The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-26
LOUIS '. CLARKE
 TALKS ON ROADS
Returns From Extended Trip
 Through Europe
SAW GOOD HIGHWAYS
Points Ont ynlue of Improved hoads for the Advancement Of all In-
 terests-Has Optimistic View of Conditions

After spending about three months in | Europe. during which time he had every opportunity to observe the roadways of the continent, Gen. Louis V. Clark re- turns to this city true disciple of | European roads In speaking of his i'm pressions of the roads in that country yesterday, General Clarke said they were unquestonably the best in the world and did more than any one public good to promote trade and bring about bet ter understanding among all classes of people.
 While in Europe General Clarke, like most of the visitors to that country, travelled a great deal through the coun- try in an automobile. He was carried over many hundreds of miles of Euro pean roadways In this way.
 The military training of General Clarke and his keen sense of observation were two elements of his nature that make him especially fit to observe the road condi- ton of any country.
 MT. clark Talks
 "The one thing to be remembered when ! our real road building begins, said Gen eral Clarke, lis that they should be very much wider than the ones constructed in the past. Several years ago the road builders constructed roads to meet the demands of only conveyances pulled by mules or horses. They must realize when they start new work that automobiles by the score are apt to be on almost any road and should be given plenty of room when passing horses or even other automobiles
 This mode of transportation has been realized in Germany where the roads are very wide. It was pointed out that the rapid strides being taken In automobile travel accounted for the widening of the highways The roads in Switzerland, however. are not SO wide and are thus inferior to those In Germany.
 "rhe German war office is preparing for real automobile wars in the future should any misunderstanding take place in that country They are, therefore, preparing the very best roads that can be built They are making them wide, are coming them to the very highest point and the foundations are of the best obtainabe materials. The roads con structed 300 years ago by the great Gen eral Napoleon are still the best in France and other European countries. The Elm peror himself mapped out the roads now the best in those countries and personal lv assisted in the construction of most of them He learned a most telling les son from bad roads during his campaign in Russia when the roads of that coun- trv heinz so had be was twice defeated in his campaign against the principa city. He was ever after convert fol better roads.
 Roads Are older
 '.When 1t comes to question of com pairing the roads of Alabama to those of any state in Europe 1t would be un- fair to their 500 years of work. However, when Alabama is 800 years old I person. ally believe we will have far better roads than even the best of those countries. We have started our work great deal sooner than they begun. We also have , the advantage of looking over their sys- tenn and avoiding the mistakes that had to be overcome by the road builders of that country before they attained the results that have endured for many cen turies.
 '',The people of America are awakening to the fact that roads contribute more than anything else to the better under standing among the townfolks and those of the rural districts. When we get it so a farmer may bring his farm prod ucts to the city without any great wear or tear we will have taken a very long step in the advancement of our own per sonal interests.
 when I went around the world last year we saw in a small isle near Japan a farmer pulling his own wagon to town over a country road It was as smooth as glass and he was enabled to even pull his own truck and rest up his horses In this way. If I could witness roads so smooth as that at the same time cap able of such action on the part of our farmers we would grow richer.
 Question of Interest
 "The question of roads is one of deep interest The people here should rally and assist in every possible way in secur- ing better transportation over our state by dirt roads We have every material that is required in good road building and if it was put to purpose the results would simply be amazing.
 "The farmers certainly worthy of their work l would not be one to shame | fully set aside Gods own edict that the l laborer is worthy of his hire. The farm | CTS are entitled to this consideration, and | it will be nothing short of dereliction of our duty if we with unconcern permit any opportunity to pass without creating | a feeling for better highways, thus achieving result that would not only l be to the interest of our brother in the | country, but would directly benefit those | of us who have chosen the city life.
 At the forthcoming fair and good roads meeting it is to be hoped that every possible Encouragement will be given this work with a view of secur- ing adequate legislation at the next ses- | sion of our lawmakers. It occurs to me l that our legislators would erect to them | selves an enduring monument if they ] solved this problem even half the way. 1 .The farmers and the town people are | together and 1t only requires little con | certed action to achieve those results | we all hope for" ~ I