that this action of the
association was taken at its annual
convention last year in Boston, Mass.
At that time the board further request
ed that the Department of Commerce
investigate, and make recommendation
concerning the possibilities of just reg
ulation of outdoor advertising. The
association also, at that time, rendered
to the department the full cooperation
OF its officers, directors and legal de-
partment as well as member boards in
conducting the investigation.
Many Nearby Examples.
Residents of the National Capital are
well aware of the billboard situation.
These signs abound In both Maryland
be taken by the motorist without en-
countering many examples of this dis
figurement of the countryside.
Much interest is being manifested by
civic associations in the Forthcoming
bulletin of the American Nature Asso-
citation quitting the results of the sur
vey made in the territory Immediately
surrounding Washington. This survey
was ordered by the American Civic AS
ISOLATION and reveals by actual count
the number of billboards on all the
main roads leading into the city.