Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-12-02
ROAD IMPROVEMENT.
PROBLEMS OF BUILDING AND
MAINTENANCE.

PROBLEMS OF BUILDING AND
MAINTENANCE.
AN INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS DIS
CUssING THEM-EFFECT OF AUTO
MOBILE TRAFFIC ON ROADS.
Logan Waller Page, director Of the ONCE
OF public roads Of the United States de-
partment of agriculture, who was named
by President Roosevelt as head OF the
American commission to the recent inter-
national roads congress at Paris, returned
to Washington few days ago, firm in the
belief that in some of the more scientific
branches Of highway construction the
United States has nothing to learn from
the older nations, though he was willing
this to an amazing degree in the percent
age OF improved road mileage and in the
jealous care with which their splendid
highways are maintained.
Among the many things which especi-
ally impressed Mr.. Page during this
European trip were the methods for reRu-
lating automobile trafhc in France and
England; the belief Of majority Of the
delegates to the roads congress that the
automobile running 1t average speed
is not detrimental to highways; the
splendor Of French hospitality; the
discovery that many miles of vsry
satisfactory highways in England have
been constructed BY mixing limestone
and granite after the methods Get forth
in publications issued through the United
States ONCE Of public roads, and the
amusing discussion now being carried on
by English autombilists against horse
trafhc in city streets and upon suburban
highways.
INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF ROADS.
1t il his belief that from the congress it.
self at least one big result will flow, and
credit for that must 70 to America. On .
suggestion by Mr.. Page, it was deter
mined to create an international bureau Of
Sosds, similar in some respects to the In
ternational bureau Of navigation. This
body will consist Of two or more delegates
from each of the twenty-nine govern
ments represented ut the congress. Its
purpose will be the collecting Of all pos
sible information on road work, the pass
ing on it by q committee Of experts, aud
its distribution throughout the world.
The ultimate benefits OF SO far-reaching
q move cannot now be estimated, but the
world will some day carry , heavy debt of
gratitude to the government whose high
way representatives conceived the thought
Of such bureau, and brought to its sup
port the delegates of every civilized
country on the globe.
Credit must 60 to Mr.. Page for the pro-
posed erection of memorial to M. Tres
suget, the great French highway engineer
who was the originator Of the modern
French system Of road maintenance, and
who began the building of the incompar-
able system Of highways that has made
France famous IS q bodybuilding nation.
The resolution to that effect was intro
duced by Mr.. Page and unanimously
adopted; the secretary-general being en-
powered to receive contributions with
which to carry out its provisions.
DELEGATES ROYALTY ENTERTAINED.
Asked what plans France 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 entertainment Of the delegates.
Among the functions was an elaborate
reception at the Elysee palace where the
national delegates were received by Presi-
congress were held in vast auditorium at
the Sorbonne; the various sections meet
ing in rooms especially furnished for their
comfort and convenience at the SALES du
Jeu de Paume in corner of the beautiful
garden of the Tuilleries.
Besides the official reception at Elysee
palace, there was a special theatrical en-
tertainment given at which a famous
French actress recited poem specially
written for the occasion; reception at
the palace of the minister of public works;
another at the magnificent Hotel de Vile;
side excursions to Fontainbleu and Nice;
and luncheon at the beautiful palace st
versailles.
This latter function was OF especial in
terest to many Americans because of the
historical associations lingering about the
magnificent palace. The luncheon was
served in the superb orange room, and
when the delegates, to the number OF over
$50 had taken seats, the fountains which
form the great decorative features of the
superb apartments, were set playing,
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 pictur-
esquely uniformed chasseurs of the
French army were detailed to stand at at
tention, one on either end of every step of