New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-18
CIVIL ENGINEERS IN SESSION.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY.
The annual meeting OF the American Society Of
Civil Engineers begun yesterday at 10 a. m. at
the house of the society, No. 127 East Twenty
third ST. Among those present ut the day and es en-
ing sessions were W. p. Shnn, Z. p. North, General
George 5. Green, George S. Green. jr A. p. BOILER.
Theodore Cooper, John Bogart w. G. Hamilton. 7.
Z. III. Fisher. j. Lockwood, A. K. Wolu. 1. H. Sick
els. Charles Macdonald, s. S HaIght. J. p. Davis, d.
New-York; W. II. Paine, c. c. Martin. L, l.. Buck,
f. Is. Moves, and f G. Collingwood, Of Brooklyn
). NJ. Gray. OF Providence; ID. McCOmb, OF Wash.
ington, u. c.; John b. Jeryls, of Rome \. T.; w.
W. Walker, OF Hannibal No. D. h. Michaes, of
philadelphia; X. L. Harris. of Portsmouth, n. H.;
G. H. Bishop of MiddIetown, Conn. Professor De
Niagara Falls L. Ely. oil Altoona, Pa. w. L. JGG-
son. Of OswegO; }. Osgood OF Milton. Mass j. u.
City; NJ. NJ Fldd, of Boston c. Z. GOad. OF Mont
real; J. w. Bacon OF Danbury, Conn.,. and j.
James X. Croes of Yonkers.
The election of the following officers was
nounced Charles Paine, president; w. II. Paine
and Henry Flad vice presidents John Bogart, Sec
reiary and Librarian j. James k. Croes. treasurer;
w. L. Merrill and w. &. Hamilton directors The
Board of Directors, the treasurer and the Finance
mItee on uniform system Of tests Of ccments, and
on the preservation OF timber, reported progress
and were continued The special committee on uni
form standard time made report approving tho
action of Congress in authorizing the President TO
CAL an international congress TO consider the sub
ject, and recommended the calling OF "a convention
soon ~ possible to determine upon standard OF
time that would be the best for the interests Of
North America. The " Norman" medal tor the last
year was awarded to y Fteley and L. F. Stearns, of
Boston. for Joint paper upon The Flow Of the
Water of Sudbury River" Several amcndmtnts 10
the constitution wee made, and paper by William
L. shnn on Increased Efficiency OF Kaliways for
the Transportation OF Freight" which was read
before ihe society recently, was discussed
Papers upon the subJec: by john Il. Jeryis and
Charles Fame were Tead by the secretary. Nix:
Jervis thought that improvement I'm rails and in road
bed must 20 together The weight u steel rail could
carry depended largely upon the quaty OF the road
bed He spoke of the adj auces that had been made
IN using to better advantage the adhesion OF The loco
motive wheels to rails and cited rs proof ot the
improved efficiency OF railroad transportation the
gradual reduction in canal tolls that had taken
place till the waterways OF New-YOr8 b al been
made free. Mt Paine in his paper discussed mainly
the detention OF cars at stations AMI sidngs. lie
thought that assessment OF 20 cents day tor the
detention at "A car would do much to DO away witn
the evil. He admitted, however, that the habits OF
business men wonld be against paying such an as
seSs.nent aud that there were many otheI obstacles
tn carrying out the plan, several OF which 10
discussed.
At the evening session the discussion became
more informal and short speeches were made by y.
f. Emery, C. III. Fisher, y. Chanute, NJ. n. folney,
r. l.. Harris and others. Mr.. Emery thought that
enguers could be instructed TO advantage 80 that
they could get through many tight places by Iely-
inS upon adhesion OF the wheels and steady press
ure from the boiler Mr. Fisher. who is cnlef-ensl-
reduction of grade on both sides of the Rochester
station by which $4,000 yeai was saved to the
company. Mr.. Chanute tho chel -engineer OF tho
Erie Railroad, saia that the practice or that road
showed that consolidation zines and long trains
were more economical than short trains and the old
engines. They bad increased the average number OF
cars in train from twenty-three to thrty-eIght.
Instead OF increasing accidents by the breaking OF
trains. such accidents had actually been decreased
by engthenug the connections of the cars. w.
p. ShinD, whose paper was being considered,
thought that the commercial departments OF rail-
roads made serious mistake in placing those who
had come ur through the office clerks IN the man
agement. The commercial der artments thought
only OF securing an increase ID freight and 80 In
grOss-earnlngs. They should remember that the
railroads really wanted net earnings and not gross
The discussion postpOneu, ard it was decided 10
invite railroad managers To take part III H.
The society to-day will visit the Erie Basin, the
Brooklyn Bridge, which they Will cross, the Nils
building III Broad-st and the New-fUrk Steam
Heating Company at No 174 Greenwich-st.