The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-15
Mo toring Notes,
Good Road News
and Trade Matter

Logan Waller Page, who has seen
his American Association for High
way Improvement grow into the
American Road Congress ali within
q year. mas issued an official caff for
the second national convention, me
first was held In Richmond last No
vember. and In this city the road
machinery and material nanafac-
turers formed their organization
w hich was set forth as a seoo. 100000
affair Also the Quebec Miami Inter
na1ioaai Highway association. from
which the Richmond Washington
HighW az corporation was born, came
into existence.
The American Road Congress will
be apt TO prove an Important poIlVcal
factor before the convention adJourns
Logan Waller Page il nov director
of the United States Office OF public
roads. II he is not a Democrat ne
certainly has democratic Affiliations
which will count considerable when
W ..odrow Wilson gets into the White
House and the office OF the director If
The United States office OF public roads
comes up fer discussion.
But here is the official call:
Pursuant to the decision OF the
beard OF directors OF the Americas
HI, al Congress representing toe
American A Association Tor Highway
Improvement and affiliated Dodies the
American Automobile association ana
tie National Association of Road
Machinery and Material Mannfae'
turets I hereby call The American
Road Congress to assemble at Al
iatti, City. New jersey, on YouaSs
Misior Dollar Pier. Mt 10 O'Clock n.
on u stKA
In 81 ssion through .ur that week un-
less sooner adjoaslsd.
The congress will consider qnes
tions Of the greatest Importance re
iating 10 the construction mainte-
nance and administration of roads,
streets and bridges. In the field of
road construction 10 meet the de-
structive effects of modern traftie
Road maintenance has been almost
entirely neglected in the United States
with the result that deterioration OF
some OF our best constructed roaos
represents a preventable loss aggre-
eating millions of dollars annually
Just now there Is a tendency toward
remedial action looking to the adop-
ton OF continuous and systematic
maintenance. IN, the field of road
administration much complex. IN
adequate anu lAhIpIppii1NEt ICES astasA"A
and practice are in force. Although
many wise and equitable reforms have
been introduced in late years. the
| bulk of existing legislation embodies
the same systems which we're in
vogue in the days of Queen Elizabeth
and have long since been abandoned
BY the foremost nations of Europe
There are 50 many considerations OF
public welfare demanding the i'm
prpyement of our country roads that
concerted energetic action should no
longer be delayed. n
LOGAN WALLER PAGE.
president,
Emphatc endorsement OF the pur-
pose of the American Road Congress
| which Is to be held In Atlantic City,
September 3oth to October 9Th. il
given in statement by Representa-
| tive Oscar w. Underwood. Democratic
leader in the house which has just
| been issued.
."rhe one great weakness OF the
| movement for better roads In the
! United States" said Mr.. Underwood,
/ has been the lack of correlation
among the various associations work
| ing towards the same end but with
1 different methods. One association
has been agitating one plan and an
other association another plan. In
consolidating their convention interests
4 the American Association for High
way Improvement. the American Au-
/ tomobiIe association and the National
/ Association OF Road Machinery and
4 Material Manufacturers have taken a
great step forward. The plan that
| has been adopted for treating each
phase Of the road subject sciehtifi-
i cally having leading nnancie1 in
charge OF the nrAssce section. leading
lawyers IN charge cf the adtninistra-