Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-09
SCENIC CALIFORNIA
STUDIES SIGN CURB
Mrs. w. L. LaWton Arrives
in Capital to Assemble Data
on State Mars.

After three months Of mapping and
photographing billboards and other I'M
slightly objects which mar the beauty ot
CALIFORNIA; famous scenic highways,
Mrs. w. l.. Lawton. chairman OF tlE-
National Council for Protection Of
Roadside Beauty. is III Washington pre-
pairing her data for publication.
Mrs, Lawton who made detailed
survey OF WaShington'S highway APP
breaches last Winter. said that Califor-
MIA Is seriously considering the county
Xoning method of roadside control and
already has made much progress III
highway Identification.
While the State spends $75 900 a year
on this program and has planted trees
along 700 miles OF highway in the past
10 years, Mrs. Lawton said that way
side eyesoleS Still clutter long stretches
OF some of the Western States most
beautiful coastal and mountain high
ways
Campaigns Against Signs.
During the past seven years Mrs.
Lawton has conducted campaigns
against commercial ugllneSS In many
communities throughout the country.
More recently. with tbs assistance VI
her husband. she began 10 make COM
pleta roadside surveys III various States
of the beauty spots and mapping ana
photographing by contrast the usliflca-
ton due to mutilated trees. barbecue
and hot dog stands. tlllnIg stations
placed too near the highway, automo-
bile dumps and commercial signs.
Her most recent surveys have been
conducted in the CarOlinaS and in
Washington, Oregon and California.
Under the auspices of the American
Civic Association. the Lawtons last Fall
surveyed the highway approaches to the
Federal City.
The highway approaches to the Cap
ltal through nearby Maryland and Vr-
Rinia, Mrs. Lawton said, are at least as
bad as, II not worse than, the most UNI
slightly highways III the United States.
She was pleased TO note, however.
slight improvement since her last visit,
particularly OH the Langley road. Once
within the District. Mrs. Lawton said
the highways are especially impressive
to the visitor because they are almost
free of unSightly objects.
State Fight Is Winning.
In discussing the situation over the
country at large. Mrs. Lawton declared
that public sentiment IS increasing Tor
some sort OF effective control OF MaySide
nuisanceS.
Especially is this true III Massachu-
sets, one of the leading States In the
fight against the billboard. A very Ell.
couraging sign. Mrs. Lawton said. WAS u
recent masters report to the MaSsachu-
sets Supreme Court upholdns the bill
board regulations.
The report was lhAde at direction or
the court in actions brought by - out
door advertising companies " restrain
the enforcement Of the State regula-
tions. The decision now tests with the
court.
Property Value Affected.
Billboards located at curves and IN
terSectionS the report said tend to
divert the attention OF the driver and
also are dangerous because they OBJ
struct the view. The report recognized
too, that billboards in home neighbor-
hoods depreciate property values.
The master found that the restric-
tions tend TO promote public safety. to
enhance property values Ia the neigh
borhood of homes and to protect the
general welfare Of the people.
Among other things, the regulations
under FIRE deny permits for billboardS
within 800 feet Of public parks or reser-
vationS, If within view: decree that no
sign Of any type may he erected within
SO feet OF public way except in bus
mess districts. and limit the size Of
billboardS, requiring the larger ones ~
Scenic" Held Mknomer.
While In California, Mr.. and Mrs
YAwton covered 100 miles Of highway
much Of which lay through the famous
mountain and coastal country. The
California State Chamber of Commerce
Mrs. Lawton explained. has designated
as scenic $500 miles Of the highways in
the State, but only small part Of these
are the main Travelled highways.
Through the Chamber Of Commerce
an effort Is being made to bring prop
erty owners along the scenic" high
ways in common agreement against bill
boards. While this plan has been sue
ceSSful to certain extent. Mrs. Law
ton said. its danger lay in the fact that
the designation Of certain roads as
Scenic" implied that all others were
Commercial"
This furnished an excuse for COM
enercial exploitation VI the UtlIer ruuds,
Mrs. Lawton said.
Work Shows Progress.
The visitor was delighted by the
State Highway Departments program
OF roadside beautif1cation In California,
which Is carried out under great dim
Guilty due to the prolonged dry season
The trees set out III many localities have
to be watered for three or four years
before they are strong enough to survive
Ia the dry soil.
But the work Is showing real prog
FesS, Mrs. Lawton said. and the high
way department has begun the planting
N banks at all underpasSes and the
planting and landscapinR OF all main
tenance stations.