Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-04
National Capital Committee
of Garden Club of America
Launches Program.
BEGINS ROAD SIGNS FIGHT
Federal and Civic Officials
Take Up Problem Of ImprOv-
ing Approaches to City.

tional Capital before the George Wash
| ington bicentennial celebration in 1882
we're successfully projected Friday after
noon at meeting of Government off,
Gals and civic leaders called by the
Committee of the National Capital of
the Garden Club of America.
Meeting with this committee at the
home of Mrs. Frank B. Noyes, its chair
man, these representative leaders In
city planning united enthusiastically in
a Joint movement to obtain positive &C
ton on general program OF improve
ment in the near future. Prominent
among those attending the meeting were
ofncialS Of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, the Wash
ington Bicentennial Commission, the
American Automobile Association and
representatives of the garden clubs from
Maryland and Virginia
After general discussion of the vari-
GUS elements entering into the deface-
ment of these front-door approaches to
the Capital City, emphasis was placed
on the need, under general improve
ment campaign, of concentrating efforts
upon two main detectives. Prime con-
sideration, 1t was pointed out, should be
given to the elimination of billboards
and other forms of commercialized ugli-
ness within the vicinity of the principal
entrances and the erection of dignif1ed
markers of ornamental columns set in
artistic landScaping on these highways
at the District line.
Approved by Planners.
The National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission has approved plans for
these markers at the District line to be
made from the columns to be taken
from the State, War and Navy Building,
it was reported by Charles w. Eliot, I'd
city planner of the commission. The
plans for the markers, which show coll
unns surmounted by eagles, with attrac-
lively Handicapped backgrounds of trees
and plants, win be submitted to the Fine
Arts Commission, Mr.. Eliot said, for ap-
prevail at its nesting this week.
Mrs. Noyes explained that these plans,
which would give to the highway en-
frances a setting In keeping with the
dignity and artistic development of the
Nations Capital, had been approved by
the Garden Club of America as its
contribution toward the bicentennial
the various garden clubs Of Mary
land and Virginia pledged their CO.
operation in a program to supply the
planting of trees and shrubs around the
markers, as well as Cleaning up" eX-
iSting roadside conditions within emile
radius. In this connection Ernest N.
Smith, executive vice president of the
American Automobile Association,
pledged the cooperation Of his organi-
zation in the campaign against outdoor
advertising signs and TO contribute 10
per cent Of the cost of the necessary
landscaping at the markers.
Another important feature of the CAM
paign to rid the touriSt-traveled high
ways OF roadside nuisances was the dec
laration of Representative Sol Bloom of
New York, associate director Of the
George washington Bicentennial Com
mission, that he was writing to all BILL
board advertisers In the Washington
area urging them ''to take steps as soon
as possible to clear all the approaches
TO the National Capital Of unsightly out
door advertising within miles of the
boundaries of the District of Columbia"
Mr.. Bloom said the commission has a
complete list Of all billboard users and
that an appeal was being made to their
sense Of patriotism to cooperate In this
way as contribution to the historic
events in 1882, when more than q mil
lion visitors win come to Washington
from other sections Of the country.
Exceptions Pointed Out.
Mr.. Eliot In discussing the pylons
which are designed to be erected at the
District entrances said there were some
large circles at which these would not
be appropriate, such, for instance, as
Chevy Chase Circle and at Sixteenth
street. At the Wisconsin avenue en-
trance, however, Mr.. Eliot said, it was
planned to have a circle with q road
cut through 1t, leaving two half-moons
for planting. In each Of these half
moon areas, he said, would be placed
one pylon: a -
where an underpass is to be built, the
pylonsF would be used on the Maryland
side, Mr.. Eliot explained. The pylons
also could be incorporated into plans
for the entrance at Georgia avenue,
Rhode Island avenue, Bladensburg
road and Marlboro road.
The Virginia bridges, he explained,
all offered opportunities except the
Arlington Memorial Bridge, which al
ready was supplied with large columns
on Columbia Island. Chain Bridge, he
said, presented the principal difncult
problem.
Suggested paintings for landscape
areas around the pylons were outlined
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission. Various trees such
as hemlocks, pine, doGwood, native
holly and other types Of attractive
foliage would be used as the motif for
the different entrances, he said. He
suggested a rough estimate of the cost
Of planting the five principal Mary
land entrances would be 1922, and
the cost OF the Highway and Key
Bridge developments at about 81 500
for the two. He made no estimate for
planting at the Chain Bridge marker.
While official action has not yet been
taken by all the Garden Clubs of Mary
land and Virginia, representatives Of
these organizations at the meeting ex-
pressed enthusiasm for the pylon
marker projects and pledged their
personal endeayors to muster support
throughout their States for planting
and landscaptng about the markers in
accordance with approved plans.
Can Advance Some Funds.
Lieut.. Col. U. s.. Grant, Sd, speaking
for the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, declared the
Chain Bridge entrance presented a
difficult problem.
Plans for the pylon markers will now
go TO the Fine Arts Commission, which
is to meet next week.
Among the members of the Garden
Clubs at the meeting who expressed
much interest in the projects and plans,
also for cleaning up specified areas in
their communities, were MIS-. Andrew
II. Christian Of Richmond, Va; Mrs.
Budd Of Richmond, president Of, the
James River Garden Club; Mrs. A. II.
Chilcott Of Fairfax County, Va; Mrs.
Duncan Brent and Mrs. Charles Reimer
OF Baltimore, and Mrs. billiard, prest-
dent OF the Alexandria Garden Club.
Frederic A. Delano, chairman Of the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, and president also Of the
aaka A.
wagtng an energetic campaign TO
eradicate the billboard evil within the
metropolitan area Of washington, also
attended the meeting and gave hia