The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-05-20
The American Society Con-
yened in This City.
Mr.. MACFARLAND'S WELCOME
The District Commissioner Tells the Wis
itors That Washington Is Distinctly q
Capital Of the Making of Their Own
BrethIen-Tnp to Cabin John Bridge.

The thfrty-fourth annual convention OF
the American Society Of Civil Engineers
was called to order this morning in the
banquet hail Of the New WILLARD, under
. the most auspicious surroundings. The
opening session. which convened at -fe2s
o'clock was but OF short duration and was
devoted to an address OF welcome by Hon
h. B. F. mcfarland, president of The 81
Beard of Commissioners. on behalf Of the
citizens OF the city, a welcome from. Ad-
mfral George W. Melville, the chairman
Of the local committee of arrangements:
a historical sketch. Of the society from its
foundation fifty years ago. by Secretary
Charles Warren Hunt OF New York city;
and the annual address Of the president
of the society. Robert Moore. President
Moore.s address was purely technical ana
related to the future of engineering.
Mr. Macfarland's Address. rs-~.
Commissioner Macfarland. in welcoming
the civil engineers. said:
The Government of the District of Col
uInbia is especially glad to welcome the
American Society of Civil Engineersyat
its semi-eentenary, 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 net only
the appropriateness OF your meeting in
the Capital Of the country, which. IL the
Itfty years since your society vas founded.
has. been distinguished by your achieve
ments. but q feeling OF gratitude on the
part of the citizens Of the District OF Col
Hmbia for what you have done here
Work Of Engineers
The city of Washington might be said
to be. o. all the cities n the world. the
work Of engineers. George Washington.
father not only Of MS country, but Of its
Capital. who. as q boy. leaving school
forever for the university OF Iife.- male
his first money and his first reputation
as surveyor and engineer, whose name
the Federal City inevitably bears: Pierre
Charles LEnfant, the brilliant French
man. and Andrew EIileett, tie brilliant
AneTicsn-those are the names that in
nediately occur to our minds when we
think OF the beginning OF the permanent
seat OF the Government Of the United
States.
Washington's Advantages.
Washington more nearly than any
other city in the world. not excepting St.
Petersburg. was designed throughout On
engineers plans and has been built up Ia
conformity with them. IT'S convenience. :
It's heaIthfulness, its beauty, are due
largely to that fact. During the many
-,
no executive government and no general
development Of the original plan OF i'm
pTovements was caTried on, engineers con-
strueted the Washington Aqaeduet be-
sides what they did in work on buildings
and bridges. Since 1873, when the perma-
nent executive government OF the District
was established, the National Capital has
been fortunate enough to have the only
complete engineer department, manned
throughout by engineers, to be found any
where.
4 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. As a citizen of the
District, I am glad to acknowledge the
great debt we owe TO the honest. iDteIll-
gent and efficient men who have sue
cessively served as Engineer Commits
sioners and assistants 10 the Engineer
Commissioners OF the District Of Column
bfa- They have. without exception, main
tanned the high reputation Of the corps
of engineers OF the United States Ermy, p
and they have in many cases won tn per
sonal regard of the people OF the District
1 can speak from intimate knowledge Of
no Of Mt h
that of former COMMISSIONS Black. AID
want to say that 1t comm ards my ad-
mfration.
Pays Credit whers DIE.
These distinguished army officers have
had the assistance of a permanent stan
of civil engineers gathered through years
OF careful selection, which is not, ven
ture 10 say. excelled by any similar body
of men anywhere in the world Appoint
ed retained and promoted on merit alone.
and stimulated by honorable
incentives, these men have done and are
doing remarkable work. Throughout
nearly 3 quarter of a century the Engi-
neer Department OF the District Of Co
Iurcbia has had shining reputation for
honesty and efficiency, and deserves, and
has received the confidence and a9pre-
citation OF ali that is best il oar citizen
ship
other engineers completed the Wash
ingtou Monument and built the Library
of Congress, and others have cared fo-
the parks You behold the monument of
engineers wherever you look around you
here. You Of all men viii appreciate
what they have done. and also all that IS
now planned to be done in the Develop
ment and establishment OF that Capital
which every American wants TO see the
finest in the world
Many communications we're also read
from local clubs and organizations extend
ing the courtesies of their respective club
houses to the members of the society dur
ing their stay here A letter was received
from the president of the Capital Traction
Company extending free transportation
over the lines of that company to the
members Of the association. their badges
being honored as passes.
A novel feature Of the convention IS
he means of Identification Of members by
means of badge numbers, which each del
agate wears c6nspicuously- Opposite q
number on the list OF dele
gates present at the convention viii be
'ound the name OF the delegate. To fur
her facilitate Identification all members
If the convention committees wear red
5adges. other members blue badges. while
he ladies and guests of the delegates are