Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1908-12-02
Looking Toward Better Roads.


the Office of Public Roads Of the
United States Department of Ag-
riculture, who was named by Pres
ident Roosevelt as head of the
American Commission to the recent
International Roads Congress at
Paris. returned Ia Washington a
few days since, firm in the belief
that In some of the more scientific
branches "f highway construction
the United States has nothing to
learn from the Older Nations.
though he was willing to concede
that those countries surpass this
To an amazing degree in thc per-
centagc of improved road mileage
aud in the jealous care with which
their SPLENDID highways are main
tanned.
Among the many things which,
especially impressed Mr.. Page
during This European trip we're the
methnd~ for regulating automobile
traffic in France and England: the
belief Of u majority OF The delegates
to the Roads Congress that the
automobile running ut average
speed is not detrimental 10 high
ways; the splendor of French hos
pitality; the discovery that many
miles Of very satisfactory high
ways in England have been con
structed by mixing limestone
and granite after the nethuds set
forth in publications issued through
the United States Office of Public
Roads, and the amusing discussion
now being carried ON 10y English
Automobiles against horse traffic
in city streets and upon suburban
highways.
1t is his belief that from the
Congress Itself at least one big re-
suit will how-and credit for that
must go TO America. On Sugges-
ton by Mr.. Page. it was determin-
ed to- create an International
Bureau of Roads. similar in some
respects 10 the International
Bureau of Navigation. This body
will consist of two or more dele
gates from each of the % govern
mcnts represented at the Congress.
Its purpose will be the collecting
of all possible information on road
work, the passing on it by a Com
mittee of experts, and its distribu-
ton throughout the world.
The ultimate benfits of SO far
reaching move cannot now be
estimated, but the world will some
day carry II heavy debt of gratitude
10 the government whose highway
representatives conceived the idea
of such L Bureau, and brought to
its support the delegates of every
civilized country ON the globe.
The chairman of the American
delegation found much of inter est
in the perfection of the system Of
roads with which the Republic is
provided, and in the systematic
method Of maintaing them to the
highest degree of efficiency. He
was told that on the magnificent
road leading from Paris to Yer
sailles 5000 automobiles pass either
way on each fine day, but he noted
that it was in such perfect condition
that 1t was practically as dustless
as the carefully swept asphalt
street of a large city.
No better macadam roads are
built in this country; but the main
tanning of these roads is attended to
with the utmost care, and for that
reason the highways are invariably
in such splendid condition that they
excite the envy OF American visi-
tors.
Prior to his arrival at Paris, Mr..
Page spent some days in England
ia the company of some of the
famous highway engineers of the
Empire, examining roads drought
out Englad. 1t is his belief that
England has arrived as near to the
solution of dustless roads-the
present day problem of all highway
engineers-as any nation. Her
engineers have given the use OF
bituminous materials for spraying
macadam roads the utmost thought
and care. Spraying highways
with such materials after science
has been called to the aid of the
HIGHWAY bnilder has q Tendency