Evening star., 1924-07-20
HIGHWAY PARLEY
BRINGS RESULTS.
Pan-American Delegates Re.
turn Home With Definite
Goal to Be Reached.
INSPECT IN TEN STATES
South American Countries Will Or
ganize National Bodies for Edu-
cation in Road Construction.

Having completed organization OF
a American body for the pro-
motion OF highway education in the
various countries composing the PAN
American Union, delegates to the Pan
American Highway Commission are
en- route to their countries with
definite goal in their minds, based
on observations of United States
methods of highway construction OBJ
tanned on 4.0o0-mile tour through
ten states.
Their objective can best be stated
in the words set forth in the con-
stitution of the Pan-American Con-
federation for Highway Education.
formation OF which marked the close
of the series of conferences in Wash
ington: ITO study and promulSate in
the different countries constituting
the Pan-Amcrican Union fundamental
principles that contribute 10 the DE-
velopment of adequate highways.
The delegates, representing IL
Latin American nations, are taking
with them multitude of ideas and
trunkfuls Of data with which to get
out toward the educational goal
marked out for them. They already,
in fact, are launching the first big
step in the desired direction by map
ping out plans for the inauguration
of annual pan-American highway
congresses, the initial one of which
will be held early next year at
Buenos Aires.
TO Organize Bodies.
Here is how the delegates expect
to carry out the purposes of the high
way confederation just perfected in
the National Capital:
,tft,- -it1tr han in hat
spective countries the delegates will
undertake the organization of
national body--a "Federacion Nacional
de Educacion Vial" These national fed
erations are to be patterned after the
Highway Education Board Of this
country. The nineteen bodies SO
formed will compose the Pan-Ameri
can Confederation for Highway
Education.
The Highway Education Board.
from its headquarters in Washington,
announces that there is thus formed
AN International organizat ton des-
tined to have a far-reaching effect
upon transportation facilities of the
American continent. and foundation
upon which the structure of con-
tinued friendly relations can be even
more firmly established"
The confederation was organized
following the formulation by the dele
gates of tentative program for the
d
Buenos Aires and the submission of
1t to DR.. Leo 5. Rowe, director gen.
eral of the Pan American Union. The
series OF conferences in this city
wound up the official activities of
the commission in the United States.
Visit Ten States.
During the extensive tour Of road
inspection, on which the 81 DELEGATES
were accompanied by committee of
guides and hosts, the party inspected
highways in Kentucky, North Caro-
lima, Ohio. New York, Pennsylvania,
New Jersey, Minnesota, Illinois, Michi-
gan and Wisconsin. About 1000
miles were covered in AUTOMOBILES.
enabling the delegates to obtain a
hand view of and to give a
thorough test to the thoroughfares
being studied. All along the route
the party was cordially entertained
oy State, county and city officials and
citizens.
The month"; long trip of inspection.
Whlch was arranged by the Highway
Education Board, under the super
vision of committee headed by Roy
D. Chapin and consisting, in addi-
ton, of Fred l. Kent and w. A.
sseatty. T IVA, was directed throughout by
i. Henry, an experienced hand at
Latin American affairs.
Interest of the delegates seemed to
center on gravel and clay roads of
the type to be dealt with in their
own countries. The delega teS realized
that the first forward step must not
be too long to imperil future prog
reSS. improvements to the So-called
low type gravel and clay roads would
eventually lead to a demand for bet.
ter construction along hard surface
lines, it was pointed out
Colleges Visited
The delegates also spent consid-
cradle time studying methods en-
ployed in the United States at the
universities in training engineers to
pave the way for moderniZed trans
portatiOn facilities. Leading edu-
cational institutions were visited for
this purpose.
Another phase Of the tour was the
Investigation of automotive euuip-
ment and accessories, featured by q
flying trip to a number of manu-
featuring centers.
In fact, every angle of the trans
portation problem in this country
was looked into by the delegates dur
ing their stay here. That the expe-
dition was profitable one was at
tested to by the delegates themselves.
The ultimate effect, according to
such men as DIR. Rowe, Thomas III
Macdonald, chief of the Bureau of
Public Roads; J. Walter Drake. As
s1stant Secretary of the DEPARTING
of Commerce, and other authorities
Will be a great international stimulus
to highway transport activities, not
only in the Latin Americas, but in