Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-14
TWO MONTHS ABROAD
Controller Ridgely Returns
From q Foreign Trip.
STUDIED THE PEOPLE
OBSERVED THE MASSES AT
CLOSE RANGE
Went Through France In an Automo-
Mle-Everywhers Found Enthu-
siasm for MI. Roosevelt.

William B. Ridgely. controller Of the cur
rency. 10 at his desk again in the treasury
building, after two months spent on a de-
| lightful holiday trip through Europe. Con-
| troller Ridgely says 1t was the longest holi-
day he ever had and In company with his
two daughters It was enjoyed to the full.
He did not start with any idea OF investi-
eating foreign conditions. financially or
otherwise, but though he has been across
several times he saw many new places.
| and enjoyed an opportunity for seeing what
are termed the masses Of the people at
closer range than ever before.
Comment on Our Prosperity.
AS a government financial official he was
interested particularly In England In no.
ticing the surprise generally expressed
among business and public men at the con-
| tinued and increasing business prosperity
Of the United States. Referring to this he
said: Business, generally speaking. is
everywhere very good. but 1t Is nothing like
as fourishing as 1T is here. Most of the
people I talked with seemed to wonder
what made our conditions so active, ana,
especially when they recalled that our bust
ness interests had suffered severe checks
in 'panicky' times, 1t seemd impossible to
understand how we rallied SO quickly and
went on at even greater strides. People
don't seem to appreciate our tremendous
resources, nor the influence of the gold
standard in these matters One instance OF
this influence may be taken In the fact
that our bonds sell at the highest prices
Of any in the world, and our basis for
credit is firmly established. While the peo-
pie who have never been In this country
have little idea of the vastness of our re-
sources, 1t Is also true that those who have
been over here are most enthusiastic and
very much inclined to over esttmate it."
While in England Controller Ridgely
toured the country In an automobile Dur
ing his stay in London he spent a day in
the house of commons the guest Of Mr.
Hennicker-Heaton, the member from Can
terbury, and saw Sir James kitson. who
was in Washington last year, and met sew
eral members and lords he had known be-
fore.
Though Mr.. Ridgely Is noncommittai as
to the relative merits of government own
ership and control Of public utilities, it Is
apparent that existing conditions. especially
in connection with the telephone systems
In some cities. do not appeal to him. The
service can hardly be classed with that gen.
orally given in cities of corresponding size
in this country, and Mr.. Ridgely's estimate
of railroad conditions would hardly favor
the practical results in some European
countries.
Observations in Germany.
Mr.. Rdgely continued his automobiling
from Frankfort on-the- Main to Paris,
through Alsace-Lorraine, and remarked:
This experience was very interesting It
afforded an opportunity for seeing the peo-
pie of the rural parts of the country at
close quarters. A tremendous Industrial
development Is evident In all parts of Ger
many that I passed through, especially in
manufacturing. The excellence Of the tech
nical and scientific schools also struck me
forcibly. Exceptional opportunities seem
to be afforded the ambitious young people
for educational improvement along very
practical lines that include all the most
advanced ideas. The roads through France
were, one is led to believe because of the
prevalence of automobilng. perfect. All
along the route it was a frequent comment
How splendid the great fields Of wheat
look" 1 saw much of this great wheat
country, travelling through the midst of it.
The agricultural work seems excellently
done all through that country. and 1t Is
apparently due to the employment of SO
much skilled labor.
Friendly Feeling in Spain.
IT was especially interested In hearing.
on my trip through Spain, that there Is
very little feeling among the people
against Americans. This was commented
upon by both resident Americans there and
Spaniards of different stations. I was also
surprised at the size and apparent physical
development Of the Spanish men. They
seem stronger and sturdier than I had be-
lieved they were. They seem to be physi-
cally a fine lot of people. Especially is
this true in the country"
From Spain Mr.. Ridgely made short
trip into Tangiers and took advantage of
the opportunity to view the house at which
the noted Raisouu captured Perdicardis
Everywhere was agreeably surprised"
remarked Mr. Ridgely. lat the pronounced
popularity of President Roosevelt. l was
told in Spain that he is held in great pop
ular regard by all the people. This popu-
larity was, Of course, greatly increased by
his success in the peace negotiations. and
IN England they were especially enthusi-
astic in their expressions of admira ton I
do not think there has been an American
greatly admired in Europe as Mr.. Roose-
welt is today"