Am. Soc. C. E., Chairman of the Local Committee of Arrangements, who, in behalf of the local members, extended a hearty welcome to the Members of the Society and their guests. The President, Robert Moore, M. Am. Soc. C. E., then took the chair, and introduced Chas. Warren Hunt, Secretary, Am. Soc. C. E., who presented a sketch of the history of the Society during its first fifty years. General William P. Craighill, Past-President, Am. Soc. C. E., moved that a telegram of congratulation be sent to Mr. Robert B. Gorsuch, the first Secretary of the Society, and who, according to Mr. Hunt's report, is the only survivor of those who founded the Society in 1852. The motion, duly seconded, was carried unanimously. The following message was sent: 66 "WASHINGTON, D. C., May 20th, 1902. "ROBERT B. GORSUCH, "Mexico City. "The American Society of Civil Engineers, by unanimous vote in Annual Convention, tenders kind greetings and good wishes to Robert B. Gorsuch, the sole survivor of its founders. "CHAS. WARREN HUNT, "Your kind greetings on behalf of the Society of which I had the honor of being one of its founders brings overwhelming recollections of ambitious effort now a pleasure tempered with sadness. Proud of having been one of the initiators of so eminent a scientific society, please tender my highest appreciation to its members for their thoughtfulness on the occasion mentioned. "R. B. GORSUCH."* The President then delivered the Annual Address. The Secretary presented letters from the Director, U. S. Geological Survey, offering facilities for the inspection of Methods of Survey, etc., and transmitting 500 copies of the Topographic Map of Washington and Vicinity; from the President of the Capital Traction Company, tendering free transportation during the four Convention days; from the Commandant, Washington Navy Yard, stating that he had arranged to put a jacket on a 12-in. gun during the visit of the Society to the Yard on the 21st; from the Secretary of the Navy, acknowledging an invitation to attend the Convention; from the Secretary of the International Association for Testing Materials, inviting Members to attend the Fifth *These messages are here interpolated to preserve the record in convenient form. Annual Meeting of the American Section, June 12th-14th, 1902; and from the Secretary of the Cosmos Club, extending the courtesies of the Club to members of the Society during the Convention. A resolution, introduced by Bernard R. Green, M. Am. Soc. C. E.. inviting the local officers of the Corps of Engineers of the Army and Navy, Civil Engineers of Washington, not members of the Society, and the Washington Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, to attend the meetings of the Convention was seconded and carried unanimously. David S. Carll, M. Am. Soc. C. E., explained the arrangements which had been made in reference to free transportation over the lines of the Washington Railway and Electric Company during the Convention, and in reference to the excursion to Cabin John Bridge. Colonel William M. Black, M. Am. Soc. C. E., extended an invitation to visit Washington Barracks and witness the guard mounting and dress parade of the Engineers' School and Battalion, and announced further details in reference to the excursion to Fort Washington, Marshall Hall and Mt. Vernon on Thursday, May 22d. Adjourned. Second Session, Tuesday, May 20th, 1902.-The meeting was called to order at 8 P. M.; the President, Robert Moore, in the chair; Chas. Warren Hunt, Secretary; many members and guests being present. Talks, descriptive of engineering works in Washington, and illustrated with lantern slides, were given, as follows: On District Government, by Colonel William M. Black, M. Am. Soc. C. E. On the Washington Sewers, by D. E. McComb, M. Am. Soc. C. E. On the Water Supply of Washington, by Colonel A. M. Miller, M. Am. Soc. C. E. On the Washington Monument and Library of Congress, by Bernard R. Green, M. Am. Soc. C. E. On the Electric Railways of the District, by D. S. Carll, M. Am. Soc. C. E. On Proposed Park Improvements in the District, by Charles Moore, Esq. Adjourned. BUSINESS MEETING. Third Session, Wednesday, May 21st, 1902. The meeting was called to order at 10.30 A. M.; President Robert Moore in the chair; Chas. Warren Hunt, Secretary. The Secretary presented the report of the Committee on the desirability of action being taken for the protection of engineers and the public from incompetent practitioners.* On motion, duly seconded, the report was accepted and adopted. H. G. Prout, M. Am. Soc. C. E., presented the report of the Committee on a Proposed Amendment to the Constitution Relative to Admission to Membership.+ On motion, duly seconded, the report was received and placed on file. William P. Craighill, Past-President, Am. Soc. C. E., presented the following resolution: 66 'Resolved, That the Board of Direction be requested to frame an amendment to the Constitution which shall do away with the secret letter-ballot now used in the election of corporate members, and substitute therefor an open or signed ballot." The resolution was duly seconded, and, after discussion, was with. drawn by the proposer. The Secretary presented a report of the votes received as to the Time and Place for holding the Annual Convention of 1903.‡ After discussion, it was moved that: "The matter of the time and place for the Annual Convention of 1903 be referred to the Board of Direction, with the statement that it is the sense of this meeting that it shall be held in Asheville, N. C.” The motion, being duly seconded, was carried. The Secretary reported a recommendation from the Board of Direction that the Special Committee "On Analysis of Iron and Steel," Subcommittee of the American Society of Civil Engineers (of the International Committee on Standards for the Analysis of Iron and Steel, of which Professor J. W. Langley is chairman), be discharged. On motion, duly seconded, the Committee was discharged. The Secretary reported that the Board of Direction recommends that the Special Committee "On Units of Measurement" be discharged. On motion, duly seconded, the Committee was discharged. Fourth Session, Wednesday, May 21st, 1902.-The meeting was called to order at 8 P M.; President Robert Moore in the chair; Chas. Warren Hunt, Secretary. Discussion on the following topic was called for by the President: "In contract work, either public or private, is it preferable to make separate contracts for the different branches of trades involved, or to combine all under one general contract?" *See page 188. + See page 197. + See page 208. The discussion was opened by George E. Gifford, M. Am. Soc. C. E., and was continued by the following: T. CHALKLEY HATTON, M. Am. Soc. C. E. M. WARD EASBY, M. Am. Soc. C. E. CHARLES WORTHINGTON, M. Am. Soc. C. E. HORACE ANDREWS, M. Am. Soc. C. E. The meeting then took up the discussion of the second topic, as follows: "Is it possible and desirable to keep accounts of work in progress in such a manner as to ascertain unit costs on each class of work?" The Secretary presented the opening discussion, prepared by S. Whinery, M. Am. Soc. C. E., and the subject was further discussed by the following: CHARLES S. CHURCHILL, M. Am. Soc. C. E. T. CHALKLEY HATTON, M. Am. Soc. C. E. CHARLES WORTHINGTON, M. Am. Soc. C. E. FOSTER CROWELL, M. Am. Soc. C. E. The meeting then took up the discussion of the third topic, as follows: "Is steel susceptible of being made as permanent a building material as masonry?" The discussion was opened by Charles G. Darrach, M. Am. Soc. C. E., and was continued by the following: E. W. STERN, M. Am. Soc. C. E. GEORGE F. SWAIN, M. Am. Soc. C. E. E. T. D. MYERS, Jr., M. Am. Soc. C. E. A. L. JOHNSON, M. Am. Soc. C. E. The Secretary read a telegram from Mr. Robert B. Gorsuch, in reply to the message of good wishes sent to him during the First Session of the Convention.* Adjourned. * For text of messages exchanged, see page 170. Fifth Session, Thursday, May 22d, 1902.—The meeting was called to order at 8 P. M.; President Robert Moore in the chair; Chas. Warren Hunt, Secretary. The President called for discussion on the fourth topic, as follows: "In view of the numerous disasters caused by the contracting of channels, or the damming of small streams, should non-navigable streams be under the control of the National Government?" The discussion was opened by Rudolph Hering, M. Am. Soc. C. E., and was continued by the following: L. M. HAUPT, M. Am. Soc. C. E. A. M. MILLER, M. Am. Soc. C. E. The meeting then took up the discussion of the fifth topic, as follows: "Should the National Government undertake the construction and operation of irrigation works?" Elwood Mead, M. Am. Soc. C. E., opened the discussion, which was continued by the following: T. M. RIPLEY, Assoc. M. Am. Soc. C. E. F. H. NEWELL, M. Am. Soc. C. E. GEORGE H. MAXWELL, Esq. J. JAMES R. CROES, Past-President, Am. Soc. C. E. L. M. HAUPT, M. Am. Soc. C. E. The meeting then took up the discussion of the sixth topic, as follows: "Should Engineering Practice be regulated by a code of ethics? If so, how can such a code be established?" George A. Soper, Assoc. M. Am. Soc. C. E., opened the discussion. Adjourned. Sixth Session, Friday, May 23d, 1902.-The meeting was called to order at 10 A. M., President Robert Moore in the chair; Chas. Warren Hunt, Secretary. The discussion on the sixth topic was continued by the following: BENJAMIN M. HARROD, Past-President, Am. Soc. C. E. F. W. DALRYMPLE, Assoc. M. Am. Soc. C. E. Written discussions on this subject by Charles G. Darrach, M. Am. Soc. C. E., and by W. Hildenbrand, M. Am. Soc. C. E., were also presented. |