Insects and other pests created serious problems during the early years of parkway development. The spring canker worm reached epidemic proportions in 1914 and threatened to spread throughout the entire parkway. Merkel researched the various spraying machines on the market and made his recommendations for purchase. The BPC furnished the desired equipment, but the forestry department quickly learned that it was insufficient. The spraying machine would only reach a height of 60' when sprayed from the ground, which made a great deal of climbing necessary to reach the higher trees. As a consequence, progress in exterminating pests was slow and only a limited area could be treated. Merkel recommended that the BPC be prepared for more serious pest eradication efforts the following season.(126) An additional high-power sprayer was purchased, which allowed labor forces to reach the top of any tree in the reservation and eliminated the need for erecting ladders and scaffolds. Crews saved a great deal of time and were able to accomplish more work than the previous season. Pest elimination continued to be an ongoing battle. Other problems included tent caterpillars, Tussic moths, walnut caterpillars, fall web worms, yellow-necked apple caterpillars, mourning cloak, elm leaf beetles, cigar case berry, and golden oak scale.(127)

Billboards

The BPC considered billboards to be "blatant desecrations" of the landscape and waged "incessant warfare" against the structures. From the beginning of the project, the commissioners made it clear that they "anticipated with pleasure the time when the glaring advertising signs, so numerous in the City section of the Parkway, could be removed." Most of these billboards were positioned to advertise products and services to commuters and other travelers on the busy railway line that paralleled the Bronx River. The BPC was extremely proud of its billboard removal campaign, which eliminated an aggregate total of seven miles of signs from the reservation.(128) The BPC strictly enforced its no-billboards policy and did its best to eliminate or screen signs outside parkway boundaries that could be viewed from within the BRPR.

The most effective means of eliminating billboards was to require that all sign leases be cancelled and billboards removed before the BPC would pay for land. By mid 1914, many of the largest billboards along the Bronx River had been eliminated. A considerable number of those remaining were on lands under contract to the BPC and slated for removal. The commissioners expected to eliminate most remaining billboards within a few months. To further enforce their anti-billboard policy, the BPC notified outdoor advertising companies that if they relocated their signs to land beyond the parkway borders, the BPC would immediately plant trees to screen them from view.(129)

The BPC’s billboard policy was sometimes contested by local businesses. In June 1914, C. L. Schloemer appeared before the commission to discuss the removal of his signs from land soon to be acquired for the parkway. He wanted a grace period so that he would have enough time to find other locations for the signs. The commissioners strongly objected to this plan, telling Schloemer that they regretted interfering with his business, but considered his signs very objectionable and insisted on their removal. They ordered him to take down the signs within a few weeks so the BPC could take title to the property. They also warned him that they would protect parkway views by screening signs visible from the "Parkway Boulevard."(130) The BPC continually monitored the view from inside the parkway. In May 1915, Downer reported that he had noticed a number of "large signboards" along Bronx Boulevard that were outside the BRPR but within view of the reservation. He recommended planting poplars to protect the parkway users and the railroad passengers from the offensive intrusions.(131)


 

(126)Bronx Parkway Commission, Report, 1914, 81.
(127)Bronx Parkway Commission, Report, 1916, 77-78, 80.
(128)Bronx Parkway Commission, Report, 1914, 64; Report, 1916, 52; Final Report, 24.
(129)Bronx Parkway Commission, Report, 1914, 65.
(130)Bronx Parkway Commission, Minutes, June 14, 1914, 221-224.
(131)Bronx Parkway Commission, Minutes, May 7, 1915, 213-216; Bronx Parkway Commission, Report, 1916, 52.

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