Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-27
BENEFITS ARE FELT
Effects of Recent Roads Con-
gress Far-Reaching.
STATE DELEGATES ATTEND
France, Canada, Cuba and Philip.
pines Also Represented.
SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS IS GIVEN
Various City Engineers Deliver 0pin-
ions Based on Actual Expert
ence in Building.
STATE DELEGATES ATTEND
SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS IS GIVEN

An unbiased analysis of the recent
American Road Congress demonstrates
conclusively the fact that the congress
was not only the most notable event Of
| 'ts kind which has yet been held. but the
| more important fact that it inaugurated
| movements of far-reaching Importance
| which will go on long after the congress
has passed into good roads history.
Excluding purely local attendance, the
American Road Congress was composed
of the largest assemblage of men which
has ever been held In the interest of roa1
improvement. The actual attendance
probably exceeded 1000. but on account
Of the inadequate reg stration facilities
the actual registration was only ayout
| 1900
Th.rtynine states. as we'll as France,
Canada. Cuba and the Philip. inc Islands,
were represented, thus indicating the ma
tional and even International Importance
of the subject and of the occasion. The
most striking feature, however in connec-
ton with the congress was not the num-
Der of delegates present or the number
of states repres ented, but rather the h.gl
type of citizenship and particularly the
high percentage Of public officials repre-
sented in the attendance. Twenty-four
state highway comm SSiOners took part
in the proceedings of the congress and
ton through the medium of the congress
of useful information concerning the
methods and pol cies pursued by their re-
spective departments. There were hum
dreds of city and county engineers, street
| SUI er -ntendents. county commissioners,
prominent con insulting engineers, con rae
tors and manufacturers, whose experience
AMI opinions were of the greatest poss bic
value to those VINO were present at the
congress and to those who will read the
proceedings long after the congress adj
JOurned.
Three New Forces Felt.
Three new forces made themselves felt
in the deliberations of the congress, and
these were, the members of the bar, who
gave their attention to the important
subject of road legislation in a session
held under the auspices Of the American
Bar Association: prominent bankers rep
resenting many state bankers asso.ia-
tions, VINO took upon themselves the con-
S.deration OF refo. ms in methods of financ-
ing road improvement. and the repre-
Sentatives OF most of the leading educa-
tiOnal institutions. who assembled unoer
the auspices of the Society for the Pro-
motion of Eng mt ering Education to con-
slider ways anu means Of improving the
courses of instruction now given in high
way engineering.
The exposition held in connection with
National Association Of Road Mach. merry
and Material Manufacturers, was the
largest ever held in this or any other
country. Two features of the exposition
are particularly worthy of mention, first,
, the superb government exhibit, made up
partly of min. allure models exactly repro
duc4rg all types of road from the Appian
way down to the most modern types de-
signed to meet automobile traffic; second.
the exhibits MADE by number Of the
states giving all possible information res
latng to the ruads, the road mateIials,
the methods Of construction, traffic resu-
lation and other information of similar
character.
r. This was the first time in the history of
road imp; oveHent that the states were
official exhibitors, and the plan has work
ed so Well that at future congresses PROF.
ably every state in the Union will be rep
Results Are Far-Reaching.
The results of this policy on the part
| Of the states will be far-reaching, as the
roadbuHders from each state are thus
enabled to acquaint themselves full v with
the methods, materials, and cond tons in
al the other states, From q purely COM
-ercia standpoint the exhibits of ma
l-terials and equipment were highly SUI
cessful. and enabled the. manufacturers
| % get In close touch with the men W. tn
me enabl ng the purchase RS of ma
thine ~ and materials to inspect the
'Jrod,icts Of the manufacturers under co.,
d. tons which permitted of the most
thorough cOmpar sOES and the most
searching competition. ~
| The American Road Con.ress was
l. unique in its successful. endeavor TO cover
the who.e, range of the subject of road
| Improvement and at the same time to-
provide scit ntific analysis and treatmen,
| OF each branch Of the subject. Instead
| If discussing merely methods Of blu i'd
ny and. ma ntaining each type of road,
! the congress divided itse f into distinct
sessions, one to deal Exclusively with the
| important subject of road financing. one
concern ng itself with the difficult prob
lens of admin stration and another with
highway en- ineering education. The SEES
sion Of economics d. at with such serious
economic prob ems as the use Of convict
abor This analytical treatment of the
subject was carr'ed still further in the
sess on devoted to construction and main