New-York tribune., 1890-06-27
AMERICAN ENGINEERS.
LEADING RAILROAD AND BRIDGE BUILDERA
on THE CREST OF THE ALLEGHANIES.
MEETING OF THE SOCIETY AT THE MOUNTAIN
HOUSE-INTERESTING PROBLEMS DIS
CCsSED - SOME OF THOsH
PRESENT,
rBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBusEI

rBr TELEGRAPH THE TRrBuSEI
Cresson Springs June 26.-The twenty third annual
convention Of the American society Of Civil Engineers
began its session yesterday at the Mountain House
in this charming nook Of the Alleghanes. An ey-
ecutive committee meeting held late Wednes.
day night dlscnss the nomination Of president for
the ensuing and other matters pertaining To the
association, but the deliberations of sterous
character and the members of the committee all
mum as clans. To-day the convention was called
10 order about 10 O'Clock by President william p.
shinn, but, it is rule OF the association that
the annual convention shall be presided over BY
member holding executive Office. the chair was
yielded 10 william Metcalt, of Pittsburg. who was
the unanimous choice Of the convention. The last
convention of the Civil Engineers showed infinite
wisdom in the selection of CpessOn A. the place 81
this annual meeting. The attendance this year Is
greater than for many years past and the attraction
of the mountain scenery is responsible therefor
There is in convention Of this sort than
mutual improvement and the exchange of professional
experiences and IDEAS The old men, who have
grown gray I'm the service of the cvilizing arts OF
engineering regiously every session and dis
the different papers as they are presented. In
the intervals they discuss their favorte dishes at
table recall the old days in Mexico and the vest and
indorse condemn the latest discoveries develop
mens in the science OF bodybuilding or raroadmg.
etc. The young men are not so enthusiastic about
the proceedings Of the convention and merely make 10
an excuse for pleasant vacation. As one Of them
said to Tho Tribune reporter on the vcranda OF the
hotel to-day:
This is what I enjoy. Half the year work Ike
a slave and when get day or two OF, like to have
a prodgious loaf. don't attend the convention for
the papers although Of they contain much that
/, Interesting. / come because IL is rest and can
get within the civlzing influence Of breezy firta-
ton
| lie was from Mexico and he seemed 10 be making
the best Of his opportunities, for with the hnesse
of a general he paying attention TO dozen pretty
| girls AT once. and there none Of that poutns
distraction observable on any one, face which /, sure
TO appear if the honors are not pretty equally divhed
Although cut of from these refining influences ior
eleven out of every twelve months. As he SAID thls
American civil engineer had most etentlve memory
and the impressions of his early youth spent in New
| York City, stood him in good stead. The opinion d
the man from Mexico * shared by the younger ana
more ilfvoOu, members of the association generally.
The park contains hundreds ~ shady hooks admirably
adapted for two persons and one sunsllade, and ne
most absorbing occupations Of the day were smoking.
o>ensibe novel reading and hirtation>. The weather
was perfect and dozens of complies we're to be seen re-
clInng on the ellkept lawns. or sitting on the
vcrandas discussing less abStrl,e questions than IT.
rgation or obllne construction IN bridging.
| The session this morning was occupied with the
consideration Of paper written 10y j. Foster Cro~eI'
member Of the American society Of civil Engineers
|
on The line of the Cincinnati and Richmond
| Galroad which was completed in 1857. llis
arch when first projected. created great deal OF COM
ment in engineering circles on account OF the aiM'
! cultles tO be overcome. IL IS a fuccntred, obhque
structure Of extreme skew and Is notable for It's
obnquty Of AZ degrees 30 minutes, which Is about the
most unsafe ancls 10 which Semcircle arch can DO
applied.
Mr. Crowe who the engineer Of the arch over
came thi- danger attained security BY means o an
original device. which lie fully explained IN hN paper
skew arches comparatively rare IN America oec'i's
Of the difficulty and expense Of erecting them LEY
! were however known 10 the ancients' "hen
echanical masonry Il craft and the master mason
a magician who worked but did not write.
In the afternoon an interesting discussion took pa'e
on The comparative cost of electricity ana steam i'r
railroad service Lincoln Moss, who made test N
February of last year on the Nnthaye elevated ro"d
in New York. read a paper bristng with facts ana
alrehrtlc Deductions upon which he based a conSer'
vatvc estimate that the cost Of direct electric propul'
sion would amount four times that OF steam 1900
motion.
lame, b. Francis, Of Lowell. Mass. gray headed
venerable old gentleman OF the old school, In every line
~ whose clean shaven face j. written power ana
achievement did not think that the time had yet come
for electricity Supplant steam, but lie woulu h''
commit himself any cuand dried opinion. lie con-
tented himself with stating the opinion ~ 1T NHi'h
Thomson one Of the first engineers Of Great Brltalu
who said that 20 900 horsepower could be delivered III
Montreal or New York by of wire one-slAth
~ AN inch ia diameter. II this was pracocdUlo
electricity a. a motive power should nave iu'ur"
| in NewYorG
several other interesting papers oi e'nnNA.
character were read. but most OF the young ie" AIN
mnidens were ont gathering impulses iroh the ""1'
\ large number OF the most cMlhehI chsN'e'1
! America put il an appearance here today; An1,nS
them JaIes b. Francis, who Is senetals s - mis-
10 stand head OF the hydIaunc e!s'ee.s
| who II past pfcruchl VI e"- - IL.
Mr.. Francis has had charge io many scs IT, VI and
water power Of Lowell Mass ms hauve pi@S' Ia,cr
has been connected with the development Oh ,, wa,c
r mo, ony recognized in America. but have gained
him an cAtcndcd reputation on thc oluc. suI "a % 'e
Atlantic William Nei,ai oi h".,ess S'' man lie
was during the war, In cha e OF the i ,L
Of the Eodman nnS "sW sWv "gG SnaHee an ~ since 6ea
he has turned MS attention To the nanuiaSius ol IN,
| In th, particular. William p. shnn. the present.
president OF the society. was untll rscen,H ns .S
president of the Newlork and New England kalir1ei,
and is also identified with the manufacture of tc hcs'
csscmcr steel. having for many year, been the man Az
aver Of the Vulcan steel Works at 81 Louis al1 l s
Edgar Thomson Works at PttShuis. Alpbon,e fi'ty
one of the vice presidents OF the society Is os
man who looks a. If he should have been an adihrt
but he i, the chief engineer OF the 1ro,om % iuvuo ~
| commission. Among others are O. d. Bous'areh
, nrrcs ~ his country and constructed te
| cincinnati southern Railway from 'lncihna,i !" 'uss
| ,onoocn; C. y. Brush. chief engineer ot we 49, 49,
wnrEs ~ Iobokcn and also connected with the wafer
work, Of number ~ othrr 'Iue> ~ masr OU"u, ~
engineer. Charles laine' lst" .na,''.sr ~ INA
| the Lake shore road. and now manager oi w,
rrca, worls which supply Pttsburg with natural
aa, Don J. wnemorS chief p,n S%sineTG TG,a o Who o
, Ln;, rroro miles Of railroad than any other
mon nsN i1 i" the World NJ j. becker chief engineer q
The Ptt,bure Cincinnati and St Louis roea oS IN
| ~ 4, UbvncS of the United states Army, now III
Charge Of work Of the chief Gn tSe Az
ientc coast: Clemens Herscheu. Of New, York e,n,
Who engaged on the project tm far tGc s"Pp s"Tpn,
lng Hc" ", tho northeastern part Of New:
anGs Of TaaS fAsaSo saa nd% %F"sS n seSs Ss
englnggrI g., enc West and Theodore y. Ey. general
PRAYER Of the motive power OF the Pennsylvans
paW"pat who is In charge OF the great CONSTRUCTOR
and repair shop AT Altoona