The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-05-21
Commissioner Macfarland
Welcomes Delegates
to Convention.
OTHER PROMINENT SPEAKERS
Colonel Black Talks of District Govern
ment, and Local Work of Engineers Is
Illustrated by Stereopticon Views
Trip to Cabin John Bridge.

The second session of the convention o
the American Society of Civil Engineers
held last night at the New Willard, wa.
devoted to illustrated talks descriptive o
local engineering matters by the enginecI
in charge of the works. The large ban
Quet hall was crowded with the delegate.
and their friends. who listened attentivel,
to descriptions OF the monumental works
OF noted engineers which abound in thi.
city, which is the work OF engineers"
The first Of the addresses was by Col
w. M. Black. the Engineer Commissioner
OF the District, who described at as grea,
length as his limited time would allow the
form Of government which prevails in this
city.
Sewerage System Described.
Colonel Black was followed by Mr.. D.
E. McComb. who described, with the aid
of series of stereopticon views, the
sewerage system of the District interest
Ing papers were also submitted by Col.
A. M. Miller, on the Water Supply OF
he City" Bernard X. Green on the Con-
Btruction of the Washington Monument
and the Congressional Library" ID. S.
CARL, on the Local Electric Railways"
and Charles Moore, OF the Parking Com
mission, on the Proposed Park Improve
ments." Following the adjournment of the
evening session short informal meeting
OF the board of directors was held.
The morning session of the society was
called to order at 10 o'clock, when an
address OF welcome was delivered by
Hon. H. B. F. Macfarland, president of
the board of District Commissioners. He
said. in part:
Mr.. Macfarland's Address.
THE Government of the District Of Col
umbia is especially glad to welcome the
American Society OF Civil Engineers, at
Its semi-centenary, to the National
Capital. For this national society, with
an international membership. representing
every continent and all the great islands
OF the sea has. through many Of its mem
bers rendered service to the District of
Columbia. We recognize today not only
the appropriateness Of your meeting In
70 IL,
fifty years since your society was founded.
has been distinguished by your achieve
ments. but feeling OF gratitude on the
part OF the citizens of the District Of Col
umbia for what you have done here.
The city OF Washington might be said
to be. OF all the cities IN the world the
work Of engineers. George Washington.
father not only of his country, but Of its
Capital, who, as a boy, leaving school
fnr To- H.
his nrst money and his first reputation
as a surveyor and engineer, whose name
the Federal City inevitably bears; Pierre
Charles L'Enfant. the brilliant French
man. and Andrew Ellicott, the brilliant
American-those are the names that i'm
mediately occur to our minds when we
think OF the beginning of the permanent
seat OF the government of the United
States.
Wherein Success Lies.
Much Of the success of the present
form of government is due to the fact that
all engineering and construction work has
been in charge of engineers of high char
acter and capacity. Al a citizen of the
District, ! am glad 10 acknowledge the
great debt we owe to the honest, inte.li-
gent, and efficient men who have sue
cessively served as Engineer Commits
sioners and assistants TO the Engineer
Commissioners of the District of Column
bia. They have. without exception, mail |
tained the high reputation Of the corps
OF engineers OF the United States Army, |
and they have In many cases won the per- |
sonal regard of the people of the District. |
can speak from intimate knowledge Of !
4 n " nf ..,.t
that OF former Commissioner Black, and /
I want to say that IL commands my ad-
miration.
Other engineers completed the Wash
ington Monument and built the Library
Of Congress, and others have cared for
the parks. You behold the monument of I
engineers wherever you look around you
here. You of all men VIII appreciate
what they have done, and also all that lie
now planned to be done in the develop
ment and establishment OF that Capital
which every American wants to see the
hnest In the world"
Mr.. Mcfarland was followed by Ad-
niral Melville, Of the local committee on
who extended q welcome
% the members of the society on behalf
If the District of Columbia society.
Sketch of the Work.
President Robert Moore, OF the asso-
.iation. responded in brief address.
/ sketch Of the society's work from tn.
line OF its formation fifty years ago
o tho present time was then read by
FIR. Charles Warren Hunt, the secretary
4 the society
The afternoon was passed in an en-
oyable trip TO Cabin John Bridge
This morning the members Of the So
iety will be received by President Roose- !
cit at the White House at 9:45 o'clock.
here will be business meeting at the I
lew Willard at 1890 O'Clock, when a
roposcd amendment to the constitution
ill be considered and the place for the
ext convention will be decided upon.
At O'Clock in the afternoon there '
Ill be an excursion to the navy yard,
here the gun factory will be inspected !
The guests who will wear white badges C
re:
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