The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-06
PRESERVE THE OLD BRIDGE.
Engineering society Passes a
Resolution.

The Indiana Engineering Society held
three sessions yesterday, all of which We're
well attended. Many valuable papers were
delivered, a number of which were of gen.
eral interest IL. b. Fatout read an address
prepared by Edward Hill, of this city, on
the old National road which contained an
entertaining historical sketch of the road
from the time its construction was begun
in 1906 at Cumberland, Md. The road ter
minated at ST. Louis and was 500 miles in
length One of the chief undertakings in
making the road was the erection of the
old covered bridge over White river. Will
liam II. Wernwag, United States en-
gineer, and Walter Blake took the contract
for the bridge in 1881 and completed it in
1888. After the reading of Mr.. Hilrs paper
a resolution was adopted by the society
asking 1.-The proper authorities to preserve
tho bridge as Il monument of engineering
work of pioneer days" The resolution also
stated that the structure should be kept
standing on account of its associations.
Prof X. l.. Sackett, of Earlham College,
delivered an excellent paper on Engineer
ing Expert Testimony" He said it was the
duty of the expert TO explain and reduce
scientific knowledge to common language
for the benefit OF the jury, and that he
should be learned. reliable, unbiased and re-
spected by the attorneys The speaker re-
quoted several legal authorities that have
severely arraigned such testimony as being
biased in favor of the parties that call the
experts on the stand. Continuing, the
speaker expressed the idea that the prob
LENS the expert is called upon to solve are
SO weighty and the ends of justice are so
easily perverted that the color of ones tes-
timony ought in no wise be affected by the
color of the money received. Professor
Sackett then reviewed the efforts that have
been made TO work reform in the giving
of such testimony, and in closing gave his
personal belief that law should be framed
granting the judge authority to call I'M
biased experts into a case whenever he saw
tit on the application of either party to a
suit. This would obViate the employment
of experts by either party direct and would
remove all temptation for bias in giving
testimony.
The Municipal Engineer was a topic
ably discussed by A j. Hammond Of
Frankfort, who favored the adoption, OF a
civil-service code In order to test thescom-
potency OF appointees 10 public engineering
positions.
In the evening DIR. J. n. Hurry led in
what he termed 4 converzaione on the sub
Ject of the relation of the State Board of
Health to the engineer. The doctor dwelt
IN his remarks on the power of the engineer
in bringing about reform In sanitation, and
expressed the hope that the time would
come when the board would have en-
glneer as one OF its members. The evening
meeting was held IN the horticultural room,
and after Dr. Hurty's paper was delivered
Fred Morley, professor of civil engineering
in Purdue University, gave a very interest
ing lecture on iron tunnels and tunneling
which was accompanied by views of tunnel
ing operations thrown upon large canvas.
Other papers delivered during the day
were by ]. ". Dick.nsoss of Chicago. on the
subject Of Cement" j. II. Vail. of Chicago.
on "Bituminous Grout Filler for Brick
Pavementss" II. L. Weber, of Richmond.
on Brick vs.. Asphalt In Small Cities: =
William N. Written. of South Bend. on
Minimum Grades for Drain Tile and g
q. III. Goss, Of Martinsville, on The Column
bia City. Ind, Sewer system officers Will
be elected At this mornings session.