The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-12-02
Washington Letter

% governments represented at the
| Congress lts purpose will be the
collecting ~ all possible information
Ell road work the passing on it by
a Committee OF experts, and It's dis.
I,ributiou throughout the world,
| The ultimate benefits Of So Jar
reaching move cannot now be es-
timated, but the world will some day
carry heavy debt OF gratitude TO
the government whose highway rep
resentativcs conceived the. thought
II such Bureau, and brought to is
support the delegates Of every civil,
ICED country on the globe,
Credit must SO to MIR, Page icr
the proposed erection OF memorial
10 N, Tresauget, the great French
highway engineer who was the orr .
ginator oi the modern French sys'
tenn OF road maintenance, and who
began the building OF the incompar'
able system OF highways that has
made France famous as a road.build-
ling Nation. The resolution 70 that
effect was introduced BY Mr., Page
and unanimously adopted; the Sec
retary General being empowered to
receive contributions with which to
carry out its provisions,
Asked what plans France had made
for the visitors, Mr. Page said that
he had been amazed at the manner
in which the Republic had planned
for the comfort and the entertain
ment OF the delegates
Among the functions was an ella
borate reception at the Elysee Pal
ace where the National delegates
were receivd by President Fallarier-
es. The sessions Of the Congress were
lheld in 4 vast auditorium at the Sor'
bonne; the various sections meeting
in rooms especially furnished tor
their comfort and convenience at the
Salles du Jeu dc Paume in a corner
OF the beautiful garden Of the Tuil'
cries,
Beside the official reception at
Elysee Palace, there was q special
theatrical entertainment given at
which famous French aepess re-
cited poem specially written for
the occasion; a reception at the pal.
ace Of the Minister OF Public Works
another at the magnificent Hotel dc
Vile; side excursions TO Fontain'
bIeu and Nice; and a luncheon a,
the beautiful Palace at Versailles.
This latter function was OF spec
i'll interest to many Americans Be
cause Of the historical association
lingering about the magnificent pal
ace. The luncheon was served in tht
superb orange room, and when th'
delegates, to the number OF over 75C
had taken seats, the fountains which
form the great decorative features
OF the superb apartments, were Sc
playing, tribute by France to th'
visitors, for it is only on rare ocea
sions that the water is turned int
this chain Of basins.
At the reception at the Hotel d.
Vile the visitors were also treated
to scenes Of splendor foreign to Am
erican ideas Of simplicity. A Aregimen
Of the picturesque uniformed Chas
seurs OF the French army were d.
tailed to stand at attention, one oi
either end OF every step OF the gran,
marble staircase down which the del
egates passed. and thence to doubl
rows to the state dining rooms an,
grand saloons Gratifying and impre
sive as were these examples Of al
most royal hospitality, the chairman
Of the American delegation fount
more OF interest in the perfection o
the system Of roads with which tn
Republic is provided and inthe sys
tematic method Of maintaining then
to the highest degree Of efficiency
He was told that on the magnihcen
road leading from Paris to Versail
les 5000 automobiles pass either wa
on each fine day but he noted tina
! it was in such perfect condition tina
it was practically as dustless as tn,
carefully swept asphalt street of ;
large city.
No better macadam roads are bull
in France that can be and are bull
in this country; but the maintaining
Of these roads is attended to with
the utmost care, and for that reason
the highways are invariably in sucf
splendid condition that they excite
the envy of American visitors.
Prior to his arrival at Paris, Mr.
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