The Topeka state journal., 1897-10-22
Men Of Heavy Responsibilities
in Convention.
Superintendent of Railway
Bridges Meet at Denver.
FORMS OF BUILDINGS
The Principal Theme of Dis
cussiOn Yesterday.
To Tour the Mountains and
Climb Pixies Peak.

Denver. Oct. 22.-The seventh annual
convention OF the Railway superinten-
dent Of Bridges and Buildings was con-
vened yesterday morning at the Brown
Palace ordinary.
Nearly so members We're in attend
ance from all parts of the union and
the gathering was q thoroughly congen-
iaI one, all of the members being well
acquainted with one another. Many of
the subjects of discussion failed to
arouse any interest in the convention,
having been amply gone over at prev
sous annual gatherings, but those that
came before the house for debate gen
orally brought out 4 number OF speak
ers who spoke intelligently upon the
subjects from their points of view.
An even dozen new members were ad-
mitted yesterday and one or two old
timers were re-iustated upon the pay
ment of back dues. Yesterday was
largely occupied with necessary bust
ness.
Today the delegates and their ladies
will leave for GlenwOOd Springs over
the Rio Grande, and on saturday the
return will be made. giving those who
desire it a chance TO scale Pixies Peak
via. the cog road and to see the varied
beauties in and about ManltOu and Col
orado Springs
President James Stannard called the
convention to order yesterday morning
at 10 and prayer was offered by J. H.
Cummin. The roll was called and the
minutes of the last meeting We're read,
and the applications for membership
were reported upon. The list of those
admitted will be found below. President
Stannard then delivered his annual ad-
dress, which dealt with the interest ta-
ken in the organization and the benefit
which the annual meeting conferred on
the members in the way OF suggestions
and ideas. The secretary and treasurer
then made their reports
At the afternoon session the following
ere ara7rr s1r4
chair:
nominations Of officers, George ].
Bishop, w o. EgEleston, John Fore
man; auditing of accounts, G. p. Aus
tin, w. B. Yereance, w. E. Harwig:
subjects for discussion, c. c. N1allard,
w. NJ. Noon, T. NJ. Strain, w. o. Egg
gleston, J. H Cummin, A. Shane, N. Ri
ley; obituary, J. H Cummin, w NJ
Noon, F. W. Tanner; memoirs, w C.
Berg, W. A. AIcGOnagle, W. S. Danes
The auditing committee reported all
of the books of the association to be in
good shape and that a balance of $197.5
remained in the treasury.
The committee on nominations re
turned the following names:
President, W. G. Berg, Lehigh Val
hey; first vice president, John H. Cum
min, Long Island; second vice presi-
dent Aaron S. Marltley, Chicago and
Eastern Illinois: third vice president,
CIV. Hinman, Louisville and Nashville:
fourth vice president, c. c. Mallard,
Southern Pacific; secretary Samuel f.
4
er, NJ. w. Thompson, Pittsburg, Fort
Wayne and Chicago; executive COM
nittee, c. J. Bishop, Rock Island; c.
F. Austin, Boston and Maine; NJ. Riley,
Northwestern; w. S. Danes, Wabash;
j. H Markley, Toledo, Peoria and
Western, and W. o. Eggleston, Erie.
The committee on memoirs reported
on the deaths of H. Dunlap, w. S TOz-
zer, L. K. SpaffOrd, J. B. Mitchell, r. NJ.
Peck, George N.Reid and Abel S. Mark
aey.
The subjects for discussion were:
First-Methods of heating buildings
where three or more stoves are now
used.
Second-The most suitable materials
for roofs of buildings of all kinds.
Third-HOW to determine the size and
capacity of openings for waterways.
FOurth-Designs for ice houses.
Fifth-Best end construction for tres
ties adjoining embankments.
Sixth-Bridge warnings for low over
head construction.
Seventh-Stock yards and sheds, in
Guiding all details of construction.
Eighth-FlOOr systems on bridges, in
cludi1g skew bridges.
Among the subject brought over from
last year was whether all openings in
entertainments should be numbered or
not, and how. A majority of the speak
ers seemed to prefer numbering all
openings and to have them numbered
consecutfvely, but others We're quite as
emphatic in their belief as to the deci-
mai system of numbering. The mileage
system of numbering bridges and cul-
Verts from each mile post to the next
had many adherents and occasionally
combinations of this idea with one of
the others was made.
Charles G. Mallard of the Southern
Pacific, Algiers, La, aroused some mirth
in the grave assemblage by stating
that in his section of the country they
sometimes had so bridges in each mile
and that the decimal system was used
at the present time He understood that
the alphabetical system was soon to be
put in use. and for. the life Of him he
could not see how they would do it
Delegate Sheldon of the New York
New Haven & Hartford, said that his
road had Photographic bridge book so
that in case of accident it could easily
be identified.
kilograms were received from Oma-
ha, Cincinnati and Fortress Monroe in
Viting the association to hold their next
meeting in their cities.
The central figure of interest on the
floor was, of course the father of
bridge superintendents, John Foreman
OF EottStOWn Pa, who for % years has
occupied that position on the Philadel-
phia and Reading railroad. Although
20 years of age, he is as alert as ever
and never fails to attend each conven-
1ion of the association.
Joseph Fl. Cumnin, who has been
nominated for first vice president, is
superintendent of bridges and buildings
on the Long Island railroad.
THE delegates used to say to me /:
wen, YOU must have snap on the
Long Island railroad Their impression
was that the island was about 20 miles
dong and say one mile in width. [ had
to carry along a lot of maps to each
convention for some time in order to
convince them that we operated over
400 miles of road, and carried over Is
million passengers each year: more
probably than any other road in the
country. When I told them about that
they always changed their minds about
the snap of the position
Shirts. collars and cuffs Iaundered
TO look like new by Peerless Steam
LAUNDRY, 112 and ia West 8th St.