The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-29
MUNGER BACK FROM
TRIP OF $500 MILES
Visited Eight European Coun-
tries in Automobile
PRAISE FOR THE ROADS
Says the Magnificent Highways Make
Stronger impression ON Ameri-
cans Than Anything Else
Seen In Europe

After touring $500 miles by automobile
over the roads of eight different coun-
tries of Europe, Mr.. and Mrs. r. S. Nun
ger and children, Lonnie Miss Ruby
Miss May and Miss Marguerite, returned
to Birmingham yesterday morning. The
| travellers spent two months and a hall
on their trip abroad, during which time
| they travelled in England, France, Switz-
erland Holland, Germany, Italy. Austria
and Scotland.
The Birmingham party returned to New
York on the Mauretania, whose passeng-
err are reported as having been very I'M
graciously received by the custom officers
in New York. Mr.. Munger stated last
night that he was on the scene but did
the part of Collector William Loeb and
his assistants as reported in Birming-
ham.
Mr.. Munger is a good roads exponent,
and speaking last night of his travels he
said:
I'VE Travelled for practically two months
over the roads of eight countries, en-
bracing about $500 miles. l went to my
country place in Elyton this afternoon
and on the trip of two miles l received
more Jolting and picked up as much
mud as on the entire European trip. On
that continent the roads cannot be i'm
proved upon. They have been, 1t is true,
about 500 years building those pixies, but
at that the countries deserve the COM
mendation of the civilized world for their
most magnificent example in road build
ing. 1t was simply like driving on Fifth
avenue in Birmingham for the entirg trip
We seldom struck any bad places and
cannot recall one hours ride over what
we call here bad highways.
The maintenance of the highways in
Europe is the result of years of road
construction which II applied here would
result in our securing roads in a few
years equal to those over there which
have taken hundreds of years to provide
The host of American tourists in Europe
this year were impressed by road condi-
lions than by the beauty of any land
scape or painting. When it comes to
natural beauty We have Europe very de-
cidedly beaten. Her pictures and old
buildings are, of course, something that
cannot be expected in America. However
these are not the impressive things to
the American who travels the roads In
Amreica we are accused of being very
commercial and after the money. We
are commercial in a way. And when we,
without commercial instinct, see such
magnificent roads as are maintained in
Europe we ask ourselves how much bet
ter would our country be II our highways
could in any manner compare with them.
We travelled the mountainous parts of
Switzerland and even there the riding
was not unlike the best paved street in
Birmingham.
Il believe our people are coming to re-
alize that every dollar placed into piece
of road makes proper return for the
investment. l think when the local Off
GERS are stirred sufficiently we will secure
highways that we at least can feeel a
pride in.
THE people. in the rural district of
the countries of Europe are very much
like our own people," concluded Mr.. Mum
ger 'They were always willing to show
travellers the best possible routes and
never hesitated to assist us in any way
they could. The people all along the line
in every country were cordial and not
the least trouble was experienced in
travelling the $500 miles of our trip