Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-10-21

quate system of highways at the
present time, largely owing to tha
fact. no doubt, that the nation was
not a participant in the war. some
of the roads of the little kingdom by
the sea are very old and one of them
built some 200 hundred years ago
for the exclusive use of the King. he
came public highway only after the
King tired of hanging subjects who
persisted in using it.
We We're particularly impressed
by the way in which Swedish author
tiles are attacking their problem
The Scandinavian country has
thousands of miles of roads which
will require major and very costly
treatment in the form of WIDENING
and Strengthening. AS this is done
new and most interesting country for
touring will upquestionably attract
thousands from all parts of the
world"
Asked about conditions In England
Mr.. Sargent said that the thorough
going way in which the British are
meeting the needs of a very heavy
and diverse traffic was striking to all
of the delegation.
"As every traveller knows" was his
comment, England has many most
attractive country roads which wind
their way through some OF the most
delightful garden spots to be found
anywhere. The Englishman Is CON
sentative and the ancient rights
which the engineer meets on every
side as he tries to ameliorate severe
traffic conditions constitute a prob
lem quite unknown elsewhere. For
example, the fact that certain hay
markets have had their lodgIhent In
one of the busiest streets in old
London for centuries creates condf-
tons which make for intense con-
geStion, and yet the engineer must
take time and exercise patience be-
fore he can overcome this condition
Part of the task of modernizine
London's roads is being accomplished
through the construction of a series
of very expensive arterial highways
which will finally serve to drive new
ways of entry into the city. The old
lanes are not always Widened in the
country but where they are not the
plan is to build bypass roads around
congested sections on entirely new
rights of way.
1.-THE English engineers are
thoroughly aliye to their countrys
needs and the one thing which is
hampering them now is that general
conditions resulting from the coal
StIIhS art So bdu DIS 70 CuIldI tent
porarily the funds available for road
Improvement.
With respect to city traffic con-
troll, we were interested to see that
rotary, or, as they call it, 'gyratory
traffic control is now being introduc-
ed at the circus points or inter
sections having five or more streets
entering them. The results have
been decidedly satisfactory, although
there was much 'grOusing,' so we
were told. when the system was in
troduced. on the ground that it was
something which hadn't been done
before.
zone phase of London traffic
which impressed US was in the use of
signals which are just now being
tested out. Instead of a completely
automatic control. there is a second
airy system of buttons. If the officer
at any corner finds an exceptionally
large stream of traffic damming up
against the flow, he signals the cen
trail control who may then give him
the option of turning the tide for a
brief time. The effect is decidedly
advantage ous and avoids the evil we
frequently see in the States of vehi-
Cles held stationary at crossings
when there is no traffic moving
against them
Asked about traffic development in
other cities, Mr.. Sargent said that
perhaps one of the most complete
systems to be found anywhere is that
at Berlin. where the authorities are
working out q coordinated system of
all forms of transportation with a
view to meeting large traffic needs
within few years.
f'\oT only does this plSn provide
for subways, trans and city streets"
said the speaker. but a prudent pro-
posal for a, complete series of by
passes has been worked out which
will defect the heavy tourist and
commercial traffic which is now
pouring through the German CAPT
tai in all directions
Paris has not yet felt the full i'm
pact of modern traffic, largely be-
cause of the exceptional width of the
balm boulevards of the city. Traffic
signals are being tested out, however.
and we were told that the authorities
are working out plans for more COM
plete control"
Commenting upon general condi-
lions. Mr.. Sargent said that one of
the most interesting phases of the
trip was. the INTERPRETATION which the
delegation found existing between
rail and highway use in Great Brit
ain.
while this has not yet gone for
ward to the point of complete coor-
dination actually it has progr cssed
much further than in the United
States. since the English railways all
use the motor truck in a very eff
cient collection and delivery service.
"Thus far there has been no at
tempt made by the railroads. aside
from a bill introduced and defeated
some years ago, to secure the right
to a general use of the highways. In
consequence there Is a great deal of
pickering going on in the English
press over the subject at the moment
but there also seems to be a general
realization of the necessity for
working out the joint problem in CO.
operation"
Another practice which impressed
the delegation was that of the severe
taxation to which most of the Con-
tinental countries submit owners o.
motor vehicles In some cases the
tax alone would be enough to buy
low priced car in this country. OBJ
viousIy such levies as these tend not
only to narrow the range of pur-
chasers but also to diminish the
government revenue. This fact was
pointed out by our delegation in our
sessions with the several government
officials and the American practice
of holding the tax low and depend
ing upon volume for returns cited.
The fact that while our annual eX-
DpO6itUraS for rural roads are now