Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-08
TRADE BODY HELPS
|. VIRGINIA SIGN WAR
Intends to Press Vigorous
Fight to Free Roads I
From BiIIboardS.

: Civic forc-s in Virginia. have. the
powerful backing of the state Chamber
'of Commerce Ia their light to protect
1.-THE scenic and -historical<h highways from
further defacernent by billboard
advertising. ~. @ So
of the Washington entrances is partlc-
fularly bad, although there are other
sections of the State where the blll7
Hoard nuisance has become equally
objectionable" Leroy Hodges of Rich
imond, managing director OF the state
tChamber of Commerce, has written to
1.-THE American Civic Association. "Legis-
tlation to restrict billboard advertising
has been defeated during the last two
sessions of the General Ass. mbly, but
it is apparent that public. sentiment is
being awakened more and. more. TO- the.
need of some equitable regulation.
> REPRESENTATIVE Of the leading business
men of the State; the1 Chamber of
Commerce intends to press the vigorous
flight it has made in recent years to
drive outdoor advertising signs, legal
and illegal. from the rural highways OF
Virginia Aside from its desire to pro-
'tect the beauty of its scenery, the State
Chamber of Commerce has repeatedly
declared that billboard advertising is
bad business for the tourist trade. which
lis b. coming more valuable to Virginia
every year.
Tourist Trade Stressed.
; virginia can hold and increase
tremendously our already important
and tourist trade. if We are farsighted
.enough to preserve our natural scenery
sand present to our visitors tidy
land well-cared- for State" -. the chamber
said in its annual report in dealing
AiI1naard rocfriRfinn
: "A billboard-scarred and advertised
.plastered Virginia, however, is hardly In
keeping with the ideals, traditions and
culture of the Old Dominion. More
over, Virginiap through her splendid
system of schools, is attracting larger
and larger numbers of students through
out the Nation and abroad, which Is an
Sother compelling reason why we should
endeavor to send these out-of-State
students back to their. homes with an
beautiful as well as of Virginia cultural
and inspirational."
The development of the Virginia
Valley cavernS and publicity incidental
to the establishment of the Shenandoah
National Park and the border use Of
,recreational facilities in the national
forest reserves of the State have served
to draw thousands of tourists to
Virginia, whose trade is profitable
asset which business interests are
anxious to retain.
Beauty Called Big Asset.
With the completion and connecting
up of Virginia's links in the national
highways along the Atlantic seaboard,
the chamber pointed out the outdoor
advertising industry promptly took adj
vantage of the great increase in motor
traffic on the roads. out Virginia
advertising has become a serious eye
sore along our highways" the report
stated.
"The natural beauty of the State is
too important an asset of, the Old
Dominion in the building Of the new
Virginia to be sacrificed for local and
national advertising purposes, for the
so-called right of selfish advertising
agencies and the financial needs of our
rural property owners do not outweigh
the best interest of all Virginia.
Virginia's scenic beauty along our rural
highways, therefore, must be protected
from DETACHMENT by billboards and
other forms of advertising; and bill
boards, wherever they endanger life on
the highways by obstructing view at
curves, etc., should be removed imnne-
diately
"The legitimate business of the out
door advertising interests cannot be
seriously injured by a reasonable re-
striction of billboards to commercial
districts and the removal of advertising
matter away from our country road
sides. In fact, the more responsible
and forward-locking concerns in the
outdoor advertising group say they will
support such program and help protect
and preserve the scenic beauty Of the
Old Dominion.