Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-12-13
METHODS IN USE HERE IN AID
VANCE OF EUROPE
MOTORISTS ACETATE LEeIsLA-
TON AGAINST HORSES
Solution of Dust Nuisance Is Problem
That Road Building Experts
Are Trying to
Solve

at Paris, returned to Washington a
few days since, 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 to
concede that those countries surpass
this to an amazing degree in the per
centage OF improved road mileage and
in the Jealous care with which their
splendid highways are maintained.
Among the many things which espe-
cially impressed Mr.. Page during this
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 aver
age speed is not detrimental to high
ways; the splendor of French hospi-
tality; the discovery that many miles
of very satisfactory highways in Eng
land have been constructed by mixing
limestone and granite after the meth
DDS set forth in publications issued
through the United States office of pub
lie roads, and the amusing discussions
now being carried on by English auto
mobilists against horse traffic In city
streets and upon suburban highways.
1t is his belief that from the congress
itself at least one big result will flow,
and credit for that must go to Amer
ltd- vi d SuSSGSLlOll ny MI dISGs IT
was determined TO create an interna
tional bureau of roads, similar in some
respects to the international bureau of
navigation. This body will consist of
two or more delegates from each of
the twenty-nine governments repre-
scented at the congress. Its purpose will
be the collecting of all possible infor-
nation on road work, the passing on 1t
by a committee of experts, and its dis
III thro1IOhnIIf the world
The ultimate benefits of so far-reach-
ing d move cannot now be estimated
but the world will some day carry a
heavy debt of gratitude to the govern
ment whose highway representatives
conceived the thought of such bureau,
and brought to its support the dele
gates of every civilized country on the
globe.
French Roads Well Maintained
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 splen-
did 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 high
way engineers of the empire, examining
roads throughout England. 1t is his
| belief that England has arrived as near
| to the solution of dustless roads-the
present day problem of all highway
| engineers-as any nation. Her engi-
neers have given the use of bituminous
materials for spraying macadam roads
| the utmost thought and care. Spray
| ing highways with such materials after
| science has been called to the aid of
the highway builder 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 suburban roads are as free
| from the disease breeding dust nuis-
ance as the best kept streets of the
principal cities 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 automobilists.
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
1 that it was a menace to the public
and to the horse; that it endangered
/ life and limb; in fact, advanced every
argument against it that from time
/ lllllllbnlOIldl has Db6n duNdIlC6u dSd11Sl
the advent of every great invention or
/ civilizing influence.
Motorists War Against Horses
In the early days of the American
republic the pack-saddle men fought
bitterly against the advent of the
wagon. They declared it would make
possible the carrying of heavier loads
and the consequent running of the pack
saddle industry; the wagon men fought
the stage coach on the theory that II
would facilitate traffic and throw
wagon men out of work; the stage
coach battled against the railroads oil
the theory that the running of steam
cars would drive out the stage coach
driver; and each in turn was forced
to make way.
Now highway experts, aided by the
motor car interests and by a 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
polluting of all public thoroughfare:
is done, not by automobiles, but by
| horses: that If no horses were allowed
to drop organic matter on public thor
oughfares, the dust nuisance would
soon be naught but an unpleasant
memory. They advance the logica
statement that the nuisance created b!
hundreds of thousands of horses is Diet
rimental to public health and menac'
to the pavements, and they charge tina
the continual cleansing of the streets
because of this traffic imposes a vas
and an unjust tax upon the citizens
Blending of Rocks Makes Better Road
It was a source of great qualification
to the American chairman to be frank
ly told in both France and England
that this nation has stepped ahead o
both of those nations in the testing o
materials for building macadam roads
Various experiments conducted by tn
office of public roads have envelope,
the fact that it is possible in r. ID build
ing to obtain a better bonded surfac
by mixing rocks, such as limestone
with silicious rocks, such as granite o
. sandstone.
, That discovery embodied in publica
tions sent out through the Unite
States department of agriculture-ha
been adopted by some of the BIRTHS
? highway engineers, and while in Eng
land Mr.. Page was driven over mum
! Der of stretches of splendid highwa
. built by the blending of such lnateria
and was commended by those who bull
e them.
/ In conjunction with that phase c
III