beautification Department
NATIONAL BOARD OF MANAGERS
Mrs. F. W. Sorell, National Director 139 E. Hulsaclie St., San Antonio, Texas
Mrs. Alex L. Adams. Assistant National Director Mrs. L. W. Evans, Secretary	Mrs.	J.	L. Browne, Treasurer
Mrs. .1. T. Smith Mrs. II. A. Moos Mrs. Henry Drought STATE DIRECTORS Mrs. B. H. Armstrong,	Mrs.	T.	W.	Lanier,
Box 1002,	1-103 Montana St.,
St. Augustine, Florida.	El Faso, Texas.
Miss Esther Banning,	Mrs.	Herbert	Veo,
Robertsdale, Alabama.	Las	Cruces,	N.	M.
Mrs. E. Clinton Murray, 1217 Montrose Are., Houston, Texas.
Mrs. F. M. White, 200 Upas Street, San Diego, Calif.
Developing the Plans
The beautification work along the Old Spanish Trail was organized by southern women at New Orleans in 1923 at the Old Spanish Trail convention. This was the first organized movement in a national way for roadside protection and beautification. At this gathering the women emphasized the principle that while the men would build the roads the women should lead in developing their beauties and attractions. Since then long trips over the Old Spanish Trail have been made by groups of these women. Individual members of the Board have made trips thru many states and thru Kurope studying conditions in the interest of (his work.
The Headquarters Section
Mrs. A. C. Seiser. Chairman.
One of the first practical steps was to adopt the 30-mi. road from San Antonio to Bocrne, Texas, ns a special Headquarters Section. The women recognized this would give them practical experience and qualify them hotter for leadership to the other localities. The Headquarters Section is scenic-ally capable of beautiful development but it had the usual collection of advertising signs and crude roadside buildings; in places the road was too narrow, some curves were sharp and other conditions were unfavorable lo nice development. The first necessary step was a wider right-of-way. All agreed one hundred feet was the minimum to he secured and experience sustains this conclusion.
Widening the right-of-way to 100 ft. has now been in progress for three years and 1ms cost the combined effort of the women and the San Antonio civic organizations. Fences are being put back and the State is following along with improvements. Property owners are slow giving the needed right-of-way and this emphasizes the importance of getting a proper right-of-way before property improvements become too settled.
The Bexar-Kendnll county gateway, costing $1000. has been constructed of native stone columns and buttresses according to an architect's design. The road clearance between the columns is 40 ft. Where possible the State Highway Department prefers 50 ft. to 00 ft. The other counties thru West Texas are planning similar stone gateways at their county lines.
A rugged, shaded tract on the Balcones Creek was donated for a wayside park; this Is being improved with
stone fences and entrances, stone tables and scats, fire nlaces, resting places and a stone caretaker’s house. The Kiwanis Club, the Bexar County Medical Auxiliary and numerous San Antonio and Boerne citizens have cooperated to provide funds and materials for this work. Other beautiful spots along the Old Spanish Trail are offered for wayside pnrks. The experience with this park work will „id the planning of other parks.
The Beautification Program
Bulletins, architects' drawings, photos of completed works, and other helps arc now available.
1___The most attractive and efficient route marking
in the United Slates is being installed by the route marking department; the beautification department coordinates with this. Blue prints and bulletins are ready and the work is in progress. Localities may now go ahead with some of this work.
2—	Signing of the historical, interesting and scenic places. A design of old Spanish types with the rich Spanish colors has been adopted.
3—	County Line gateways. Architect's plans for stone or concrete columns and gateways will be mailed on request. A stone gateway has been erected at the Bexar-Kendall County line on the Headquarters Section. West Texas counties will place columns or gateways of native, stone.
4—	State Line gateways.
5—	Wayside parks. On the headquarters section suci a park has been donated, a stone caretaker's house is being erected, also stone tables, benches and fences. This is not an auto camp but a wayside park with a caretaker. Other donations have been offered along the Old Spanish Trail. It is somewhat expensive preparing such a park but cooperation on this park lias been cordial. The caretaker will have a home and should sell enough for his living, therefore be no expense.
0—Improved city and town entrances. This will be much finer than the billboards and crude advertising signs along the highway to advertise the town or city.
7—Improved property entrances and fences. Individual property owners are responding to this suggestion nicely. Photos of improved entrances will be mailed.
S—Removal of advertising signs. The highway departments are proceeding with this splendidly. New laws are needed. This department has laws for submission to legislatures.
® Planting of trees and shrubs where desirable, and Preserving scenery where no planting is needed. Provid-“ eonsulting landscape artists and horticulturists to help 1 lnt this phase of the work. Where cattle are allowed , , the road stock laws must be passed; localities should e this matter up at once.
cooperation with the State highway viiartnients for attentions by the engineers and the is ,ln!tnance forces to improve conditions. This cooperation being delightfully extended by the highway officials.
p.^ptlltimately it is hoped some sort of an award sign the - f!iven t,le localities showing the best sector during Hie lr.f!!m /I'h's perhaps to be erected on the highway in
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