New-York tribune., 1911-11-12
TAFT FAvORS GOOD ROADS
President Will Open Highway
Congress at Richmond.
SOUTH VITALITY INTERESTED
Experts on Traffic Regulation
Will Speak of Value Of High
way Maintenance.

Interest in the improvement OF public
highways throughout the South and MID
dIe West has grown tremendously within
the last few weeks in view of the active
preparations which have been made for the
forthcoming American Road Congress, to
be held in Richmond. Va, on November %
20 q. under the auspices Of the American
Association for Highway Improvement
The fact that President Taft will deliver the
opening address has stimulated public ap-
probation in the great importance of hieC
way Development ard it's value as a factor
in national prosperity. AS this Will oe the
only good roads meeting which the Presi-
dent will attend this year, his opinions on
the needs for comprehensive system OF
HIGHWAYS and the many problems OF eff
Gent road building will he received with
tho keenest interest by all good roads ad-
vocates.
4 pathfnding tour through the four
Southern States of Georgia, North ana
South Carolina and Virginia has just been
concluded by the official cars Of the Tour
ing Club 81 America. which Is cooperating
with the American Association for High
wav Improvement in this first national con-
ference of highway officials and others in
tnrested ir the good roads movement
! EVERYWHERE aIons the route from Atlanta
TO Richmond widespread interest in the
forthcoming congress was found. an indl-
cation Of tho increasing popularity among
all road users fer more and better main
tained public thoroughfares. II is clear
that the attention of the Leading citizens or
the South is directed never before to
the great benefit conferred by good roads
upon the community Delegates to attend
the conference are being appointed from
the principal cities. Highway commission
ers and road engineers from Eastern,
Southern and Western states will be pres
ont There will be big delegation from
the automobile manufacturing interests
while scores of clubs and hundreds OF indi-
viduaI owners are planning tours to Rich
n7ond under the direction OF the Touring
CLUB OF America.
Not only is this awakened interest shown
so strongly in the South and West, but as
the time draws near for the discussion OF
advanced road principles, 1t is being made
apparent to a greater degree than ever be-
fore that the value of good roads IS being
appreciated in all parts Of the country
one Of the interesting features will be
conference of state officials having Juris-
dietion Of automobile regulations IN their
respective commonwealths. This conference
will be held on Tuesday, November 81, pre-
ceding Road Users Day" which is to be
conducted by the Touring Club OF America.
Secretary of State Edward Lazansky OF
New York will preside over this confer
ence OF state officials. at which many ques-
tions regarding uniformity Of laws, inter-
state traffic regulations and reciprocal mo-
tor registration will be talked over in an
informal manner. Secretary Lazansky, as
the chief administrative official of the
Callan automobile law Of New York. has
made a careful study of motor vehicle legis-
lation. and will tell how the automobile
law in his state has been applied and of
its benefits 10 motor tourists.
Several new speakers have recently been
added to the preliminary programme as
announced recently, for Road Users Day.
which will be presided over by the Hon.
James s. Harlan, a member OF the Inter
state Commerce Commission.
Among those who have lately been added
are Major Richard Sylvester, Superintend-
ent of the Metropolitan Police, District
OF Columbia, and president Of the lnterna-
tional Police Association, who Will lead the
discussion OH traffic rules and regulations
and Colonel william d. Sohier, of Boston
member Of the Massachusetts, Highway
Commission who will explain the special
features Of the new highway law OF Massa-
chusetts. The motor vehicle law of Hi
nois will be discussed by Sidney ;. Cor
Lo,, of Chicago one of the original draft
ers II the present law in that state. MT
Gorham has made special study or auto
mobile legislation. and the new motor law
of Illinois contains several novel features.
At the close Of each conference on special
subjects an open discussion of from ten 70
fifteen minutes will he held.