New-York tribune., 1905-04-17
FIRST IN FIVE YEARS.
International RGiEUGy Congress to
Meet en- Washington.

Washington, April 16.-Nearly one thousand
delegates. the owners and operating officials Of
upward OF four hundred thousand miles Of rail-
way in forty-four different countries, constitute
the personnel Of the international Railway Con-
gress. which is TO hold a ten days session in
this city beginning May 4 At the close Of the
congress the delegates are TO make a thorough
inspection OF the railways OF the sUnted States.
particularly with reference 10 equipment and
shops The congress is somewhat unique in its
organization, purposes and manner Of conduct
ing its affairs. II was organized in 1885 and
has held sessions every five years since It's first
session held IN Brussels, celebrated the hftieth
anniversary OF the opening OF the Belgian rail-
ways Milan, Paris. ST. Petersburg and London
have been meeting places since, Paris having
hs6 two sessions. At the session in that city
in 1900 the invitation Of President Mckinley TO
hold the next meeting in Washington was ao-
Oepted- Congress at its last session enacted ap-
prOpriate legislation committing this government
70 participation IN the congress.
In the absence Of President Roosevelt, Vice
President Fairbanks viii accept the post Of
honorary president and open the congress with
an address OF welcome. afterward extending the
courteses Of the nation TO the delegates the
White House.
VIII resolve itself into fve sections and proceed
20 its discussions il French and in secret. AD
Of the papers 70 be presented have been under
consideration for some years, all have been
printed ana the delegates are thoroughly famil-
far with their contents. All Of the topics 10 be
considered are technical and necessarily devoid
OF popular interest.
The honorary presidents representing the
railways OF this country viii be Messrs. A. J..
CaEsau and E. H. Hartman, while the actual
president wiz be StuyVesant Fish, OF the Illinois
Central Railroad. The lines these three men
represent touch one another and form a con-
finuous line of rail from the Atlantic 70 the
Pacific. passing through the heart Of the con-
tinent and extending from the Great Lakes TO
the Gulf
The largest attendance Of American railway
officials al any Of these sessions was in London
in 1895, when out OF about eight hundred dele
gates forty-nine We're American.
Part Of the important work accomplished at
these meetings is the inspection OF workshops,
equipment and construction IN each country Wis
tted, with the result OF stimulating inquiry into
improved methods and giving the whole world
the benefit Of the work of the brightest minds
everywhere engaged ia solving problems which
present different phases in different countries
but which have features OF common interest 10
al alike.
An extensive exhibit Of railway supplies VIII
be made az the time Of the congress and VIII
give an Unusual opportunity OF examining IN
detail a great part OF American railway appli-
ance. This win be supplemented after adjourn
ment by tours OF inspection on which the foreign
delegates win be taken.
No such asseTnblage Of representatives Of rail.
way interests has ever been brought together n
the United States AS the sessions are held
only once IN nve years, Il Is likely 70 be many
>Asssa before u WiY E.set aAain IN this country.