The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-17
ENGINEERS ENJOY
 4 RICH BANQUET Covers Laid for Sixty at Hotel
 HiIIman SEVERAL SPEECHES MADE Mayor Ward In Extending Welcome Took Occasion to Tell of City En- gineer Julian Hendricks
 Far-Reachina Work.

The annual banquet of the Engineering association of the south at the Hotel Hillman last night was an elaborate af- fair covers being laid for sixty people.
 The large dining hall on the second floor was appropriately decorated for the occasion and at exactly o'clock the doors were thrown open to the guests. A carefully selected menu was served and 1t was almost 10 o'clock before the speakers for the evening were announce ed. Maj. R. H. Elliott was to have been the toastmaster but he could not attend. and H. NJ Jones of Nashville offciated in his stead.
 Mayor Ward was the first to respond. and In his address of welcome he said in part:
 AS the representative of the city of Birmingham, I wish to say, we feel com plimented that your association has made this city your headquarters.
 We feel complimented also at the sue cess some of our good citizens have had in swping all the offices, if l be allowed to use this term.
 But feel you should be complimented gentlemen, in having such men consent to take charge of and guide the destnes of your associa ton.
 And in referring to such men I trust you will pardon me If I take the liberty of being a little more explicit.
 "I point to that distinguished young man, your secretary, George H. Harris who from humble position few years ago has now become manager of the greatest street railway system in the south
 "1 also refer to that other wonderful young man who you have just reelected your president and who has dallied with time and sentiment until we find him here tonight without any hair where hair ought to be and with no one at home to know in what sort of shape he comes back. or whether he comes back al all or not.
 "In reading some old files in my office the other night I come across the fol- lowing printed in The Age-Herald of Feb ruary. 1897:
 " Tn my last annual report I recom- mended to your honorable body the ad- visibility of Birmingham, her suburbs, and certain portions of the adjacent terri tory uniting themselves into a sanitary and drainage district.
 ' The further I investigate the problem of ultimate drainage for this portion of Jones valley the more firmly am I con- vinced that, viewed from either the sani- ldTy UT IlHhHcldl point Ol NleW, IL Cafl pc best solved as a whole rather than sep arately by each neighborhood. ' Sanitary or drainage districts have been formed in many states and are proving universally satisfactory. The laws creating them vary in detail to suit local conditions and fancies, but in gem eral board of control Is designed, bonds are issued and sold to provide means for constructing the trunk or main sewers and the purification plant, and the lateral or branch sewers are paid for by the owners of property for the benefit of which they are constructed. A levy is made against all property In the district sufficient to pay the operating expenses. bond interest, and to create a sinking fund"
 And now, gentlemen, that wonderful project and suggestion, the Jefferson county sewer-by Julian Kendrick. has be- come a reality and a material fact, and l will dare say that not one per cent of the people who habitate this great dis trct have ever heard or know who origi- mated the project and whose genius car ried 1t through. I have often thought that this lack of recognition was typical of the engineer 8 profession, and it so often happens that after dreaming and working through the small nOurb or the nlBnI ana burning the midnight oil projecting his fantasies into the future, that on the completion of the project some politician who happens to be in power at that time, comes down and makes a big speech and carries off all the glories and the public loses sight of the quiet. modest man who sits up at night and "gives such dreams a local habitation and name"
 Our City Engineer.
 Besides this great sewer project I will not lose this opportunity to refer to other work done by MT. Kendrick since his con- nection with the city of Birmingham
 F'ifty-five miles of macadamized streets and avenues.
 Ninety-two miles of curbing.
 Over eighteen miles of storm sewers and fifty-eight and a half miles of sani- tary sewers at cost of from s1, ,50O,O00 10 S2. 300. .0O0 without any suspicion or taint on the engineering department of the city of Birmingham.
 And in conclusion, gentlemen, let me suggest that we drink to this prediction that in the years to come the general public will come to understand and ap- preciate this quiet and able man we have in our midst, even as those understand him who now work with him from day 0 day.
 The Toasts