Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-19
BRIDGE MEN WITH us
SUPERINTENDENT MEET HERE IN
THEIR ANNUAL CONVENTION.
FROM ALL OYER The COUNTRY.
A Large Attendance Representing
various Sections-Papers Read anu
o,ber Matters Discussed-May Elect
Officers This Evening.

The National Association OF Railway
Superintendent of Bridges and Buildings
convened in its eighth annual session at
Murphy's Hotel yesterday, and the con-
vention sat both in the morning ana in
the afternoon, transacting considerable
business.
President Berg presided over the meet
ines. and whom at 10 o'clock in the morn
ing his gavel fell. calling the body TO
order the attendance was quite large.
The members who answered to the roll
call were: George W. Andrews. Philadel'
phia Division b. a. O r. X, Washington;
Cyrus r. Austin, b. & NJ. r. r., MedforG'
Mass; Walter G. Berg, Lchigh Valley
railway Jersey City; Joseph n. Cummin'
Long Island railway, Long Island CITY;
William S. Danes, Wabash railway, East
ern Division. Peru. Ind; William o. Eg-
gleston. c. e Erie. Huntington, Ind; Fred
Eilers, c. b. &c C., Ottumwa; Holland W.
Fletcher. c. & ~ w. railway. Chicago
John Foreman. Philadelphia and Reading,
Pottstown r.. l.. Helm, Il. & o., Grafton;
c. b. Large, T.. & T., jamestown, Pa, y.
s Markley. c. d f.. l., Dapvil!e, ILL.,; John
H. Markley, T. =. w, Peoria; James
MCINTYRE. Erie Cleveland; y. w. Mer-
rick. -. d N, Huron, S D.; W. b. Nit
cheI. n. y. +. & o., Gallon, o.; S. f.
Patterson. b. * NJ. Concord y. Shane,
c. c. c. & ST L.. indianapolis; J. b. Shell
don. y. Y, y. II. & H., WoonsOcket, X.
l.; James Stannard, Wabash. Moberly,
Mo; y. NJ. Strain, Wabash, Springfield;
j. NJ Staley. c. q o.. Richmond, y. W.
Thompson +. +. w. 81 c., Fort Wayne;
c. W. Vandegrift, c. 81 o., Anderson, W.
Va: A. T.. Kilan, Intercolonial Moncten,
n. Y; r. f. Pickering, Is. & Nj.
THE PRESIDENTS REPORT.
President Berg read his report. setting
forth the progress that had been made
by the association, and in il he stated
that Professor Kidnell, of the Michigan
College of Mines, Houghton, Mich, had
prepared for the association a number of
tables illustrative of the relative strength
Of timbers for beams. After the reports
of the various committees had been re-
ceved and other preliminary routine
business had been disposed Of the Ex
ccutive announced the following standing
committees:
Auditing-G. w. Andrews, T. NJ. Stain,
J. y. Sheldon.
Nominating-J. stannard, j. Foreman.
J. Mcintyre.
Resolutions-J. H. Cumming, n. w.
Thompson, Aaron S. Markley.
Selection of subjects for report and
discussion at next meeting-J. II. Mark
ley, w. o. Eggleston, A. l. Markley, A.
w. Merrick, A. Shane, c. p. Austin, II.
w. Fletcher, w S. Davis, c. NJ. Large
r. l.. Hefiin. A. E. Killan. b. T. Picker
ing.
MANY PAPERS READ.
The papers arranged for at the last an
nual convention were then read and
proved highly interesting to the members
present, who listened with absorbing at
tention to them. The subjects treated on
were:
pile Rings and Methods of Protecting
Pieheads in Driving" William S. Danes,
Wabash.
Cost and Manner of Putting in Pipe
Culverts," read by the secretary.
Best Floor for Shops and Round
Houses" A. w. Merrick, Chicago and
Northwestern.
'ROund-House Smokestacks and Venu-
lators." William o. EgglestOn, Chicago
and Erie.
At this juncture in the proceedings a
recess was taken for dinner, and at 2:30
O'Clock the convention reassembled.
Papers were then read on "Cattle-Guards
and Wing-Fences"; prevention Of Fire
in Railroad Buildings" and Storage OF
Fuel. Oil, and Other Station Supplies at
Way-Stations, and the rest of the ses-
sion. until adjournment. at $50 o'clock,
was devoted TO a discussion of the sub
jects which had been treated on by the
papers.
THIS THEIR BUSY DAY.
The convention will sit again this morn
ing and this afternoon, and, if need be,
tonight. for it is the purpose Of the men,
bers to do their utmost toward finishing
their business and thus do away with
the necessity Of holding session to-mOr
row. 1t had been planned to go into the
election of officers tomorrow, bnt the
election will most probably be held this
evening, and it is a foregone conclusion
that Mr. Joseph u. Cummin, of Brook
lyn, the first vice-president, will be adj
vanced to the presidency. Mr.. Cummin
has held Office in a number of organiza-
tions. and he prides himself on the re-
cord he has made, in that he never had
vote cast against him.
The inclemency of the weather last
night prevented the members of the as
sociation from leaving their hotel, but
the ladies who accompanied them here
held reception in the parlors on the
second floor, and the evening was spent
In most enjoyable fashion.
Mr.. Joseph NJ. Staten Of the Chesa-
peake and Ohio, who is in charge of the
local arrangements for the reception and
Of the visitors, has been
untiring in his efforts TO promote the sue
cess Of the convention. He looks person
allv. after the comfort OF each and every !
visitor. and will see that none so away |