The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-12-13

Ter Page. director or the office OF public
roads Of the United States department
OF agriculture, who was named by
president Roosevelt as head of the
American commission 10 the recent in
ternational road congress at Paris,
returned TO Washington recently firm
in the belief that in some of the
more scientific branches Of highway
construction the Cnited States has
nothing TO learn from the older nations,
ihoueh he was willing to eoncede that
1hose countries surpass this to an 2maz-
sng degree in the percentage OF i'm
proved road mileage and in the Jealous
care with which their splendid high
ways are maintained
Among the many things which espe-
cfaliv impressed Page during his Euro
pean trip were the methods for re-
glllating automobile traffic in France
and England: the belief OF a majority
OF the delegates TO the roads congress
that the automobile running at average
speod is not detrimental TO highways
fhe spiendor of French hospitality, the
discovery that many miles Of very sat
ssfactory highways in England have
been constructed by mixing limestone
and granite after the methods set forth
3n publications issued through the
United states Office of public roads, and
the amusing discussion now being car
Iied on by English automobilists
against horse traffic in city streets and
upon suburban highways.
NEW BUREAU OF ROADS
II is his belief that from the congress
itself at least one big result viii flow.
and credit for that must go TO America.
On suggestion by Page, it was deter
mined 10 create an international bureau
OF roads. similar in some respects 10
the international bureau OF navigation.
This body viii consist Of two or more
delegates from each Of the 29 govern
snents represented at the congress. Its
purpose viii be the collecting OF all
possible information on road work, the
passing on IL by a committee Of eX-
perts. and its distribution throughout
the world.
The ultimate benefits OF so far reach
sng move can not now be estimated,
but the world viii some day carry q
heavy debt Of gratitude 10 the govern
snent whose highway representatives
conceived lle Ln0uEEL OF SuCLl 4 bureau
end brought to its support the delegates
OF every civilized country on the globe.
Credit must 60 10 Page for the pro-
posed erection OF a memorial to NJ.
Tres2uget. the great French highway
engineer who was the originator of the
modern French system of road main
tenance, and who began the building of
the incompatible system Of highways
that has made France famous as a road
building nation. The resolution to that
efec. was introduced by Page and
unanimously adopted; the secretary
general being empowered to receive
contributions With which to carry out
its provisions.
RECEPTION OF DELEGATES
Asked what plans France had made
FOR the visitors, Page said that he had
been amazed at the manner in which
the republic had planned for the COM
fort and The entertainment Of the dele
gates
Among the functions was an elabo-
rate reception at the Elysee palace.
wher the national delegates were re-
ceved by President Fallieres. The
sessions Of the congress were held in
q vast auditorium at the Sorbonne, the
various sections meeting in rooms es-
pecially furnished for their comfort
Paume, in corner Of the beautiful
garden OF the Tuileries.
Besides the Official reception at Ely
see palace there was d special theatrical
entertainment given at which a IA
NOUS French actress recited a poem
especially written for the occasion: a
reception at the palace of the minis
ter Of public works, another at the
magnificent Hotel de Vile, side ex-
Of al
2 luncheon at the beautiful palace at
Versailles.
This latter function was of especial
interest 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.
10 the number of over $50, had taken
seats, the fountains, which form the
great decorative features of the SUI
perb apartments, were set playing, a
tribute by France to the visitors, for
ii 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 spIendor foreign to Ameri-
can ideas of simplicity. A regiment of
the picturesquely uniformed chas-
tailed TO stand at attention, one on
either end Of every step of the grand
marble staircase down which the dele
gates passed, and thence in double
rows TO the state dining rooms and
grand salons.
ROADS MOST ATTRACTIVE
Gratifying and impressive as were
these examples Of almost royal hospi-
tality, the chairman of the American
delegation found more of interest in
The perfection of the system Of roads
with which the republic Is provided
and in the systematic method of main
tanning them to the highes1 degree OF
efficiency. He was told that on the
magnificent road leading from Paris
TO Versailles 5000 automobiles pass
either way on each fine day, but he
noted that il was in such perfect con-
dition that it was practically as dust
less 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 maintaining OF
these roads is attended to with the
utmost care, and for that reason the
highways are invariably in such spIen-
did condition that they excite the envy
OF American visitors.
Prior TO his arrival in Paris Pa