Evening star., 1927-11-20
BY WILLIAM ULLMAN.

The Pan-American Confederation
for Highway Education will meet in Rio
de Janeiro in July, 1928. and behind
that simple announcement there is a
story abounding in economic signifi-
canoe rich i'm the romance of a new
and rugged country responding to an
insistent demand for that greatest of
all unifiers, transportation, and nav
ing vital bearing upon the perpetu'
alton Of international cord:ality be-
tween the Americas.
Such claims for any single event
might appear ridiculously exagger-
ated were it not understood that the
Pan-American Confederation for High
way Education represents the COM
bined good roads thought of North,
South and Central America; that it is
the practical, working embodiment of
a singularly impressive ideal in high
way transportation, and that. because
Of these factors, the 1928 Rio de ia
neiro conference will be focal point
of the utmost Importance.
The Pan-American Confederation is
an organiZat ton made up of autono-
nous national groups, or federations,
and includes the countries of Bolivia,
Chile, Colombia Cuba, Honduras,
Panama, Paraguay. Peru, the United
States and Uruguay, and in 1t the re-
mainder of the states of Central and
South America have an interest which
at once is broad and deep.
Foster International Roads.
Fundamentally, of course. the pur-
pose of the national federations and
Of the Pan-American Confederation is
to foster the development of intra-
national and international motor high
ways. The efforts of the organiZa-
tions have been marked by an activity
and firm virility not to be gainsaid.
They have not been content merely to
gather at stated intervals and ex-
change platitudes in the form Of idle
panegyrics on the obvious advantages
of a complete and an efficient system
of interlocking good roads. On the
other hand, numerous steps of a def
mite character have been taken to at
tain the end in view, and as a result
the groups have gained prestige,
strength and influence.
In this entire work and program the
automobile industry of the United
States naturally has taken consider.
able degree Of interest, and in the case
Of the industry, as has been true of
the confederation and the individual
real WOIh has Dccn OOiic
to bring about more general realiZa-
ton of the economic essentially of an
efficient chain of highways, thus to
hasten its arrival.
The educational campaigns embark
ed upon. by the various bodies-and
aided through the cooperation of the
industry - have been widespread in
scope, clear in vision and intelligently
executed. Every possible educational
means has been adopted to bring
home the lesson most vividly, and to
this end motion picture films have
| been employed, depicting various high.
| way conditions, development before
and after good roads came and other
pertinent subjects of like character.
Definite Results Achieved.
When the 1928 conference of the
confederation is called to order at Rio
dc Janeiro reports of progress will be
| in order Every convention or meet
| ing has it's reports Of progress" but
they are not always as satisfactory
as their committee chairmen would
like them to be. Those to be delivered
at the meeting in the Brazilian capi.
tai are certain to meet with thorough.
going approval, because definite re.
suits are being achieved: Slowly