Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-23

From the managers of b. the Hotel
Plaza in Washington and the Alexander
Hotel of Hagerstown, Md, the American
Civic Association has received indorSe-
ments of the campaign to eliminate bill
board advert sing within the metropoli-
tan area Of Washington as part of the
Identification plans for the highway APP
proaches to the National Capital.
Hal Van Doren Plaza Hotel manager,
declared he is not only in favor of
abolishing the use of billboards along
the entrances to Washington but also at
the entrances to all large cities and
municipalities A request for dozen
copies of the Survey on H ghwayS En-
tering Washington" was received from
]. F Evans, manager of the Alexander
Hotel of HHgerstown. Il want to help
in this great movement to beautlfy the
highways to our great Capital city, ne
wrote.
Indictment Severe.
The survey is a pamphlet issued by
the Civic Association and the American
Nature Association, illustrating scenes
on the Maryland and Virginia highways
adjacent to Washington, which have
been defaced by the erection of bill
boards and other unsightly structures.
It was prepared by Mrs. W. L. Lawton,
chairman of the National Council for
Protection of Roadside Beauty, copies
of which may be had upon application
to the two organizations.
Mr.. Van Doren was particularly Sc
we're in his indictment of outdoor adj
vertising. His letter stated:
THE writer quite agrees with the
American Civic Association, and kindred
bodies, that this particular form OF ad-
vertising is very obnoxious and should
be done awav with entirely, not alOnc
along the highway and other entrances
to the Nations Capital, but the en-
frances to all of our large cities and
municipalities. I firmly believe that the
work that you are carrying on VIII
eventually be the means OF awakening
the general public. and, in turn, the
business world, to such an extent that
these h:deous billboards will be done
awsy with all over our fair country.
"The Hotel Plaza has two of these
billboards on the Baltimore road. We
resorted to them because our competl-
tors were using that form Of advertis-
ing and we felt that we had to protect
ourselves. I notice by the papers that
several of the worst offenders have sig
nifsd their willingness to do away with
their boards within the two-mile limit
of the District. The owner of the Hotel
Plaza is out of the city at present AS
soon as he returns I am sure that he
will be very willing to give your request
his attention in an effort to follow out
your wishes"
Supporting Campaign.
Despite the fact that the Hotel As
ISOLATION of Washington has taken
no definite action in relation to
the bill board situation, Washing
tons leading hotels are joining
with civic forces in support OF the
movement to remove billboards from
the entrances prior to the 1882 Bicen-
tennial. Most of them abandoned cut
door advertising some time ago. and
the few leading hotels that indulge in it
have expressed their willingness to dis
continue their boards upon the expira-
ton of existing contracts.
From another source, the American
Civic Association has received assur-
ances of additional support. Mrs. r. w.
Helsley, secretary Of the National Cap
ital Federation Of Garden Clubs, las
forwarded a resolution adopted at the
Federation's recent annual meeting. IT
referred in favorable terms to the work
of the association and The Evening
Star, to which the organization pledged
its support.