The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-21
THE SURVEYORS CONVENTION.
The Association Elects Its New Officers, and
Listens to Pertinent Addresses.

The annual session of the State Association Of
Surveyors and Engineers was continued, yester-
day, the morning business including the cleo
ton of officers and committees The committee
on this matter reported the following, which
was adopted unanimously R. II. Walls, Put
nam county, PRESIDENT w. FL. Wilton, st.
Joseph, vice-president; Fl. B. Fatout, Marion,
recording secretary L. S. Alter. Jasper, CORE
spending secretary; Robert Morrison, Henry,
treasurer. Executive committee: James G.
Pulse T. A. Hartman, John Van Buskirk, w.
s. Fries, G. W. Pierce. Legislative committee:
r. r. Spencer. John F. Campbell, A. 81. Polk.
w. A Asher, j. B. Brown. Printing committee:
Fl. B. Fatout, j. W. Craig, VIM. Il. Isley.
An address on bridge construction was deliv-
cred by T. A. Hartman, of Franklin county.
He referred to the laxity of system in this kind
of work, and maintained that calculations on
strain sheets should be made with the greatest
care. Before contracts are let the strength of
these sheets should be ascertaned to the greatest
point of accuracy, and no plan should be adopted
until it had proved it worthiness by the highest
test possible. In planning and building bridges
there was q great necessity for competent super
intendency. He explained several formulas by
which the strength and strains of such struct-
ures can be closely estimated. Examples Of de-
ficient and dangerous bridges on many of the
highways OF the State were brought to the atfen-
ton of the audience He urged upon surveyors
and engineers to give the study of this subject
their best efforts in acquiring proficiency in their
profession. A general discussion followed the
reading of the paper, the views of MIR. Hardman
receiving unanimous support
In the afternoon FL. B. Fatout, Of this county,
read paper on "Fees and Salaries" He re-
viewed the inconsistencies and antiquities of
the Indiana fee bill relating to the remuneration
of surveyors He claimed that the profession
had outgrown the law When it was enacted
the principal work to be done was in land sur
veying. Now that is the secondary part of a
surveyors duties. The law is a great hindrance
to the adjustment of charges.
A visit was made to the new State house, after
which the rest of the afternoon was given to the
representatives of manufacturers and dealers in
engineering and surveying instruments. Prof
0. T. Baker. of Champaign, ILL.,, invited the
members to visit the convention of surveyors
and civil engineers to be held in that city on the
10th of the coming month.
The evening session was utilized by L. S.
Alter, of Jasper county, who read an interesting
paper on Drainage and Swamp Lands" His
view is that the bitches should be made as
straight as possible 1t is the cheaper plan and
produces better results. It is also better to go
through high lands by short cuts As an exam
pie, he referred to the Beaver lake
ditch. which has depth Of ff-
ty feet, and runs through a sand
ridge. In large marshes two bitches. one on
each side, should be cut instead Of but one.
through the center. He urged that engineers
and ditch commissioners should adhere to the
depth of the ditch as the great essential in pro-
ducing the highest benefit. The size of bitches
and the methods of constructing received con-
siderable attention. He discussed the wants
of dredging machines. and said that no machine
of the kind thus far invented gave complete sue
cess. The speaker also devoted some of his
time TO discussing tiles, their quality and method
of laying them This morning the subject will
be continued, in a general discussion by MEM
bers of the association. Governor Gray is ex-
pectsd to be present at the meeting this fore
noon.