Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-05
HIGHWAY SESSION
BRINGS 65O HERE
FROM 60 NATIONS
World Road Congress Opens
Tomorrow at Constitution
Hall for Six Days.
SECRETARY STIMSON
TO DELIVER WELCOME
Many Social Events Planned for
Guests, Including White House
Reception.


ing more than go nations, colonies anc
dependencies, meet in Washington Thu
week to attend the sixth session of The
International Road Congress.
For six days, beginning tomorrow. the
common problem of providing manki.lc
everywhere with swift. safe and eco
nomic highways will be studied by q
CONVERSION OF experts such as this coun-
try has moi entertained before. The at
tendance of $50 foreign delegates from
every civilized community will give tc
the deliberations an international as
pect not duplicated in Washington since
the disarmament conference Of 1921.
A gala opening is planned for tomor-
row at l AS o'clock in Constitution Hall
After a 15-minute period of music by
the United States Navy Orchestra
Henry L. Stimson, the Secretary OF
State. will deliver the address of well
come Mr. Stimson will be introduced
by Roy D. Chaplin, whom President
Hoover appointed to direct the Ameri-
can organizing commission to prepare
the way for the meeting.
A response to Secretary Stimson s
address will be delivered by NJ. Edmond
Chalk, vice president of the Permanent
International Association of Road Con-
crosses. in the absence of Senator AL
bert Mahieu, the president who at the
tendance because of his duties in the
French Senate. Mr.. Chalk is president
of the Touring Club of France and a
member of the Executive Committee of
the permanent association.
First in Hemisphere.
The Washington convention of the
congress marks the first time it has
assembled on the Western Hemisphere
Countries that were known to history
before the American Government was
conceived, Japan. Indo-China, India
Nigeria, Liban, Algeria, Morocco, Great
Britain and France, VIII have repre-
sentatives here to witness a progress in
development not to be found anywhere
else in the world
Men and women from these many
lands will be interested in learning how
the American people opened 100000
miles of improved highway in Is years.
In 1905 there were less than $4,000 au-
tomobiles in this country and about
i55, 900 miles of improved highway, with
only LA miles having a high-type sur
face. Today there are more than
$4,000, 900 motor vehicles in the United
States and in addition to 100000 miles
of improved highway there are 100000
miles of disable dirt roads.
The congress has been divided into
two sections, one to discuss the techni-
Cdl PHASES VI IOd0 COllolA anu LAIC
other to study questions of traffic and
finance. The Importance and inter-
national Significance of the meeting
was described by Mr.. Chaplin yesterday
in q radio address broadcast from sta
ton WMAL over the Columbia Broad
casting System.
Mr.. Chaplin said that under lead
ership Of Thomas H. Macdonald, who
is chief Of the United States Bureau
~ D7rhlir Beads Hurifh the fIrll
Grafton of President Hoover and his
administration, of the State highway
departments an dof all industry, the
congress will inevitably have an imme-
date and a profound influence, upon
highway development everywhere"
They come, these men, not so much
to discuss the technical problems of
grade, alignment and type of read, as
on a human mission of vital i'm
portance," he said.
Wrapped up in their deliberations
is the social and economic future Of
their children, of yours and mine.
Everyday Routine Job.
primarily, theirs is the everyday
routine job Of scaling q mountain.
penetrating q jungle, f1lling a swamp
or pushing an express road through the
intricate mazes of modern city traffic.
Fundamentally, these highway engi-
ltEAo dlC tkAN FAA4bd0A0 VA AAOASAAA AAN'
Upon the success of their efforts rests
the opportunity of hundreds of millions
of people to obtain for themselves new
standards OF living. new insight into
the customs Of their neighbors, new
markets for the commodities they may
produce.
las their work progresses. they will
give new stability TO government, new
employment to vast hosts. ncU areas
Toy. n P-nlCTp with
families"
About 600 American engineers are
expected TO attend the meetings, and in
connection with the congress an inter-
national road machinery show and ex-
position will be staged at the Auditorium
and on nearby property by the Ameri-
can Road Builders Association.
The two sections OF the congress will
hold their meetings in the council
chamber OF the Chamber Of Commerce
OF the United States. The cosmopoli-
tan character of the deliberations l.
attested to by the fact that discussion:
will be In four languages, French, Ger
man, Spanish and English. While
speakers are talking their words will b'
translated by interpreters. To avoic
confusion. each interpreter will speal
into a miniature telephone system anc
those desiring TO follow the discussion
in German will only have 70 pick W
one Of the headsets connected witt
German interpreter.
Weight Of Opinion.
The opinions at these section meet
ings will be considered officially a
plenary meetings of the congress Fri
day in the Chamber Of Commerce, a
which time all conclusions OF the dele
gates will be passed on
Numerous social events have beer
planned for the delegates, notabl
among them being a reception b.
President Hoover which will be helt
at the White House Thursday after
noon at 4:30 o'clock: a reception b.
Secretary Stimson at the Pan Ameri
can Union Wednesday evening at
O'Clock, and a banquet Thursday eve
ming at the Willard Hotel, with tn
American Organizing Commission a
host
Three excursions will be made b
the delegates to Mount Vernon Wednes
day; to Arlington Experiment Station
Friday. and to Annapolis on Saturday
where the visitors will be escorte
through the United States Navs
Academy and entertained at luncheoI
by Gov Albert c. Richie at the An
napoliS Roads Club.
Special arrangements for entertain
ing the wives of the foreign delegate
have been made by Miss L. Fuller eX
Donald who as chief of the Unite
States Bureau of Public Roads, has q
important place in the work of tn
congress.
The closing plenary session will b
held Friday afternoon.