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beautification Department
NATIONAL BOARD OF MANAGKKS
Mrs. F. W. Sorell, National Director 13!) E. Huisache St., San Antonio, Texas Mrs. Alex L. Adams, Assistant National Director Mrs. L. \V. Evans, Secretary	Mrs.	J. L, Browne, Treasurer
Mrs. J. T. Smith Mrs. II. A, Moos Mrs, Ilenrj- Drought
STATU DIUECTOKS
Mrs. R. II. Armstrong, Box lot>2,
St. Augustine, Florida.
Miss Esther Banning, Robert sdale, Alabama.
Mrs. E. Clinton Murray, 12001 McGregor St., Houston, Texas.
Mrs. T. W. I.anier, 1403 Montana St., El I’aso, Texas.
Mrs. Herbert Yeo,
I.as Cruces, N. M.
Developing the Plans
The beautification work along tlie Old Spanish Trail was organized by southern women at New Orleans in 3!)23, 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 moil 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 Europe studying conditions in the interest of this work.
The Headquarters Section Mrs. A. C. Seiser, Chairman.
One of tlie first practical steps was to adopt the 30-mi. road from San Antonio to Boerne. Texas, as a special Headquarters Section. The women recognized this would give them practical experience and qualify them better for leadership to the other localities. The Headquarters Section is scenieally 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 to nice development. The first necessary step was a wider right-of-way. All agreed one hundred feet was the minimum to be secured and experience sustains this conclusion.
Widening the right-of-way to 300 ft. has now been in progress for three years and has 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.
Tlie Bexar-Kendall county gateway, costing S1000, 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 tlie State Highway Department prefers .10 ft. to <S0 ft. The other counties thru West Texas are planning similar stone gateways at their county lines.
A rugged, shaded tract on the P.alcones Creek was donated for a wayside park: this is being improved with
stone fences and entrances, stone tables and seats, fire places, resting places and a stone caretakers house. The Kiwanis Clm>, the Bexar County Medical Auxiliary and numerous San Antonio and Boerne citizens have cooperated to jirovide funds and materials for this work. Other beautiful spots along the Old Spanish Trail are offered for wayside parks. The experience with this park work will aid the planning of other parks.
The Beautification Program
Bulletins, architects’ drawings, photos of completed works, and other helps are now available.
1—The	most attractive and efficient route marking in the United States 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 lias been erected at the Bexar-Kendall County line on the Headquarters Section. West Texas counties will j>laee columns or gateways of native stone.
4—State	Line gateways.
5—Wayside	parks. On tlie headquarters section sucli 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 i>ark 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 has been cordial. The caretaker will have a home and should sell enough for his living, therefore be no expense.
<i—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.
!l—Planting of trees and shrubs where desirable, and preserving scenery where no planting is needed. Providing consulting landscape artists and horticulturists to help outline tliis phase of the work. Where cattle are allowed on the road stock laws must be passed: localities should take this matter up at once.
10—Establishing	cooperation with the State highway departments for attentions by the engineers and the maintenance forces to improve conditions. This cooperation is being delightfully extended by the highway officials.
11—Ultimately	it is hoped some sort of an award sign can be given the localities showing the best sector during the year. This perhaps to be erected on the highway in the localities receiving the award.
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