Report from Engineer & Surveyor to Secretary - "Advertising Boards". Shanghai, January 8, 1906. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3256 (1997-1998).
For the information of the Works Committee I beg to report that Messrs. Mink & Co. Have applied for a permit to erect ten sign boards "in front of the Race Track" on Bubbling Well Road which I repsume means on Mr. Hogg's vacant land next the Metropole.
The Committee will no doubt have noticed how the Settlement is being disfigured by these advertising boards which in the majority of cases are erected on the public footways.
The Council cannot prevent advertising on private property, provided public rights are not infringed, but I would suggest that is should at any rate be controlled where practicable. In this connection I would draw attention to the report of the Acting Engineer dated the 9th and the 14th November 1905. These reports contained two suggestions
- That a licence fee calculated on the superficial area should be charged. or
- That a clause should be inserted on permits for fences standing on public thoroughfare "That no advertisements (p.2/2) be allowed on the fences.
I should draw the Committee's particular attention to the boardings in Broadways opposition the Astor House, which I consider to lay the least lacking in taste and artistict merit. Further more the painting of these boards after they are fixed involes considerable obstruction to the footpaths whil the painters' ladders are there hour after hour. I would therefore ask that the matter be reconsidered.
Letter from Engineer & Surveyor to A.G. Mink & Co. Shanghai, January 8, 1906. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3256 (1999).
The question of advertising boards has been fully discussed by the Council and I am instructed to inform you that it has been decided that permits shall be given for the erection of these boards on temporary hoardings, in front of buildings in course of erection only, and that they shall be confined to non-residential districts. It is also to be understood that any advertisements appearing the the boards which may be held by the Council to be of an undesirable character shall be removed upon intimation to the advertising Company concerned.
I shall be glad to hear if you are prepared to accept this arrangement.
Letter to Secretary from Shanghai Advertising & Bill Posting Company. Shanghai, January 18, 1906. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3256 (2000).
Your recent correspondent with the Municipal Engineer in regard to the conditions under which bill-posting is to be conducted within Municipal limits has been considered by the Council and with reference thereto, I am now instructed to stat that the Council requires that you will give an undertakingto restrict your firm's operations within the business area of the Settlement, in return for the privilege of advertising within that area on temporary hoardings, erected in front of buildings in course of construction. The Council proposes to make this conditions obligatory in all similar cases of public advertising, and therefore hopes that the arrangements will be accepted.
For the purposes of this arrangement, the definition of the "business area" as distinct from the residential districts of the Settlement is left to the discretion of the Municipal Engineer.
Shanghai Advertising & Bill Posting Agency - Application for permit "to put up advertising bill boards 30 feet long in front of the Race Course". Shanghai, November 3, 1905. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3256 (2001).
Application for Permit - To the Municipal Surveyor. Please grant permission to the Shanghai Advertising and Bill-Posting Agency for the purpose of puting up bill board 30 feet long Race Course in the front Panorama - Nanking Road - in the … District for a period of … ( ) days and ... herby undertake to comply with the following and such other conditions as may be contained in the permit granted by the Council.
1 - That the ... not extend into the ... road more than ... feet.
2 - That sufficient protection be made so that the materials do not fall into road.
3 - That the .... when landed be immediately taken away.
4 - That the ... be carried in properly constructed baksets and not dropped on the road.
5 - That the road not be opened more than hald in width at a time and free access left to all houses, buildings and alleways.
6- That efficient barriers and lights be placed at night to protect and show all openings.
7 - That the road or footpath be repaired at the completion of thework by the Municipal Council of which undertake to pay the cost.
8 - That in the event of there being any accidents through defective and insufficient lighting, fencing or barriers, or from the absence of same, or from any cause consequent upon this application being granted we hereby undertake to make food at our own expense all claims for injuries and accidents that may occur. Note : Advertisement for building permits must be made on the special form issued by the Engineer & Surveyor's Department.
Shanghai Advertising & Bill Posting Agency - Application for permit "to erect 10 sign boards in front of the Race track in the Bubbling Well Road". Shanghai, January 5, 1906. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3256 (2002).
Application for Permit - To the Municipal Surveyor. Please grant permission to the Shanghai Advertising and Bill-Posting Agency for the purpose of erecting 10 sign boards in front of house No. Race Track in the Bubbling Well Road in the Western district for a period of 90 days and ... . hereby undertake to comply with the following and such other conditions as may be contained in the permit granted by the Council.
1 - That the ... not extend into the ... Road more than ... feet.
2 - That sufficient protection be made so that the materials do not fall into road.
3 - That the .... when landed be immediately taken away.
4 - That the ... be carried in properly constructed baksets and not dropped on the road.
5 - That the road not be opened more than hald in width at a time and free access left to all houses, buildings and alleways.
6- That efficient barriers and lights be placed at night to protect and show all openings.
7- That the road or footpath be repaired at the completion of thework by the Municipal Council of which undertake to pay the cost.
8 -That in the event of there being any accidents through defective and insufficient lighting, fencing or barriers, or from the absence of same, or from any cause consequent upon this application being granted we hereby undertake to make food at our own expense all claims for injuries and accidents that may occur.
Note : Advertisement for building permits must be made on the special form issued by the Engineer & Surveyor's Department.
Shanghai Advertising & Bill Posting Agency - Application for permit "to put up Bulletin board in front of the Race track in the Bubbling Well Road". Shanghai, January 16, 1906. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3256 (2003).
Application for Permit - To the Municipal Surveyor. Please grant permission to the Shanghai Advertising and Bill-Posting Agency for the purpose of put up Bulletin Boards in various roads in the Central district for a period of 90 days and ... . hereby undertake to comply with the following and such other conditions as may be contained in the permit granted by the Council.
1 - That the ... not extend into the ... Road more than ... feet.
2 - That sufficient protection be made so that the materials do not fall into road.
3 - That the .... when landed be immediately taken away.
4 - That the ... be carried in properly constructed baksets and not dropped on the road.
5 - That the road not be opened more than hald in width at a time and free access left to all houses, buildings and alleways.
6- That efficient barriers and lights be placed at night to protect and show all openings.
7- That the road or footpath be repaired at the completion of thework by the Municipal Council of which undertake to pay the cost.
8 -That in the event of there being any accidents through defective and insufficient lighting, fencing or barriers, or from the absence of same, or from any cause consequent upon this application being granted we hereby undertake to make food at our own expense all claims for injuries and accidents that may occur. Note : Advertisement for building permits must be made on the special form issued by the Engineer & Surveyor's Department.
Letter from A.G. Mink to Secretary. Shanghai, January 23, 1906. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3256 (2004).
Will you kindly grant the enclosed applications for permits which explain themselves and oblige.
Letter from A.G. Mink to Secretary. Shanghai, January 23, 1906. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3256 (2005).
In answer to your favor of January 16 (1906) we understand your proposition to be that in consideration of granting us permits to erect advertising bill boards and to post advertising matter, we are to abstain from erecting said signboards in what is classified by the Municipal Engineer as the Residential District of the settlements : this owever not to affect any contracts to which we have at present bound ourseveles, but is in reference to our future operations. While the statement that we shall refrain form advertising in any district which, in the discretion of the Municipal Engineer, is residential as rather vague, we reply as before, that we will gladly acceed to the resquest unless the discretion of the Municipal Engineer shall become absolutely unreasonable ; and repeat that as to the manner of signs, the places where same shall be placed, and any other matter connected with the proposed conduct of our business, we shall always be anxious to meet the wishes of the Municipal Council more than half way.
Letter to A.G. Mink from Secretary. Shanghai, January 24, 1906. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3256 (2006).
Before submitting your letter of yesterday date for the information of the Council, I shall be obliged if you will supplement it by informing me definitely by what contracts you are at present bound in regard to posting advertisements or erecting sign-boards in the residential districts of the Settlement. It is clear from the Council's decision as recorded and conveyed to your that should you have given undertaking to post advertisements in districts outside the business area, the Council's proposal will be of no effect, and it is therefore necessary that full and definite information on this point be available.
Letter from A.G. Mink to Secretary. Shanghai, January 24, 1906. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3256 (2007).
Yours of even date duly to hand, and in reply we beg to state that we have no contracts for sign boards or leases on any property for advertising purposes other than what boards are already in position and painted wall advertisements that are now finished and on display. Trusting this meets with your approval.
Letter to A.G. Mink - Shanghai Advertising & Bill Posting Company - from Engineer & Surveyor. Shanghai, January 29, 1906. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3256 (2008).
In reply to your letter of the 23rd instant (January 1906), addressed to the Secretary asking for permits for the erection of various signboards and bulleting boards in the Settlement, I beg to say that it will first be necessary for you to reply to the Secretary's letter of the 24th instant. The matter will then receive consideration.
Letter to A.G. Mink - Shanghai Advertising & Bill Posting Company - from Engineer & Surveyor. Shanghai, January 30, 1906. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3256 (2009).
Referring to your applications for permits dated November 3rd (1905), January 5th and January 16th (1906), sent to the Secretary on the 23rd, I beg to say :
I - I understand the first two applications to refer to the vacant land on the west of the Hotel Metropole where the proposed is to erect the boards five feet back from the road line. This being the case no permit is required, but it is understood that the boards must be erected in such a manner as to prevent any possibility of accident to the public.
II - With regard to the third application I shall be glad if you will let ma have a list showing the exact positions where it is intedned to erected the bulletin boards so that it may be ascertained whether there is any objection to the erection of the boards before the permits are issued.
Letter from A.G. Mink - Shanghai Advertising & Bill Posting Company - to Engineer & Surveyors Department. Shanghai, January 31, 1906. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3256 (2010).
Yours of the 30th inst. Received and contents fully noted. Regarding the third application to erect bulletin boards, we do not yet know just where wa can plance them, and will advise you later. We should have asked for renewal of permit, there are only nine of the boards that have not been placed they are jsut like those that the writer explained to your personnally, in position on Peking Road at the Corner of the Bund.
The first permit has expired, ninety days.
Letter from A.G. Mink - Shanghai Advertising & Bill Posting Company - to Engineer Department (Chas. Mayne). Shanghai, March 12, 1906. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3256 (2011).
We beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No.22332 and in reply wish to state that we have already given instructions to have the board in question taken down & replaced on stouter uprights. Trusting this meets with your approval.
Letter to Shanghai Advertising & Bill Posting Company - from Engineer & Surveyor. Shanghai, March 12, 1906. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3256 (2012).
Referring to my letter of the 30th January wherein I stated that the Advertisement boards on the land west of the Hotel Metropole must be erected in such a manner as to prevent any possibility of accident to the public ; I beg to point out that at least one of the boards is in danger of falling down over the footways.
Letter to Shanghai Advertising & Bill Posting Company - from Engineer & Surveyor. Shanghai, March 24, 1906. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3256 (2013).
I have to draw your attention to the dangerous condition of certain advertising boards on the vacant land adjoining the Hotel Metropole. Unless these are put in a safe confition at once I shall be compelled to recommend the Council to order their removal.
Letter to Shanghai Advertising & Bill Posting Company - from Engineer & Surveyor. Shanghai, October 3, 1906. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3256 (2014).
In my letter of the 30th January I stipulated that the advertising boards on the vacant land west of the Hotel Metropole should be erected in such a manner as to prevent any possiblity of accident to the public. This morning on account toe the north wind these boards were swinging out over the footpath to the annoyance and danger of pedestrians.
Under these circumstances I must ask you either to secure them firmly or set them back to such a distance as will prevent interference with traffic on the footpath.
Reply from to Shanghai Advertising & Bill Posting Company - to Chas. Mayne (Public Works Department). Shanghai, October 4, 1906. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3256 (2015).
We beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No.23156 regarding advertising Signs opposite the Recreation ground and in reply beg to say that the sign are placed fully five feet back from the boundary stones, and in view of the strong wind yesterday we had a man stationed there to see whether at any time they did swing over the footpath, his report as that they did not, and that the only danger was through pedestrians going between the signs to look at the animals belonging to the Circus.
However, we will fo our utmost to meet your wishes, and will fortwith experiment on a section by securing them to the uprights. Thanking you for your intimation of the possible danter & assuring you of our willingness to meet the Council's wishes at all times.
Letter to Shanghai Advertising & Bill Posting Company - from Engineer & Surveyor. Shanghai, April 2, 1906. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3256 (2016).
I beg to inform you that I have had several of your advertisements removed from the walls of the Shantung Road Cemetery. Will your please note that the Council prohibits the posting of bills on any of tis propertie. In doing so you render yourselves liable to an action for trespass.
Letter to Shanghai Advertising & Bill Posting Company - from Engineer & Surveyor. Shanghai, August 18, 1906. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3256 (2017).
I beg to draw your attention to the insecure method of attaching the hanging signboards on the land opposite the Recreation Ground. One of these recently blew down and a foreign gentleman only just espaced a very serious accident. I must ask you to give this matter your immediate attention.
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