The San Francisco call., 1910-08-28
GOOD ROADS AFFECT
AUTOMOBILE TRADE
Joseph w. Jones Tells of the
Work of the international
Congress
Was Special Agent of the Cow
ernment at Second Annual
Convention
By r. r. L,HoMMEDIEU

The most potent factor for the fu-
ture development and success of the
automobile industry and its allied in
terests in this country is the necessity
OF uniformity and need of standardiza-
ton in the construction of new roads
as well as the proper maintenance of
them" was the statement made by Jo-
seph W. Jones, the well known auto
mobilist, who returned recently from
q three months absence in Europe,
having covered about 5000 miles in
touring through all of the principal
countries on the continent
AS a special agent Of the department
of agriculture Of the United States
government Jones. who is also di-
rector OF the Touring Club Of America,
was delegated 70 represent the govern
ment at the second international road
congress held at Brussels and was
most enthusiastic in his praise of the
success Of the convention, which was
attended by the representatives of all
the countries interested IN road i'm
provement
zone of the great lessons of the in
ternational road congress- said Jones,
is the absolute necessity for the in
PRODUCTION of uniform system OF road
building throughout the United states
similar TO the systems which have been
adopted in France and Great Britain,
where the highways decrease in the
width according TO the Importance Of
continued Jones. the roads in this
country, especially throughout the
south, are too wide and lack the requi-
site depth Of foundation necessary TO
insure permanency.
The idea that some highway en-
gineerS have Of simply laying a foun-
dation Of few inches in depth is al
together wrong. and roads so con-
structed are expensive to maintain and
must be rebuilt in 4 short time. l con-
slider that the English roads. although
h. rl-
which I toured in Europe, especially
as the surface was thoroughly tarred
and covered with a light coating of
sand"
The Royal automobile club of Great
Britain. the Automobile association Of
London and the Touring Club of France
are all actively identified in this good
roads movement and are conducting
exhaustive experiments in the con-
struction of an improved type of road
bed and have the cooperation of their
respective governments IN this Splen-
did work.
Through the efforts Of the officials of
the Touring Club OF France. a splendid
new road, 800 miles in length along the
Riviera in southern France. is now be-
ing completed and viii be the finest
stretch OF roadway in the world. The
plan adopted abroad provides for the
erection of permanent signposts by the
government, giving the distances and
the names Of the cities and villages. as
well as indicating dangerous turns and
The new roads in Great Britain are
as smooth as z billiard table. and al
though the surface had been treated
with a thin coating of tar the construc-
ton had been so thorough that huge
traction engines drawing. cars loaded
with stone and gravel had no noticea Bile
effect upon them.
What is required in America, I be-
leVe. is the organization OF a road con-
gress similar to that which has been
held annually abroad. This congress
should comprise all Of the highway
commis issioners and road engineers of
the various states and municipa lities
and / think that Logan Waller Page,
the director Of the United States office
Of public roads at Washington. would
be agreeable to assisting in the organi-
zation and conduct of such a congress-
Whereat an interchange of ideas upon
ali subjects pertaining TO the highways
their construction and maintenance
could be discussed to the advantage OF
every state, county and city, Of which
there are many spending millions upou
millions Of dollars each year for the inn
pTovement of their highways"
Jones stated that he found the gen
ersl automobillng conditions excellent
throughout Europe; the automobile
agents and dealers were selling cars
just as fast as they could be turned out
by the manufacturers, and that indica-
tlons for 1911 were most PROMISING not
only in the sale of automobiles but al
the accessories and everything pertain.
ing TO them as well.