Evening star., 1938-10-23
By G. Adams H0ward.

~ Os <A~~bSS 4 wv - W.
The Baltimore Washington boule-
ward Is one Of the greatest eyssoces
IN motor travel In this section. Not
only are the billboards and wayside
shops disgraceful to the esthetic view
point but they constitute . dangerous
hazard in driving Curves are OBJ
structed and the motorist Is distracted.
And, furthermore, many of the eating
and drinking places are in an insani-
tary condition.
Now, a complete change cannot be
made overnight. Violent objections
to the above roadside attendants can
not Immediately force them out Of
existence. There are rights to be
upheld. But a systematic campaign
can do much to alleviate the condition
which now exists and gradually bring
forth the desired results.
With this in view, the District Of
Columbia Motor Club Of the American
Automobile Association is going ahead
with more sensible plan. Instead
Of complete elimination Of the ugly
features of the important thorough
fare, the club proposes q plan Of
development and control. A commit
tee meeting to formulate such plans
has been held. Another meeting, to
which municipal, State and county
leaders Of Maryland will be invited,
will be held in the near future under
the sponsorship Of the local A. A. A..
Advisory Board.
Cooperation then will be asked to
make the Baltimore Washington
boulevard model highway as to safety
and beauty. Coordination Of other
organizations, including garden clubs,
will be asked. Attention to other high
ways later will be directed and it Is
hoped that identification Of this 3s-
mile strip of u s. Route No. / will
be followed by other roads and by
other States.
Realizing the Importance of the mat
ter and its popular appeal plan for
all 48 States will be presented to the
national convention Of the American
Automobile Association to be held next
month in Cleveland. Its adoption by
the national motoring body is expected.
The complete State roadsides de-
velopment and control proposal is as
follows:
An act for the purpose of providing
for the public safety, health, morals
and general welfare, for the purpose
OF promoting the safety of travel on
the State highways and for eliminat-
ing, lessening or regulating distracting
hazards, for the purpose Of conserving
the investment Of the State in its
highway system, for the purpose Of pre-
serving the natural or Handicapped and
improved scenic assets Of the State
and for promoting the attractiveness of
travel. and providing for regulations
to be adopted by State agency gov
erning the use of land adjacent to the
highways Of the State and providing
for the enforcement of this act and the
disposition Of fines and forfeitures COL
lected hereunder.
Section /:
The State Highway Commission or
such other State agency as may be
appointed by the Governor shall per-
form the duties set forth in this act
and such other duties as may from
time to time be prescribed. 1t shall
employ such persons as may be neces-
sary for the purposes of this act who
shall be removable at the pleasure Of
the commission and shall receive such
compensation as the commission may
determine and as may be provided In
its budget.
The chairman of the commission or q
member delegated by him shall pre-
side. at all public hearings. All rec
ords Of the commission shall be public
records and the commission shall an
nually make to the Governor a de-
tailed report of its official transac-
tions and Of all its expenditures and
OF all liabilities incurred by it.
Section 2:
There is hereby established a high
way protective area which shall consist
OF all land parallel to the highways of
the State and within 1000 feet of the
center of the right of way. Within this
protective area there shall be no busi-
ness or industrial use of land or erec-
ton OF structures devoted to business
or industry except in commercial dis
tricts as hereinafter provided. Land
within incorporated municipalities hav-
ing population of 1000 or over is ex-
pressly exempted from this act, but it