Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-01
CIVIC LEADER RAPS
MARYLAND'S SIGNS
Billboard User Sin Bad With
Public" in Road War,
Mcfarland Says.

Maryland has sold much Of her ru-
raj beauty for mess of bilIboards,' DR..
j. Horace Mcfarland, chairman Of the
Committee on Roadside DEVELOPMENT of
the American Civic Association, de-
clared in q statement made public yes
terday. urging civic forces In the State,
as matter of good business. to line up
solidly against the billboard lobby"
that Is seeking the defeat of restrictive
legislation pending in the Maryland
Legislature.
A pioneer leader in the Nationwide
tight to eliminate landscape advertising,
DR.. Mcfarland analysed roadside con-
ditions in Maryland as not only bad
business" from the viewpoint of the
tourist trade, but also for those who
advertise on billboards in the face of
growing public antagonism.
AS evidence that the billboard user"
and the billboard industry know they
are "in bad with the public" he d.
rected attention to concessions both
have made in connection with the high
way approaches TO Washington. Every
day some advertiser quits" he said.
Every One Can Aid.
DR.. Mcfarland, whose statement was
sponsored by the Maryland Federation
of Civic Clubs, declared that every
man and woman can use his or her
civic broom and help sweep the bill
boards of the landscape
The first way to use this civic broom,
he declared. is to promote by word and
by letter the legislation offered in the
Maryland Legislature, taxing these
structures which have so far escaped
and licensing only those willing to agree
to such restrictions as will take them
away from scene spots and from prox-
unity to parks, schools, churches and
homes.
Pointing out that Maryland's modern
highways and natural beauty bring Q
vast and profitable tourist trade to the
State, DR.. Mcfarland warned that ''tha
better class of paying tourists are come
ing to hate these boards, not only be-
cause they 'uglify' the roadside, but be-
cause they constantly hide Intersections,
dangerous corners and necessary road
signs, and attempt to divert attention
! from increasing traffic dangers"
Bad Business for An.
Maryland will clear away this '.me@S
he predicted, by fostering legislation
now pending. THE billboard has ceased
to be Objectionable merely from semitic
mental or aesthetic consideration" he
said 1T is bad business for Mary.
land, for America
what home owner is satisfied 10
have a great billboard next his dwell
ing placer" DR.. Mcfarland asked.
How much does that erection increase
the selling value of his property? In
deed, what owner or executive Of q
billboard erecting concern takes his
own medicine, and lives close to the
billboards he so continually thrusts
upon his defenselesS neighborS? The
billboard is bad business as 1t relates
to property values"
Women Can Force Action.
| DR.. Mcfarland declared there are
the fight for restrictive legislation. He
urged public spirited persons to speak
to farmers and home owners who have
permitted outdoor signs to be erected
on their premises for ptttance, ask
ing them to not renew contracts. In
like manner, he urged them to 60 fur
ther and respectively write or talk to
merchants who advertise on the bill
| boards, suggesting that the advertise
ments are becoming the proper showing
of things not to buy. Most merchants
are victims and viii be glad to quit"
he predicted.
The women of Maryland, who work
through the Federated Clubs of the
State, can accomplish this and help
sweep the roadsides clean Of other
equally obnoxious sights, DR.. McFar-
land declared.
mot only is it proper patriotism to
bump the billboards OF the roads, but
| 1t is, have insisted, mighty good bus
mess for the State" he said.
High Court Favors Ban.
nv n~Ia
many legal battles against bil1boards in
various parts of the country, declared
they are being outlawed by the courts
each time case is fought through.
THE United State Supreme Court Is
willing" he said, "to have commu-
mites regulate billboards or abolish
them, because they sell the eyes of
the public and add more danger to our
already hazardous highways"
He declared the public has no objec-
ton to necessary signs to direct and
safeguard the traveller, or to those re-
lating strictly to the business con-
Quoted on the premises upon which
they stand.
Referring to legislative measures, he
declared that attorneys of the billboard
industry say the law will prevent
chasing of the billboards because It
would be taking private property with
out compensation. There is no truth
in the statement" he said.
New Jersey Declares War.
Quite recently the Indiana Supreme
Court added to the indictment against
the billboard by upholding the right
OF communities in that State to get rid
of them, he pointed out. "You can
rest assured that your Maryland Legis-
lature can legally clear up the roads,
to build and maintain which you are
being taxed, IT you so insist"
New Jersey right now is using a civic
broom under q law which became eff
fective January l, he said. Eighty-four
large billboards have been taken down,
IA have been moved away from scenic
spots and IS firms have agreed to quit
outdoor advertising, he claimed. More
than 1000 signs of all kinds have been
swept away in two counties of New
Jersey by the broom of public in
huence and better business" he said,
and many more are due to come down
within a month.
Route Here Is Typical.
In Pennsylvania last July the high
way authorities removed more than
$4,000 shipping" signs, many Of which
were on private property.
The term billboard" he pointed out,
is assumed to include the sky sign
which jazzes the night landscape in
most American cities, the wood or steel
advertising fences which confine high
ways, the great painted or printed
posters on the sides of buildings, the
tin "sniping" signs tackled illegally In
lndiscriminate fashion and other forms.
The Baltimore Washington Boulevard,
he declared, is an example of such
landscape advertising which is desecrat-
ing the T1lrQl routes of MARYLAND