Evening star., 1931-12-16
FINE ARTS GROUP
BACKS CITY HEADS
IN SIGN CAMPAIGN
Big Electric Displays Which
May Mar Beauty Of Streets
Are Banned.
AVENUE TO BE KEPT FREE
OF ROOF BILLBOARDS
Limitation Program Expected to
Show Good Effects in Capital by
Time of Bicentennial.

| Backed by the Commission Of Fine
Arts, the District Commissioners are
aonerlrg strictly to a policy under the
new sign regulations of refusing per-
| mltS Tor the erection of large electric
advertising signs that are likely to mar
the appearance OF main streets and
avenues of the city.
pennsylvania avenue especially is to
pe Kept free Of such roof signs in the
luture, 1t was indicated, not only be-
cause IL Is the most historic thorough
1are In the National Capital, but also
as measure OF protection to the monu-
mental Government buildings being
erected along it. The same policy will
apply to The immediate neighborhood
OF the proposed Municipal Center.
Size Is Limited.
| While nothing can be done now
about large roof signs already estab-
llShed. 1t was pointed out at the Dis
| trlct Building, however. that permits
would be required in the future for any
structural changes in these signs. In
thlS way, it was believed, those which
| 40 not now conform to the new regu-
| latlonS can be made to do so The
regulations limit the size of such sipns
10 lOo square feet, or one-fortieth of
| the total wall area in excess of > o00
square feet. Restrictions also are i'm
posed on the height of the letters.
1nere Is nothing to compel the build
ing inspectors Office to refer sign an
pllcatlons to the Commission of Fine
ArS. IL Is self-adopted policy. how
ever, that has worked with success Fven
| before the new law became effective
the Fine Arts body was asked TO mass
on sign applications when the proposed
locations frorted or were easily visable
| from government buildings and parks
II IS policy. District officials say. that
VIII De closely followed in the future
WIN respect to signs, as it is done when
appllcatlonS are made for the erection
OF new buildings.
/ Sign Near Treasury Banned.
The Commission OF Fine Arts, for
| example, was able to prevent during the
summer the erection of a large electric
sign on the south wall of the American
security & Trust CO. Building at
FHteenth street and PENNSYLVANIA ave
nue.. This would have been opposite
me Treasury Building and visible.
DStrlct ohcials said, from the White
House grounds.
During the remodeling of the building
a niche had been built into the wall
LOT the sign which was simply to bear
| tne trust company'S name The struc-
tural design was to have been "A feet
inches in length by feet in height.
When the application was referred 20
! the Fine Arts Commission. that BODY
reported adversely, for the reason, it
stated, that it would mar the appear
/ ance of main streets
Firms Are Cooperating.
TT is the opinion of the Commission
OF Fine Arts" that body reported to
District officials, that it is within the
purview of the Shipstead act to rid the
main streets Of Washington of public
signs" The Commissioners turned
down the sign application.
Since then, it was reported at the
District Building. the trust company
experimental with the three initials Of
its firm name, but has made no appli-
cation for the erection CT sign of that
type.
The District Sign Committee stated
today that business firms are Coop
Grating very encouragingly in connec-
ton with the new regulations and that
conditions would be greatly improved
by the time the Washington Bicenten-
NAL Celebration opens.