Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-11
CITIZENS ORGANIZE
IN BILLBOARD FIGHT
Fairfax and Loudoun Groups
to Campaign Actively for
Roadside Beauty.

Antagonistic to the dishguring bill
boards that abound in all Of virginia's
historical areas, progressive citizens Of
tourist travelled Fairfax and Loundoun
Counties are organizing, as are other
Virginia sections. for active campaign
ing against unsightly roadside busi-
nesses that clutter long stretches Of
scenic highways in their midst.
With nearly every mile of Fairfax
County associated with memories Of
George Washington and Mount YER
non itself attracting tourists by the
tens Of thousands during the entire
year, many business men and cham
bers Of commerce are awakening to q
realization that 1t is to their COM
mercial advantage to keep these his
toric approaches in an orderly and
decent manner.
LOudOun County Women Organize.
Up in LOudoun County, a group of
energetic women last month decided
that these forms Of nuisances had
become uncomfortable and proceeded to
take matters into their own hands
Organizing as the Loudoun County
Conservation Commission. they have
proceeded not only to do wonderful
work in cleaning up the highways, get
ting rid of illegal signs and trash heaps,
AAb dAO W W VIII
constructive work in Identification.
They are mapping out plans for saving
trees and shrubs, replanting when
necessary, as well as conducting a gen.
eral educational campaign.
The members of the commission in
clude Mrs. d. G. Sands of MiddleburR,
as chairman; Mrs. Moncure Lyon, Mrs.
Mamie Fred, Miss Charlotte holland
and Mrs. Henry Fairfax. These women
have actually removed 1900 signs In
the past month. They found in their
canvass that at least 1000 of these
signs had been placed without permits
sion of property owners. The COM
mission has decided to prosecute all
persons or firms erecting signs with
out securing permission Of the prop
erty owners.
In Fairfax County campaigning has
not yet advanced in organized form,
but the Garden Club of Fairfax recently
voted unanimously to devote its best
tight against billboardS and other road
side business OF type unnecessary to
travel.
At the 1880 session of the Virginia
Legislature a bill was introduced under
the sponsorship of the Virginia Garden
Club and the Federation of Women's
Clubs, imposing restrictions by means
OF taxation on outdoor advertising.
Powerful Hobbies succeeded in killing the
greater portion Of the bill The only
part that came out unscathed was that
section regulating the erection of signs
near railroad crossings and at road
intersections where traffic safety Is
threatened.
Ball and Freeman Back Bill.
The legislation sponsored in the last
Legislature received the support of both
Senator Frank Ball and Delegate Leon
L. Freeman. It was favored also by
the Fairfax County Chamber of COM
merce, besides the Groveton Community
Club, the Falls Church Women's Club,
the Fairfax Garden Club and other
energetic citizens associations.
While firm supporter Of the bill on
the floor of the Senate, Senator Ball
is of the opinion that local boards of
supervisors and town councils hold the
key to the knotty problem through their
power to withhold permits for the
erection Of bilboards and through their
power to levy taxes on property.
Fairfax County as yet has no ordi-
naces controlling or taxing billboard
erection. No building permits have ever
been required in the county to date, al
though the Board Of Supervisors at q
recent meeting indicated that 1t would
soon adopt suggestion Of County
Engineer F. N. Larkin to require that
permits be issued through his ONCE for
all construction exceeding 500.
The Stars camera man recently paid
visit to Fairfax County, and photo
graphs showing billboard conditions on
some of the main roads are to be found
in the graphic section of The Sunday
Star