Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-11-30
LEARNS NOTHING
FROM PEOPLE Of
OLD WORLD
UNITED STATES KNOWS
HOW TO BUILD ROADS
Careful Maintenance of French
and Other Highways However
ExciteS Envy and Admiration
of Public Roads Official,

Especial Correspondence TO Morning journal
Washington, d, G.. Nov. 27.-Loga
Waller Page, director of the office q
public roads of the United States de-
partmeut Of agriculture. who wa
named by President Roosevelt as hea,
Of the American commission to tn
recent international Roads congres
at Paris. returned to Washington
few days since firm in the belle
that in some of the more scientific
branches of highway construction tn,
United States has nothing to Learn
from the older nations, though h,
was willing to cOncede thai thos,
countries surpass this to an amazins
degree in the percentage of improved
road mileage and in the jealous care
with which their splendid highways
are maintained.
Among the many things which espe-
automobile traffic In France and
European trip were the methods for
regulating automobile traffic in
France and England: the belief of a
majority of the delegates to the Roads
congress that the automobile running
at ayesage speed is not detrimental to
highways; the splendor of French hos
pitality; the discovery that many
miles of very satisfactory highways
in England have been constructed by
mixing limestone and granite after
the methods set forth in publications
issued through the United States Of
flee of public roads, and the amusing
discussion now being carried on by
English automobiles against horse
traffic in city streets and upon subur-
ban highways.
1t 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 Mr..
Page, it a determined to create an
International bureau of roads, similar
in seine respects TO the international
bureau of navigation. This body Will
consist of two or more delegates from
each of the twenty-nine governments
represented at the congress. Its pur-
pose will De the collecting of an pos
sible information on read work, the
passing on it by a committee of ex-
perts, and its distribution throughout
the world.
The ultimate benefits of SO far
reaching a move cannot now be Is
timated. but h world viii some day
carryaa heavy debt of gratitude TO the
government whose highway represcn-
tatives conceived the though OF such
a bureau, and brought TO its support
the delegates OF every civilized coun-
try on the globe.
Credit must go to Mr.. Page for the
proposed erection of a memorial TO
VI. T~resauget, the great French high
way engineer who was the originator
of the d French system of road
maintenance, and who began the
buIlulng OF the Incompatible system
of highways that has made France
famous as a road-building nation. The
resolution to that effect was introduce
ed by Mr.. Page ana unanimously
adopted; the secretary general being
Empowered to receive contributions
which to carry out it's provisions.
Asked what plans France had made
the visitors, Mr.. 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 olabor-
ate reception at the Elysee Palace.
where the national delegates were re-
ceived by President Fallariercs. The
sessions of the congress were held in
a vast auditorium at the SOrbonnc;
the various sections meeting in rooms
especially furnished for their com
and convenience at the SALES du
Jcu de Paumc in q corner of the beau
tiful garden of the Tuileries.
Gratifying and impressive as were
examples of almost royal hospi-
the chairman Of the American
delegation found more of interest in
the perfection Of the system OF roads
which the republic is provided.
and in the systematic method of
maintaining them to the highest de-
gree of efficiency. He was told that
IN the magnificent o leading from
to Versailles 5000 automobiles
either way on each fine day. but
he noted that ii was i'm such perfect
condition that il was practically as
l~ustless as the carefully swept asphalt
streets of a large city.
No better macadam roads are built
la France than can Doe ana are built
u this country: but the maintaining
1f these roads is attended TO with the
care. and for that reason the
highways are invariably in such spien-