Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-06
MORE FIRMS AGREE
TO REMOVE SIGNS
American Civic Association
Given Added Assurance
of Cooperation.

Further evidence Of the cooperation
Of local and outside firms in the re-
moval of advertising signs on highways
in the metropolitan area of Washing
ton was received today by the Ameri-
can Civic Association.
Officials of the Hamilton Hotel in
Washington and the Security Storage
Co. of Baltimore notified the associ-
alton that they were taking steps to
remove or reduce the number of their
billboards displays within the designated
area. Additional word also was re-
ceived at the headquarters of the
Washington Bicentennial Commission
to the effect that the manager of the
Emerson Hotel in Baltimore was coming
TO this city soon to make a check on its
billboardS in the vicinity of the Capital
The assurances of Russell A. Conn,
manager of the Hamilton Hotel were
particularly gratifying to the American
Civic Association in view, Of the fact
that local hotels are among the most
prolific users of advertising signs on
the highways. Mr.. Conn stated that
arrangements to have the Hamilton
signs removed have been settled and
that all will be taken off the roads
within the next couple of months.
Realize Disadvantages.
Although we did not have any signs
within miles of the city," the man
ager wrote, Il agree with you that il
Is very unSightly to have the entrances
OF the Capital marred by these signs.
and hope you will be successful In get
ting the cooperation of all advertisers
In removing them"
The Hamilton Hotel has only a
comparatively small number of signs
IN use, but the fact that the manage
ment agrees to the removal of these
is an indication that many advertisers
are realizing the disadvantages of such
displays and are willing to abandon
the method when the matter Is
brought to their attention. The bur
lington Hotel, one of three whose out
door displays are said to constitute
slightly more than so per cent of all
the hotel billboards in the metropoli-
tan area, Is among those which have
agreed to take them down within two
miles of the District line.
1t seems to us the only practical
method is to have law passed that
viii give the desired result" wrote its
manager, B. Holland, land we NAV
say at this time that we should vel
come such restriction"
The Security Storage Co. of Balti-
1
ISOLATION that it is in accord with the
campaign to eliminate billboard adver-
| Using within the Washington area
We have at this time arranged to
withdraw practically all of our signs
| from the State roads of Maryland and
IN few months will have them all of
| the road" wrote c. j. Hamilton. its
president. Mr.. Hamilton said the COM
pany would have removed its billboards
before now but for competition.
Old Signs Remain.
The association made INQUIRIES of
the Security Storage Co. of Washing
! ton, competitor of the Baltimore Arm.
10 learn that it does not advertise on
tne boards, nor does it advertise on
the side of its building.
AT least three Washington Hotels. il
was learned, have billboards on the
highways within the metropolitan area
which are out of date These are the
Sterling, oxford and Potomac Hotels,
which have either been closed or torn
down to make way for Government
building projects.
J Although the Maryland State High
way Commission is said to be powerless
to remove signs from private property,
even though out dated, the Virginia
F, Highway Commission is not so fettered.
| The Maryland commission, however,
can take down signs on the right of
way of State roads, and it is with the
view to having the billboards of these
three hotels removed wherever possible
that an appeal will be made to the
highway authorities. The Sterling
Hotel, which has been closed for some
| time, has 20 such billiards within the
metropolitan area.