Milford chronicle., 1908-12-11

/ 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 uni
formed Chasseurs of the French
army were entailed to stand at at
tention, 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
saloons. Gratifying and impress
sive as were these examples OF al
most royal hospitality, the chair
man of the American delegation
found more of interest in the per
lection of the system of roads with
which the Republic is provided,
and in the systematic method OF
maintaining them to the highest de-
gree of efficiency. He was told
that on the magnificent road lead
ing from Paris to Versailles 5000
automobiles pass either way on
each fine day, but he noted that it
was in such perfect condition that
it was practically as dustless as the
carefully swept asphalt street OF
large city.
No better macadam roads are
built in France than can be and 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 in
variably in such splendid condi-
ton that they excite the envy OF
American visitors.
Prior to his arrival at Paris, Mr.
Page spent some days in England
| in the company of some of the fam
Gus highway engineers of the En-
pire, examining roads throughout
England. 1t is his belief that En-
gland has arrived as near to the
solution of dustless roads-the pres
ent day problem of all highway en-
gineers-as any nation. Her en-
gineers have given the use OF bit
luminous 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 high
way builder, has a tendency to pre-
serve the solidity of the roads and
prevent the formation of dust and
England has made such progress
in this branch of road study that
manv miles of suburban roads are
as free from the disease breeding
dust nuisance as the best kept
streets of the principal cities Of the
world.
So firm are the highway scien-
lists in the demand that these con-
ditions not merely maintain but
improve, that the first fight against
the horse has been taken up by the
automobiles.
When the motor car began to
come into use, the teaming interests
of the world were strong. They
berated the automobile in unmeas-
ured terms said that it was
menace to the public and to the
horse that it endangered life and
limb in fact advanced every ar
gument against it that from time
immemorial has been advanced
against the advent of every great
invention or civilizing influence.
In the early days ofthe American
Republic, the pack-saddle men
fought bitterly against the advent
of the wagon. They declared 1t
would make possible the carrying
of heavier loads and the conse-
ouent running of the pack-saddle
/ industry the wagon men fought
the stage coach on the theory that
| it would facilitate traffic and throw
wagon men out of work the stage
coach men battled against the rail-
roads on the theory that the run
ming of steam cars would drive out
the Stage coach driver and each
in turn was forced to make way.
The fight OF the horse-car men
against the trolley car IS remem-
4 bered bv all. The claim was then
made that 1000, 900 horses would
be thrown out of work and that
horse breeders would starve. The.
trolley is well-nigh universal, and
vet more horses are raised each
year than the year before and they
bring better prices.
The horse interests have ever
fought the automobile. There
have been thousand Of columns OF
argument published against It, and
q ,I~~ranAe1