Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-12-11
D. {. Entrances
Via Parkways
Seen Possible
u. S. and States Said
To Have Authority
For Such Highways
BY RUDOLPH KAUFMAN, II,
atsp af.SS Corys.rorAept


ernments Of Maryland and Virginia
have 1t In their power to provide
suitable highway entrances to the
Nations Capital by constructing
proposed pathways from Baltimore
Richmond and the west, Miss Har-
lean James, secretary Of the Amer
lean Planning and Civic Associa-
ton, told the closing joint confer
ence on roadside improvement yes
terday.
The conference, a two-day meet
ing at the Russell Sage Foundation
was called to provide a common
meeting ground for ofncial and civic
groups engaged in the countrywide
drive to protect and control the
highways of America from insight
illness, reduce trafi1c danger and
congestion and protect property
values.
Miss James made the statement in
regard to the highway entrances OF
Washington during roll call of
the States" during which repre-
sentatives Of groups interested in
roadside improvement in a substan-
tial number of States reported on
progress to date in their respective
States. She reported for Washing
ton.
Recalls Former Survey.
About 10 years ago, Miss James
said, Mrs. w. L. Lawton, chairman
of the National Roadside Council,
In cooperation with The Star and
the American Planning and Civic
Association, made a survey OF the
highway entrances to Washington
which showed "atrocious conditions
Since then Maryland, and Vir-
ginia haye passed laws limiting the
use of billboards and controlling
unsightliness generally.
But since the depth of the de-
preston many new boards have ap-
peared along the highway entrances
to the Nations Capital" she said.
Miss James said that United States
Route l is considered lost SOUL
and that the Baltimore Washington
and Washington Richmond park
ways and a proposed extension OF
the George Washington Memorial
Parkway westward ito Front Royal
Va, all of which would have limited
lateral access and protective strips
Of land, would be used by pleasure
cars to an extent where the present
unsightly highways we're left to the
trucks and other commercial vehicles
and 1t would hardly pay to advertise
along their roadsides."
Miss James said of the District
proper that the District Zoning Act
and the Shipstead-Luce Act are op-
Grating successfully to control bill
boards and other unsightliness.
Both Maryland and Virginia were
represented in the roll call. Mrs
Edward McKeon of Baltimore told
the conference that the federated
garden clubs Of Maryland, OF which
she is president, and the Maryland
section Of the A. A. A. are Offering
prizes to improved roadside property
and improved filling stations along
the Richie Memorial highway this
year in an effort to encourage more
slightly roadsides.
The women of Maryland, she said,
have done 10 years worth of spade
work on roadside improvement for
which now enables the men to carry
on with proper legislation and other
control OF unSightlineSS.
Mrs. Gray Huntington, reporting
for Virginia, described the effective
manner in which billboard legislation
in that State has been working.
The morning session was climaxed
by the adoption by the conference
OF an eight-point program to be
used as a budapest and goal by all
groups desiring roadside protection
thus .translating the wealth of ex-
perience and data brought out dur
ing the conference into a program
toward which all might work.
Points in Resolution.
The program would:
4. Prohibit signs other than off,
cial directions within rights of way
Of State and county highways.
2. Prohibit signs and other struc-
lures on private property near
crossings, curves and other danger
Gus places.
3. Require all roadside business
and other structures to be set back
from the highway line, with provi-
sion for of-road parking of patrons
cars.
4. Protect automobile traffic by
limiting and controlling all access
to highways whether by private OF
public road.
5. Provide State and county park
ways. with limited access, and rights
Of way adequate for roadside beau
LITIGATION to meet the demands Of
In and out State pleasure travel.
6. Provide for a landscape division
in highway departments, with ade-
quate appropriations for roadside
planting and maintenance.
Favors County Planning.
Z. Authorize county planning and
zoning which will develop a planned
land-use program, to be articulated
with the location, design and treat
ment of highways.
8. Establish Statewide control by
highway commissions of protective
areas along all highways, in accord
ance with plans and advice of the
State Planning Board.
Another resolution asked that the
committee which President Roose-
welt has announced he will appoint
to advise on the construction and
maintenance Of highways for ma
tional defense purposes give careful
consideration to controlling the
rights of'way Of new roads to pre-
vent unsightliness, danger and con-
gestion for unsightly roadside
growth.
CiNiton Club Elects
For%;,, Wy uycoo~ ma. a1aof a.,