Milford chronicle., 1908-12-11
INTERNATIONAL ROADS
CONGRESS HELD IN PARIS

the Public Roads of the United
States Department Of Agriculture,
who was named by President Roose-
welt as head of the American Com
mission to the recent International
Roads Congress at Paris, returned
to Washington a few days since,
firm in the belief that in some of
the more scientific branches Of high
wav 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 the
percentage of improved road mile
age and in the Jealous care with
which their splendid highways are
maintained.
Among the many things which
especially impressed Mr.. Page dur
ing this European trip were the
methods for regulating automobile
traffic in France and England the
belief of majority of the delegates
to the Roads Congress that the auto
mobile running at average speed IS
not detrimental to highways the
splendor of French hospitality; the
discovery that many miles of very
satisfactory highways in England
have been constructed by mixed
limestone and granite after the
methods set forth in publications
issued through the United States
Office of Public Roads, and the
amusing discussion now being car
RED on by English Automobiles
against horse traffic in city streets
and upon suburban highways.
It is his belief that from the Con
eress itself at least one big result
will flow and credit for that must
90 to America. On a suggestion
bv Mr.. Page, it was determined to
create an International Bureau of
Roads, similar in some respects to
the International Bureau Of Nav1-
cation. This body will consist OF
two or more delegates from each OF
the 20 governments represented at
the Congress. Its purpose will be
the collecting of all possible intor-
nation on roadwork, the passing on
it by a committee of experts, and its
distribution throughout the world.
The ultimate benefits of so far
reaching a move cannot now be est1-
mated. but the world will some day
carry a heavy debt of gratitude to
the government whose highway rep
resentatives conceived the thought
of such a Bureau, and brought to
its support the delegates of every
civilized country on the globe.
Credit must go to Mr.. Page for
the proposed erection of memorial
to NJ. Tresauget, the great French
highway engineer who was the
originator of the modern French
system of road maintenance, and
who began the building Of the in
comparable system of highways
that has made France famous as a
bodybuilding Nation. The resolu-
ton to that effect was introduced
bv Mr.. Page and unanimously
adopted the Secretary General be-
ing empowered to receive contribu-
tons with which to carry out its
provisions.
Asked what plans 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
elaborate reception at the Elysee
Palace where the National dele
gates were received by President
Fallarieres. The sessions of the
Congress were held in a vast audi.
forum at the Sorbonne the var
ious sections meeting in rooms es-
pecially furnished for their comfort
and convenience at the Sales du
leu de Paume in a corner of the
beautiful garden of the Tuileries.
Besides the official reception at
Flvsee Palace, there was a special
theatrical entertainment given at
which a famous French actress re-
cited a poem specially written for
the occasion ; a reception at the
palace of the Minister Of Public
Works another at the magnificent
Hotel de Vile side excursions to
Fountainbleu and Nice; and a
luncheon at the Beautiful Palace at
Versailles.
This latter function was of es-
pecial interest to many Americans
because of the historical associa-
tons lingering about the magnit-
cent palace. The luncheon was
served in the superb orange room,
and when the delegates, to the