Evening star., 1926-04-23

York City escort outside the city's
corporate limits this morning.
The main idea underlying the pres
ent trip is to give the visitors from
the Southern Continent an opportun.
ity to see at close range what motor
transportation and good highways
have meant to the United States.
Throughout Latin America today
there is a wide and growing interest
in highway development, due to the
enormous increase in motor vehicle
use which has taken place there in
the past two or three years. 1t is the
view of those interested in the prob
lem that by personal observation of
the progress made in this country
Latin America not only will be able to
escape many of the costly errors
which we made during the pioneering
period of construction, but will be able
to expedite their road program to a
point which was not possible here
when work first began.
Industrial Study Possible.
At the same time the visitors will
obtain a bird 's-eye picture of mass
production in industry and an insight
into both agricultural and educational
methods here.
Prominent among those accompany
ing the Latin Americans are Thomas
II. Macdonald chief of the United
States Bureau of Public Roads, and
III. Fl. Rice, who was chairman of the
official delegation on the part of this
country to the Pan-American High
ways Congress, held last year at
Buenos Aires.
Mr. Macdonald is credited with
having q grasp of highway affairs
possessed by few other men. AS
head of the agency which directs the
expenditure of Federal aid funds,
he has made a first hand study of
highways in every part of tho United
States. AS a member OF the delega-
ton to Buenos Aires, he is familiar
with the problems peculiar to Latin
American highway development and
intensely interested in them.
lie is making the present trip at
the request of the confederation COM
mittee to answer questions concern
ing highway development which may
arise as the party goes along and as
evidence OF the sincere interest
which officials of the Government
of the United States have in seeing
that full and accurate Information Is
given the visitors
Mr.. Rice has had intimate contact
with highway affairs dating back to
the early bicycle DAYS, when he
worked with Col. Albert Pope in the
latter's campaign for trails for bi-
cycles.
Richard O'Toole. chief of the Latin
American division, and William Alt.
hoff, machinery division, Department
of Commerce; Fletcher Warren. State
Department. and Charles +. Babcock,
Pan-.4merican Union. are other men,
bers of the party who have been Sc
lected as escorts for the Latins be-
cause of the special knowledge which
they have of Latin affairs and also
because of their ability as linguists.
The presence of John Killers, Bu-
:eau of Public Roads staff photog'
rapher. and of Fred Perkins, chief.
and Eugene Tucker. assistant, motion
picture division, Department of Agri-
culture. are further evidences of the
Interest which the Government is
taking in this tour and the desire
which is felt throughout official circles
to manifest cordial interest in
friendly relations with the Pan Amer
leans.
AS the party moves along, outstand-
ing points and events will be filmed
and ultimately it is the intention of
the Pan-American Confederation off,
Gals to purchase copies of these films
and send them to Latin America for
circulation.