Concern for the amenities of the countryside—not always a conspicuous
characteristic of our politicians—has been shown recently by the Legislatures of three States—New Jersey, New York and Kentucky. New Jersey has enacted perhaps, the most far-reaching measure passed in this country for the regulation of the billboard nuisance. It requires that all bill- boards erected in the State be licensed and taxed at the rate of three cents a square foot. It prohibits the erection of any billboards within 500 feet of a road intersection and anywhere_ where, they might endanger traffic or damage adjacent pro- perty. Full „power to regulate the erection of billboards throughout the State is vested in a State COmmiwioner. The New York State Legislature, for its part, is considering the. provision of. funds to improve the appearance of State high- ways by planting marginal stretches of trees along them in spaces which at present are bare. Kentucky, after a long fight, has decided that the beautiful Cumberland Falls, with their surrounding lands, which were in danger of being turned over for development as an electric power and light station, shall be preserved for all time as a State Park. The decision, was not an easy one to come to, since electrical development is needed ; the site was an admirable one for that purp6se and commercial bidi for it were high-. Help in deciding in favour of beauty rather than utility was afforded the Legislature by a local philanthropist, who bought the Falls and the surrounding lands for approximately a quarter of a million dollars and presented them to the State.
Previous page
