Through a typographical error the Chrysanthemum in Mrs. 
Pratt's list printed as Mrs. Francis Pier gen should be Mrs. 
Francis Bergen. (See March Bulletin.) 
Bill-Board Menace. 
It is difficult to give a report of any work accomplished by 
the Bill Board Menace Committee because it has been largely 
propaganda — not concrete results. 
The Committee is convinced that the control of this serious 
commercialization of our highways should be by legislation, but 
vision unto the third generation is necessary. The pessimistic 
say our ideal is Utopian, perhaps it is, but we must work for 
this end nevertheless. 
It is encouraging to read evidences of agitation of this very 
important subject in the reports of various civic organizations. 
One most gratifying instance was a very forceful resolution 
passed by the Road Builders Association, which held a success- 
ful convention in Chicago last autumn. This was a happy 
combination of the practical and aesthetic — a goal hard to reach, 
but not impossible. 
Vast sums of money are at the command of the bill board 
interests — their lawyers are constantly on the alert to fight any 
effort made to introduce legislation which would tend to limit 
their power. Our organizations are not as a rule too well 
supplied with funds, and must work through slower channels 
of rousing civic pride. 
The farmer is usually glad to rent his land or have his barns 
painted by the wily agents of the advertising concerns — he often 
has his mortgaged land on his tired mind rather than the 
beauty of his landscape, consequently this phase of the question 
is a very human one and must be handled with sympathy. 
It has been helpful to receive a fairly large number of 
replies to the combined circular letter and questionnaire sent out 
hy the committees on Bill Board Menace and Highway and Road- 
sides last November, and it is to be hoped that following the 
spring meetings of the Garden Clubs more answers will be 
received. Our Committees feel it is very important that each 
Member Club shall form a Committee to gather information on 
these subjects — passing it on to us with suggestions at any time, 
as to best methods of controlling the menace of roadside unsight- 
liness, due to advertising and careless citizens, who use the high- 
ways as if they were one vast scrap basket. 
At the June meeting of the Garden Club of America to 
be held in Cleveland, a more detailed report of the work at- 
tempted, if not yet accomplished, will be read. And in closing 
may the Committee again urge the active co-operation of each 
Garden Club? 
Virginia H. Holden, Chairman. 
317 
