Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-10-25
SOME MEN OF METAL.
A Host Of Foreign Visitors Invade
the City.
IRON AND STEEL MASTERS.
The Six Hundred Members OF the Brit.
ish and German Association In tho
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Of Distinguished Visitors.

FNkS rather tnat parb OF II NneFe mining
and manufacturing play the leading part,
studying a. they went the methods and pro-
cesses used by their American brethren and
everywhere afforded the best possible opportun-
itv to prosecute the study. Their arrival in this
city today marks point pretty we'll on toward
the close of their trip-s trip that has been in
every sense of the word q success. Monday
they leave here on their way toward New York
stopping at Sparrow's Point, near Baltimore to
inspect the works Of the Pennsylvania railroad
there. At New York the final celebration in
their honor will be held and the tour will be
formally ended Many Of the visitors will
then leave for home, though it is more than
likely that some of the foreigners will prefer
TO see more of the country that has given them
such a royal welcome and has treated them SO
Hospitality.
TRANSATLANTIC coUBTEs1Es.
The theory has been brought forward that the
metallurgic arts are more cosmopolitan In their
character and tendencies than any other. The
experiences of American followers of those arts
IN England and Germany, and Of Enelishmen
and Germans in this country, would certainly
go far toward proving the truth of the theory
During the time that the worlds fair WAS in
progress in Paris q large number of the men,
beers of the American institutes OF mining, civil
and mechanical engineers went abroad In a
body and were accorded every courtesy by the
similar societies of the old world. In Eng land
aud Germany this was especially true. A great
banquet was rendered them at the Guild Hall
In London. and the members of the British
Steel and Iron Institute did vast deal for their
comfort and pleasure while they remained in
that island of mines and factories. In France.
1t was to be expected at such busy time,
the people were too much occupied with their
own affairs to devote much time to anybody
A. k,,I
many they were fortunate enough to meet with
a repetition of their English experiences. In
the manufacturing country around Dusseldorf,
especially, they were most Hospitality enter
tanned, and were furnished with an excel ent
chance to learn what advantages the German
miners and manufacturers made of their oppor-
IunItles and material.
The American engineers were so pleased
with their treatment abroad that they were
only too anxious to have a chance to recipro-
cate, and the invitation they sent across the
water to their new-made friends there to re-
turn the Welt was the natural result. The
present visit Of SO many Enghshmen and Ger
mans Is the outcome of that invitation.
Whether the debt of gratitude owed them has
been paid in full or not Is a question that can
hardly be answered with propriety on this side
of the water, but Judging by the satisfaction
that the visitors have not been slow to express
there is not much doubt about the answer.
Certain II Is that they have had a splendid op-
portunlty to study the natural resources and
tine manufacturing industries of this country.
That they have been treated most Hospitality Is
q. fact that almost goes without saying.
The visitors are ali members of two iron and
steel societies. the British Iron and steel itsti
tute and the Verein Deutscher Eisenhuetten-
ieute. which latter being interpreted means
the Union Of German Iron Workers.
THE BRITISH INSTITUTE
has been called the parliament OF metallurgy,
and as such it occupies q unique and very I'M
portant position among the societies of the
world. Primarily it is an organization for the
furthering Of the study and discussion of mat
ters that interest the IRON trade. and 1t has
/ title to do as well with the promotion of
feeling of good fellowship among scientific
men, II IL a society OF comparatively recent
birth, having been organized IN 1869, only two
wears before the American Institute of Mining
Engineers. Its sister society on this side of the
water. The industrial growth of the present
century led the chemists and the civil and me-
chanical engineers to band themselves to-
gether each IN a professional organization
for the better protection of their interests.
But for good many years after that. in
fact until the spring Of 1869, the irOnmasters
OF England managed to get along by going
each his own PARTICULAR way. regardless of his
fellows. A number of far-slghted men saw that
things might be managed better than that and
AT a meeting of men of the iron trade, held In
Newcastle-On-Jyne in 1865. it was proposed 10
form such an organization as now exists. Sir
LOwthlan Bell, one of the foremost IRON men
OF England, was a hearty supporter of the plan
and he was seconded by such men AS Sir Henry
Bessemer. j. L. Smith, Edward Williams, Sir
VIM. Slemens and Lord Frederick Cavendlsh-
THE REORGANIZATION.
The new institute had its formal beginning
at the Westminster Palace Hotel in London in
the spring of 1869, with the Duke OF Devon
shire as its first president At that time the
L..
ginning the course of its wonderful develop
nent. The building OF railroads and the be-
ginning of many kindred enterprises created
an increased demand for manufactured iron.
Bessemer steel was beginning to be made i'll
great Quantities. and iron had already largely
AIKEN the place of wood as a constructive ma
tcrIal. Scientific methods and chemical aids
were being introduced into the iron business
and II soon became evident that the new insti-
ate had a large place in life TO fill and that
there was no end OF good 1t might accomplish.
Inc Slemens process. now so we'll known, was
then IN Its infancy. and the institute gave il
considerable attention, two papers being read
ON the subject at the first meeting, one by Mr.
X. HowsOn and the other by Mr.. Josiah T.
smith. Ever since that time the institute has
taken up and considered almost every matter
hat has been 10 the interest of producers,
consumers and users of steel and iron
THE MEMBERSHIP.
Membership In the institute is granted TO
those who are actually engaged in iron and
steel producing works aud to metaIlurgists
# scientific attainments. Among its members
many of the wealthiest AID most promi-
Hent men in Great Britain, while the admission
of foreign members has helped TO give /, a
worldwide reputation. The list OF officers
consists OF u president who IL elected for a
term OF two years, nine vice presidents and a
council Of fifteen members These latter OIL
GERS elected for three years, one-thrd going
out each year. The institute holds two meet
fud the other IN the fall at some place chosen
~ the council The present meeting IN this
country Is the sixth that has been held away
rom home. The others have been at Liege
BvIglum, Dusseldorf. Germany, Vienna and two
AT Iarls. The institute has always taken great in
teTest IN the progress that has been made IN the
IRON business In this country, and the large at
tendance on the present trip partly the result Of
"a desire on the part of the members to see with
'heT own eyes the state of the industry here.
THE GERMAN ASSOCIATION.
The yerein Deutscher Observation-Disclosures, the
German organization at present well repre-.
sented In this country, is q younger society
than the institute, having been founded ter
years ago the 18th day of next month Still i
las been remarkably successful ever since il
beginning, and has done a great deal Of goo
work In the interests of the iron trade Ii,
president, since Its organization, has been Car
Lueg, general manager of the Gutchoffnungs-
Huette at Oberhausen- He was unable to com,