Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-21

1 IIlC CIIdlCCS arc ROOu LEldb IL Will
be promptly acted upon by the
House and that the Amendments
will be approved by the Senate.
the American Civic Association, which
Is cooperating in plans for improving
the highway entrances to the Capital
cellent one. Rustic designs for filling
stations and necessary refreShment
stands for tourists have been worked
out very satisfactorily, he explained,
on the Pacific Coast.
We are not asking people to beautify
anything; we are asking them not to
uglify the roadsideS," Mr. Delano ex-
planned, In discussing briefly the pur-
poses Of the Washington campaign. IT,
for one, am interested in keeping the
rural landscape from being uglified"
Mr.. Delano said he was glad to hear
from Mr., Digges an expression Of the
Willingness OF his company to abide by
the aim of the campaign In the District
to eliminate uglinesS from the roadside.
In explaining the plans in connection
with the Mount Vernon Memorial
Boulevard. Thomas H. Macdonald chief
of the United States Bureau of Public
Roads, said that no attempt was being
made to improve the beauty of nature.
I'VE are only trying to make it disable
to the public" he added, by preserving
the parkway effect"
Importance Of Offer Emphasized.
Visitors from abroad, who are accuS-
toned to different treatment of great
boulevards, he said, may be disap-
pointed in what is being done with the
Mount Vernon highway, which is be-
ing developed as Nature might have
MANNED IL in the hAninpin0
The Importance of Mr.. Digges' pro-
poSAl with regard to safeguarding the
Mount Vernon Boulevard from billboard
advertising was emphasized when Mr..
Macdonald pointed out that after buy
ing 500 acres of necessary ground TO
perfect the highway 1t is necessary TO
purchase 800 acres additional on ID
miles to insure maintenance Of the
parkway against commercial inroad.
1t would be financially impossible to
purchase great tracts Of land around
each of the main entrances to the Ma
tional Capital, the oficial explained, to
guard against intrusion of commercial
interests. With respect to most of the
entrances. the only way to safeguard
against the destruction of beauty Is
through public cooperation. He esti-
mated roughly the cost of purchasing
tracts of sufncient size to accomplish
The great expense to which the Gov
eminent has been put in connection
with the Mount Vernon Boulevard, he
said, demonstrates that the purchase of
land at the entrances Il inadvisable.
Commissioners Are interested.
On behalf Of the District Commits
sioners, DR.. Reichelderfer said they have
an interest in the whole campaign for
"A Aat ~ f1N ~
around washington. He referred TO
the pending bill in the House District
Committee for the local regulation of
advertising signs, in which Mai. John G.
0otwals, Engineer Commissioner, Is
particularly interested in getting en-
acted ut the present session of Con-
gress. Maj. GOtwals, he explained, was
prevented from attending the meeting
by business at the Capitol.
In reply 10 q query from Mrs. Noyes
Is TO how her committee could CO.
operate In legislation for the District,
Or. Reichelderfer said 1t could render
very effective service by using its infiu-
ence TO get the District Committee to
report out the regnlatory ball as speed
ily as possible.
Col. Grant, who helped frame the
measure, said the National Capital Park
ana Planning Commission had been In
tsrested In It for several years we
have been watching with great interest
also and have strongly Endorsed the
enoft1 that also are being made to take
care OF the situation at the entrances
10 the city" he added.
Representative Moore, q noteworthy
leader Tor many years tn all movements
for Advancement Of the National Capt.
tai, was vigorous in his condemnation OF
billboard conditions, being compelled to
drive TO Washington every day from his
home In Alexandria through q contin-
uous lane Of outdoor signs.
Present Situation DepIored.
~ hope 80 time goes on we can get
rid Of the uglineSs OF billboard adver-
Using on the approaches to Washing
ton and, hope, TO q large extent get
rid OF them everywhere" he declared.
He deplored the fact that the road
through which he is compelled TO pass
to reach his duties 1T the Capitol is
cluttered with advertisements of tobac-
COS, oils, gasoline and kindred projects
offensive TO the sensibilities.
I'm just as much interested in get
ting rid OF such things to the west of
us in the mountains Of Virginia as
am IN clearing the Washington area"
Mr.. Moore stressed. To accomplish this
however, he said 1t was necessary TO get
viduals, combined with the realizat ton
Of companies that such advertising Is
working to their disadvantage. Congress
10 supporting every effort to make
Washington attractive for the millions
Of tourists who will come here, he said,
in referring to the public enthusiasm
aroused In the local campaign. With
the cooperation Of advertisers. such as
offered at the meeting, Mr. Moore be-
heved the campaign Is assured of sue
cess.
Encouragement IL Found.
At the outset Of the meeting, before
calling upon Or. Marvin to outline the
purposes Of the Bicentennial Commits
sion. Mrs. NoyeS referred to the efforts
OF the National Capital Committee of
the Garden Club of America In CO.
operation with governmental agencies
for improving the appearances at the
entrances TO Washington. AS q contri-
button to the Bicentennial, she ex-
planned, the garden clubs have made
appropria tons for landScapine at these
entrances In this connection, the
American Automobile Association also
is cooperating.
The object of the committee in call
ing together this meeting OF public Of
ficials concerned with the Bicentennial,
and preparations for IL, she explained
was to work out effectively methods to
be employed in which the community
as q whole could cooperate. AS O.
part of this, she said, the recent con-
ference on the billboard situation had