Evening Star Newspaper, December 17, 1930, Page 4

ARLINGTON COUNTY Survey Shows - Conditions There Not as Serious as in Other Nearby Areas. A survey of ‘the signboard situation in Arlington County, Va, while sufi- clently aggravating within close prox- imity of Washington, discloses that roadside conditions are not as serious on the whcle as those existing in many other jurisdictions in the vicinity of the National Capital. The regulation of the location of signboards is entirely in the hands of the Board of County Supervisors, which body, in co-operation with the State Highway Commission, is doing effective work in ridding communities of many illegal signs. Either of their own ac- cord or through pressure brought to bear by the various civic organizations of the county, the board has shown a decided reluctance recently to issue per~ mits for billboards of any kind. Arlington County’s large number of civic bodies are solidly opposed to the spoilation of roadside landscape by clut- tering the roads with commercial signs and other forms of nuisances, and all of them have o expressed themselves to the Board of County Supervisors. County Curbs Practice. Until last year these boards were erected without regard to location, the only authority needed being the permis- sion of the owners of the propefty on which the signs were located. . The gov- erning body of the county, however, brought this practice to a stop by re- quiring that a separate permit for each sign be obtained from the Board of Su- TVisOrs. peS\nu the adoption of this ordinance there has been a decided drop in the erection of new signs and in the renew- ing of those already in existence, as the ordinance provides that permits also must be obtained for renewals. But before this ordinance was made effective, the billboard people rushed into Arlington County as they have done in numerous other instances and succeeded in obtaining" desirable locations. This accounts in part for the number of signs erected on the beautiful stretch of Langley road depicted re- cently in The Star, showing where trees had been cut down for the establish- ment of large billboards along the roadside to Chain Bridge. At the present time the greater num- ber of the billboards in existence in. the county are located along the tourist traveled Lee Highway and along the Washington-Alexandria pike. On the former highway, which averages about 28 Dpillboards to a mile, most of the largest signs are placed against hill- sides, with a result that the view of the foliage directly behind them is obscured. Alexandria Uses Signs. ‘The Washington-Alexandria pike perhaps presents the worst situation in the county. Billboards advertising the 25,000 Miles of High- ways in U. S. Mrs. W. L. Lawton Surveys Billboards and Other Road- side Nuisances. During seven years of relentless cam- paigning for roadside improvement, Mrs.-W. L. Lawton, chairman of the National Council for Protection of Road- side Beauty, who has just completed an extensive survey of conditions surround- ing Washington, probably has photo- graphed more miles of advertising bill- boards than any other woman in the United States. With & camera and a projector for lecturing purposes, Mrs. Lawton has motored approximately 25,000 miles of highways in conducting authorized sur- veys in half a dozen States. Largely through the co-operation of the Amer- ican Nature Association, of which Arthur N. Pack of Washington is presi- dent, Mrs. Lawton has succeeded in carrying the campaign against com- mercialized ugliness on the roadsides of the Nation to hundreds of communi- ties throughout the country. Capital Low on List. Speaking as an authority, therefore, Mrs. Lawton -said her survey of local | ‘onditions convinces her that the en- | trances and highway approaches to the National ‘Capital were among the worst, | if not actually the worst, that she has | observed anywhere. Since she finished her survey in nearby Maryland and Virginia Mrs, Lawton has been lecturing before vari- ous groups in Washington co-operating with the American Civic Association, which engaged her to do the survey, in the campaign to remove roadside ugli- ness before the George Washington bi- centennial eelebration in 1932, Seven vears of campaigning have con- vinced Mrs. Lawton that public opinion, once aroused, is the handiest and most effective weapon fo use against the advertisers whose outdoor signs, stra- tegically placed along the open roads, not only spoil the landscape for mil- lions of motorists but also make road | travel hazardous. “When the advertiser can be shown that billboards are causing him to lose business because of the growing | popular sentiment that is being ex- pressed everywhere against them, then he will quit using them,” Mrs. Lawton predicted. One way for the public to show its disapproval, she said, is to let hotels. oil companies and other users of the billboard know that they favor products not advertised on the land- scape. . Hotels Use Signs. About half of the hotels in Wash- ington, 32 to be exact, she said, indulge advantages of Alexandria are among the array on both sides of the hign- way. But a large number of these sign- boards are erected so as to shut !mm| the view of the public the large dumps that are being used to fill in the swamps that border the road in several places. Unsightly filling stations and numerous shacks make this greatiy used approach to the National Capital one of the most untidy around Washington, ‘The difficulties of flm tory legislation in the Ge: of the State were clearly demonstrated at the last session of that, W] a bill that would have curbed: greatly the erection of billboards along the rights of way of State highways was defeated after a long an ting advertising signs at points where they would entianger the lives of 4 also had as its purpose the sufficient remova] of all signs to @ point where they would not greatly imterfere with the view. This representéd the liberal view of many State officials and civic organizations. 4 Ulterior Purpose Shown. ‘When introduced, the.measure was attacked immediately by & Norfolk dele- gate who is connected with billboard companies in his home city and con- tinually lobbies against reluglatory legislation during the session of the Assembly. Through his and other ef- forts the distance from the State right of way was reduced to 25 feet and the measure finally defeated because of a provision that would have required property owners themselves to remove any illegally erected signs. The latter vision, it was thought, might work a mdshlp on owners who lived a dis- tance from their property. Only one bill affecting the signboard situation passed at the last session of the assembly. This abolished all boards from State road intersections and the intersections of State highways with railroads, where the signs would obstruct a clear view for motorists. ‘There were at the past session of the General Assembly a number of dele- gates who are engaged in the practice of law and who in this capacity are employed by signboard companies. This makes drastic legislation difficult, a fact that was clearly demonstrated in | Arlington County several sessions ago | When the civic organizations sought the age of a regulatory bill only to find Piat their delegate was the Jocal cotin sel of some of the larger billboard companies. CODMAN GETS OFFICE Named National Executive Com- mander of the Crusaders. CLEVELAND, Ohio, December 17 (). —Appointment, of Julian Codman, Bos- ton lawyer, as national executive com- mander of the Crusaders, an organizd- tion advocating repeal of national pro- hibition, was announced here last night by Fred G. Clark, founder and head of the movement. Codman is a director of the Associa- tlon Against the Prohibition Amend- ment. His office will be at national Cru- saders_headquarters _here. in outdoor advertising to some extent. But three of these, she explained further, do about 50 per cent of roadside advertising of the hotels, chiefly through the medium of small signs. That comparatively few firms in Washington are guilty of cluttering up the highway approaches to the National Capi is seen fro statistics compiled in cting the survey here. Out of 2bout 2,500 firms represented in some 14 lines of business, she said that only the hotels, are are by no means the only ‘menace to roadside landscape in and around W::I:’M."flwlr_:fl:o :he oil companies loing muc} improve ‘their stations in the . the lmpgove- scores o filling stations, hot- stands “dumps” are removed or made more sightly to the eye of the THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1930." EXPERT FINDS CAPITAL MARRED BY ITS UNSIGHTLY ENTRANCES FURSIGN B‘.EAN'UP Vei'.dicl Given After Covering MRS. W. L. LAWTON. —Harris-Ewing Photo. passing tourist, conditions will not be materfally better, she stated. Yet, with all that remains to be done throughout the country in improv- ing the rural and urban highway, Mrs. Lawton said, it is perfectly amaz- ing to note the actual improvement in conditions during the last five years. “Five years ago, people ~simply laughed at you if you talked to them about getting rid of billboards and other forms of roadside nuisances,” she said. “Now they are interested and helpful in arousing communities, as are the highway commissions in nearly every section of the country.” “Naturally, we have faced opposition from the billboard people. We are willing to co-operate with them if any grounds for co-operation can be found, but we have never discovered any grounds,” she said. Massachusetts is leading all States in the legal fight against ‘billboards, Mrs. Lawton said, and such States as Vir- ginia, Maine, New Jersey, Connecticut, Oregon and Washington are blazing the way for more rigid regulation. North Carolina, where she recently made a survey of nearly 10,000 miles of high- way. also is beginning to fight for improvements, MISS MORRIS TO ;NED Daughter of Author to Marry For- mer English Hussar. NEW YORK, December 17 (#).—Miss Patsey J. Morris, daughter of Gouver- neur Morris, the author, and Mrs. Waterbury Morris, will be married this afternoon to Maj. Cyril Seys Ramsey- Hill, once of the 11th English Hussars. Maj. Ramsey-Hill and Miss Morris met on the Island of Tahiti last October while they were waiting for the 5. 8. Tahitl, which sank in the Pacific and on which they had booked passage. EXPLAINS MONEY POLICY MEXICO CITY, December 17 (#)— Luis Montes de Oca, Mexican secretary of the treasury, appeared before the | Senate last night and explained the financial policies of the government of President Ortiz Rublo. He declared that the Mexican eco- nomic crises was an offshoot largely of the world. crisis and the fact that most industries in Mexico are owned by foreigners, with the consequence that profits are sent out of the country. Model 130. NOW $ Model 131. NOw $ The PALAIS G STREET AT ELEVENTH 12 TALIAN PLANES | “LEAVE FOR BRAZIL Gen. Italo Balbo, Fascist Air Minister, Heads Fleet on Ocean Flight. By the Associated Pres ORBETELLO, Italy, December 17.— Twelve Italian seaplanes roared away from the calm surface of Lake Orbetello at 7:45 am. today (1:45 a.m. Eastern standard time) and, striking into a heavy mist, headed for Cartegena, Spain, on the first lap of & projected transatlantic flight to Rio de Janeiro. Piloting the first of the planes was Gen. Italo Balbo, Italian air minister and leader of the expedition, which in many ways represents the most ambi- ¢ tious transoceanic flight adventure ever attempted. Fifty-five other men com- prised the officers and crew of the Fascist air armada. From Cartagena the airmen plan to fly down the Mediterranean and West African coast to a point near Dakar, Senegal, whence the expedition will take off on a 1,900-mile flight across the Atlantic to Natal, Brazil. From Natal they will strike out for Rio de Janeiro. It is planned eventually to sell the planes to the Brazilian govern- ment and to return home by ship. Brief Ceremony Held. Departure of the expedition followed a brief ceremony, witnessed by about 250 persons, in which the airmen stood at attention and sang the “Hymn of the Aviators,” new Italian _air service anthem. Then, taking off their hats, they raised their arms in the Fascist salute and at Gen. Balbo's order, “To your posts,” repaired to the seaplanes. Gen, Balba arose first in a black- winged plane emblematic of Fascism, two similar machines following. Then came three other groups of three planes each, the first with white wings, the second with red wings and the third with green wings, representing the Italian national colors. In the rear were two relief planes which may be substituted for any of the original 12 planes which may fail en route. The planes rose into the air at 20- second intervals. All headed north- ward first and then turned westward toward the open sea on the more than 700-mile trip to Cartagena. Weather Report Favorable, There was not a breath of air stir- ring, although there was a heavy mist, nearly a "drizzle. Weather reports, after two days' postponement of the start, were favorable. The expedition expected to reach Cartagena before the early nightfall of this season. Every member of Gen. Balbo's com- mand is now a full-fledged Fascist. In an intimate ceremony last night the new secretary of the party, Giuriati, con- ferred membership cards and badges on the new officers and men not yet en- rolled in the party. ROME AWAITS FLIGHT NEWS. Crowds Gather to Learn Progress of Hop to Cartagena. ROME, December 17 (#).— Screech- ing whistles and shouting newsboys told Rome today of the take-off of Gen. Italo Balbo with 12 Italian seaplanes on the first hop of a projected trans- atlantic trip to South America. Crowds gathered around newspaper offices. lwnlting bulletins of progress of the flight to Cartagena. Among messages of farewell sent to Gen. Balbo was one from Gabriele D'Annunzio, Italian aviator-poet. Brazil's new government has revoked the decrees of the deposed heads per- mitting foreign ships to engage in coast- wise trade. Screen Grid Models At Generous Savings! Model 52 .. NOwW $ ...Formerly $112.50 .50 (Complete With Tubes) .Formerly $143.50 (Complete With Tubes) : Fofmerly $163.50 (Complete ROYAL TELEPHONE DISTRICT 4400 Prices Reduced on il S Commander Takes Risk ‘ Gen. Balbo, Leading Squadron, Motivated by Fascist Ideal of Duty—Every Scientific Precaution Observed. By GEN. ITALO BALBO, Italian Air Minister, Written Especially for the Associated Press and the Stefani News Agency. By the Associated Press. ORBETELLO, Italy, December 17.—Aviation is led by a wire which must be pulled from in front, then the project proceeds and is successful. .It cannot be pushed from behind. The commander must assume all responsibility and risk even the supreme sacrifice. It is true that this is not always understood, but before a Fascist minister there is always a high ideal of duty. I am aiso an armed commander, and in this position my function is like that of Lieut. Smith, who led the American round-the-world Army flight. Frankly, and without any false modesty, I must tell the Italian people that this enterprise will not succeed without difficuity. It is true that in 1928 we succeeded in flying 3,000 kilometers over the western Mediterranean and brought back all of 61 seaplanes without incident. It is trye that in 1929 a rmugr of 25 large bombers cruised without incident through the skies of the eastern Mediterranean to Odessa. This Flight More Difficult. But this flight is infinitely more difficult, over about 7,000 miles, of which all hops will be of more than 650 miles. ‘To reach the American coast we will have the usual instruments of navigation, and these, together with our hearts and our will, will give us an indomitable force to conquer the sphynx of the Atlantic. At the same time if I bring to Rio de Janeiro from Bolama six or seven planes instead of 12, Itallan aviation will still be able to write its finest page. I am sure that we have done everything pos- sible to guarantee by all the means of science and experience that there will be no mishap. We Gen. Balbo. are sure of the re]sdult:,é Ib{] nrg zther nation sdhn‘uld ce are trying they woul able 0 as we are doing, .btl?':g!btr"::els‘.zm‘:lfi,f\p:fli‘n‘convxcuun 1 am taking off toward the horizons of the sea, already flooded by the light of morning. ‘The machines we are using are the glorious S-55 type of marine bombers, slightly modified for long distance fly~ ing. They are equipped with two Fiat A-22-R 12-cylinder 560-600-horsepower West African coast. The crews, all of whom are volunteers, are men taken from among the aces of military aviation. All were chosen company the squadron as far as Bolama, ; motors, and their loaded weight is 10,- 000 kilograms, of which 4,800 kilograms is useful load. Lights Provided for Night Landing. Their radio equipment is both long and short wave. The machines are pro- vided with a special lighting system for night landing. The aim of the flight is to train the personnel for air navigation and forma- tion flying. Each plane is carrying a sextant to work out methods of orienta- tion. Fifty-six men are making the flight, four for each of 14 ships, of which two of the crew are pilots, one is a mechanic and one is a radio operator. Two repair planes will DUEL CHALLENGE SENT TO GERMAN MINISTER Bucharest Society Excited Over Ac- tion of Telephone Executive, Who Charges Criticism of Premier. By the Associated Press. BUCHAREST, Rumania, December 17.—Bucharest society is excited cver a challenge to a duel sent by M. Fili- pescu, president of the Americanien Telephone Co., to Herr Mutius, German Minister here. The challenge is the outgrowth of a letter allegedly sent by Herr Mutius to a newspaper man, in which he belit- tles Premier Mironescu -and ridicules Prince Barbu Stirbey for his opposition to_Prince Carol's return to Bucharest. M. Filipescu has had a facsimile of the letter published. He wishes to have the German Minister recalled. early in 1930 and have been studying and training for 12 months. ‘The commander ‘of the school at Or- betello, where the crews were trained, was Col. Umberto Maddalena, aided by Maj. Longo. The high aim of their work rendered less difficult the year’s work of the pilots in their arduous and often dangerous studies. ‘The flight will cost less than 3,000,000 lira ($150,000), a figure small in com- parison with the cost of short private trips over the same route. The low administration, as well as private gen- erosity. 1If, as we hope, the planes ar- rive at Rio de Janeiro with no more than 70 hours’ fiying, they may be con- sidered as good as new and perfect condition. Storage—Packing Mviig o Goners Manssar ; of Kriew's Expreas Co. jis NOW in business at 904 10th St. N.W. Call District 9115 164BICoN N’ cost is the result of wisdom of the air | AVIATION PARLEY HEARS CAPT. HAWKS Noted Flyer Stresses Need of Uniform Laws on Aero- nautics. Development of a high-speed plane similer to the type in which he has set record after record s shrinking the boundaries of the States and makes necessary uniform aeronautic legisl tion, Capt. Frank M. Hawks told the Conference of State Delegates, celled by the Department of Commerce to con- sider aviation legislation. “‘Aviation should not be burdened with duplication of laws,” Capt. Hawks sald. “There is no doubt that the average airplane will be speeded up so that State boundaries will not mean much, If the laws vary from State to State air progress will be seriously hindered.” Hawks was picked out of the crowd informally during the morning session of the conference. Many famous avi- ators were present when the conference adjourned at noon to go to the White House. Among them, in addition to Hawks, Williams and Jones, were Col. Charles A. Lindbergh and Miss Amelia Earhart, first woman to fly the Atlantic, Airport Menace Cited. The danger that growing real estate values and taxes will drive privately owned airports out of existence in the vicinity of large cities was cited as a reason for governmental ownership by Richard B. Barnitz, Los Angeles airport director, at today's session of the con- ference. The _conference. which began ENTERPRISE SERIAL BUILDING ASSOCIATION 7th St. and La. Ave. N.W., 65th Issue of Stock Now Open for Subscription Money loaned to members on easy monthly payments James E. Connelly James F. Shea President Secretary DINNER DANCES There is an electrical gift for everyone. Your thoughtfulness in providing greater comfort and convenience for those whom you love is best ex- pressed with gifts that eliminate endless heurs of tedious labor . ... gifts that provide many mere hours of leisure. The original cost of electrical gifts is most rea- sonable . . . and everyone knows that the cost of operation is so trivial that it is computed in terms of pennies. This has been made possible by the substantial reductions in the cest of “Matchless Service” . . . every year for six consecu- tive years. As a result, indispensable “Matchless Serviee” is furnished to residents of Washington ndneubylsr;hndut'apfinaryhmehold rate that is 53 per cent lower than in 1924! Your dealer line of electrical branch of the ent. of in an effort to bring about unified State laws and lations governings &fr traffic. It is hoped to avoid the con- fusion which exists with regard fo; ! motor vehitle traffic codes, which 1 to some extent from State to State and’ | | ity to city. Hoover Meets Delegaies. Delegates to the conference, inch official representatives of v the States and representatives of lead=- ing national aeronautics were the guests of Robert P. Lamont, Secretary of Commerce, at dinner last night in the Mayflower Hotel. Sessions of the conference are being held in the building of the United States Chamber of Commerce. The delegates were received at the White House at 12:30_o'clock this afternoon by Presi- dent Hoover. The District of Columbia is repre- sented in the conference by Maj. Donald Davison, Assistant Engineer Commise sioner, and Lawrence E, Williams, chair- man of the Aviation Committee of the Washington Board of Trade, appointed by the District Commissioners, NO JOBLESS IN 66 TOWNS BOSTON, December 17 day, and which will be concluded afternoon, was called by the lg;:fi (#).—There | are at least 66 towns in Massachusetts | that need no unemployment committee {or advic> on how to handle the unem- ployment situation. The reason is they have no one out of employment, they reported to the Massachusetts Emer- gency Unemployment Committee yes- terday. 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