The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-11-29
ROADS OF ! ALL NATIONS America Has But Little to Learn. DIRECTOR PAGE RETURNS He Attended the Paris Con-
 gress.
He Give The Beneat of His Obseria. tions on The Roads of England
 And France--EnsIish Motorists
 Are Fighting The Horse.

Washington. D. c. Nov 29--Logan waller Page. Director of the Office or Public Roads of the United States De- partment of Agriculture, who was named by President Roosevelt as head of the American Commission to the 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 highway constrhction the United States has nothing to learn from the Older Nations, though he was willing to con- ceds that those countries surpass this to an amazing degree in the per- centage of improved road mileage and in the jealous care with which their splendid highways are maintained.
 Among the many things which es- pecialiy impressed Mir. Page during this European trip were the methods for regulating automobile tarifc in France and England; the belief of a majority of the delegates to the Roads Congress that the automobile running at average speed is not detrimental to highways; the splendor of French hos- pitality; the discoVery that many miles of very satisfactory highways in Eng land have been constructed by mixing limestone and granite after the methods set forth in publication issued through the United States Office of Public Roads and the amusing discus- sion now being carried on by English automobiles against horse traiffic in city streets and upon suburban high ways.
 It is his belief that from the Con- gress itself at least one big result will flow and credit for that must go to America. On a suggestion by Mir. Page, it-was determinde5 to create an Information Bureau of Roads, simi- lar in some respects to the dnterna- tional Bureau of Navigation. This body consist of two or more delegates from each of the twenty-nine governments represented at the Congress, Its pur- pose will be the collecting of all poBsi- bie information on road wurlx, rbhe passingsaon 1t by a Committees of ex- perts. and it's distribution throughout the world.
 The ultimate benehts of so far reaching a move cannot now be esti- mated but the world will some day carry heavy debt of gratitude to the government whose highway representa- lives conceived the though of such Bureau, and brought to it's support the delegates of every civilized country on the golbe.
 Credit must so to Mir Page for the proposed erection of a memorial to N Tresauget. the great French highway engineer who was the originator of the modern French system of road maintenance and who began the build ing of the incomparable system of highways that has made France fam ous as a road-building Nation. The resolution to that effect was intro- dueed by MT. Page and unanimously adopted; the Secretary General being empowered to receive contributions with which to carry out its provisions.
 Asked what plans France had made for the visitors. Mir. Page said that he had been amazed at the manner in which the Republic had planned for the comfort and the entertainment of the delegates.
 Among the functions was an elabo- rate reception at the Elysee Palace where the National delegates. were re- ceived by President Fallarieres. The sessions of the Congress were held in a vast auditorium at the Sorbonne; the various sections meeting in rooms espe- cially funrished for theiS comfort and Paume in a corner of the beautiful garden of the Tuileries.
 Besides the official reception at Ely see Palace, there was a special theatri- cal entertainment given at which famous French actress recited a poem specially written for the occasion; a reception at the palace of the Minister of Public Works; another at the mag nihcent Hotel de Vile; side excursions to Fontainblsu and Nice; and 8 lunch con at the beautiful Palace at Ver- satlles.
 This latter function was of especial interest to many Americans because of the historial association lingering about the magnificent palace. The l.. orange room, and when the delegates, to the number of over 750 had taken seats. the fountains which form the great decorative features of the superb apartments, were set playing, a tribute by France to the visitors, for it is only on rare occasions that the water is turned into this chain of basins.
 At the reception at the Hotel de Vile the visitors were also treated to scenes of splendor foreign to American ideas of simplicity. A regiment of the picturesquely uniformed Chasseurs of the French army were detailed to stand attentions, one on either end of every step of the grand marble staircase down which the delegates passed; and thence in double rows to the state dining rooms and grand salons, Gratifying and impressive as were these examples of almost royal hosnitality. the chairman of the AmerI- can delegation found more of interest in the perfection of the system of roads with which the Republic is pro- vided. and in the systematic method of maintaining them to the highest de- gree of efficiency. He was told that on inc magnificent road leading from Paris to Versailles 5000 automobiles pass either way on each fine day, but he noted that 1t was in such perfect condition that 1t was practically as dustiess as the carefully swept asphalt street of a large city.
 No better macadam roads are built fin France than can be and are built 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 such splendid condition that they excite the envy of American visitors.
 Prior to his arrival at Paris, Mir Page spent some days in England in inc company of some of the famous highway engineers of the Empire. examining roads throughout England