The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-12-25

staircase down WHICH Iue ue1eSdteS
passed; and thence in double rows to
the state dining rooms and grand sa-
looms. Gratifying and impressive as
were these examples Of almost royal
hospitality, the chairman Of the
American delegation found more Of in
terest in the perfection Of the system
of roads with which the Republic is
provided, and in the systematic meth
cd Of maintaining them to the highest
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 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 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, Mr..
Page spent some days in England in
the company Of some Of the famous
highway engineers of the Empire, ex-
amining roads throughout England.
It is his belief that England has ar
rived as near to the solution of dust
less roads-the present day problem
of all highway engineers-as any ma
ton. Her engineers have given the use
Of bituminous 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 highway bull
der, has tendency to preserve the
solidity of the roads and prevent the
formation Of dust; and England has
made such progress in this branch of
road study that many miles of sub
urban roads are as free from the
disease-breeding dust nuisance as the
best kept streets Of the principal ci-
ties of the world.
So firm are the highway scientists
in the demand that these conditions
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 unmeasured terms; said
that it was a menace to the public
and to the horse; that j. endangered
life and limb; in fact advanced every
argument against it that from time
immemorial has been advanced
against the advent Of every great in
vention or civilHing influence.
In the early days Of the American
Republic, the pack-saddle men fought
bitterly against the advent of the wa
gon. They declared it would make
possible the carrying Of heavier loads
and the consequent running 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
railroads on the theory that the rum
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 remembered
by all. The claim was then made that
100000 horses would be thrown out
of work and that horse breeders
would starve. The trolley is we'll
nigh universal, and yet 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 beer
thousands Of columns Of argument
published against ii, and short-sight.
led men have advocated such heavy
taxation against it, that great and
an ever growing industry would have
been sadly hampered, had half the
unwise legislation planned been put
into execution.
Now highway experts aided by the
motor car interests and by powerful
association Of London and its suburbs
have turned like the trodden worm
and started an attack on the horse.
The claim they advance is that the
| g.