New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-05

our respectful homage to the representative of the
| great nation who welcomes CheeTfuly and
TO the diIigent associate to the skilful brain who
Presides over its destiny. your President. Mr.
The six first sessions of the congress were held
was worthiiy represented Now the congress is to
nes6 In this part OF america which II 1t is not
way has nevertheless accomplished the task Of the
most rapid development in railway mileage extern
me largest Installations Of your railroads. your
remarkable rolling stock your celebrated works for
me me construction OF the same your numerous cleo
stations Both eouaIIW degg5ed ON the latest and
most improved .types-these all things that we
IN them the fruits OF the most elevated and prac-
o Gsr views with the adyantage Tatheg PeGuhar to
getically to realize the boldest designs.
porant qUesfions pre- previoSsiy eIaboTsed in forty
seven reports Thus the delegates will certainly ex-
tend and confirm their technical knowledge.
ADDRESS OF sTUYvEsANT FISH.
President stuyvesant Fish then formally took the
chair. After extending, behalf of the American
Railway Association, cordial welcome TO the dele
gates Mr. Fish proceeded to describe the beginnings
OF the railway in Great Britain. the birthplace Of
railways" and in the United States referring 10
the fact that John Ericsson had built the best Of
the three locomotives which were entered in the
historic test on the Liverpool and Manchester rail-
way IN 1879, and mentioning also the part played
by Olver Evans, Of Philadelphia, IN the genesis Of
Tue locomotive Continuing. Mr.. Fish said, in part:
While It is undoubtedly true that Great Britain
as the birthplace of the railway, is equally
1hat almost from the beginning the railways
america the problem to raise capital sufficient
ne Image IN some way to provide means Of trans
= "a III "heIe none existed, and very generally
70 go thls In advance of population and through
an abundance of capital merely to provide better
supnIeT1a[F eaIs OF transportation, which should
transnortafIo OF our people for means Of
vice ana 70 endure conditions which would not for
moment nave been tolerated in more densely set
te and more highly organized countries; and our
c0TSgn delegates d6 viii as they travel through the
operated grade through the Streets of popuions
I rownS ana cities The tracks now lying in the
raSeu streets Of incorporated towns and cities were
omen farSr1 ~ On what was. at the time of building,
from 9GFega a and especially those who have come
vast has been the growth of tbe rar6sS sT
newer co1nfrie cue OF the Atlantic we in these
me experience Of Europe for light in dealing with
ecean Uoes which are beginning TO confront
uI 3 rms will involve vast expenditure Of capt
ton Of our raiI9av eSS cncuqes me eapitaliza-
S2475 mile While bar6iH t5fn iS0 9so' or say;
that far, certain there must be Ver T& great
Increase ABOVE the figures now prevailing This be
provide second third and fourh q Tacf tH an9 9u ss6
Sitee at east IN the densey populated towns and
B[T i LTaHeL Nor is this by any means the only
ment The preponderance in the older counties Of
IaI1c IN It's relation to freight traffic
and more Already in our Eastern States the pro-
egRto w 81 pe 0 eeb Of from f td the GaTGage
I tbo 6pe1a13nIis as low as in Great Britain al
c e from freight still form upward of 70 per
nGh has been said Of late here and abroad about
confuse MISREPRESENTATION by canal! We must not
Lakes which are inland seas on which ply vessels
larger than those that traversed Atlantic thirty
Mississippi River ana the E ie 6a 6sga ST s The
at Nav
Orleans by the Mississippi River from all sources
While The receipts and shpments by rail were in
1879 is SS5 ; az tons ana in 1922 6S52 o tons
NeW-4ork State including the Erie Canal 3s15 3SI
carried in @ ' is obvons that Gf h o4 sa9 v tPs
past the function Of these and other inland wafer
railways in keeping down rates. than in and Of
total or any, increased tonnage
Not only is the number OF passengers carried
put put 1t f has increased more rapidly there than
dgon of e6ro acea ro dge to the nt S
United States. But with regard to freight the
of freight carried IN the United States so much
greater; but the ratio OF increase has with US
distance travelled by each passenger in the United
the s6o ~ fon of II e GFsa 6 5a4a
is many times as great and increasingly so.
railways have created both the traflc and the
f'comrnerce among the several States possible
that praires became fit abode for or
available to man. Without railways, civilization
consumed two hundred and fifty years in moving
less than one thousand miles inland. while IN the
fifty years which have since elapsed have seen
IL pass aided and led by the railway, through
arid wastes and the great chains Of noun
tains which form the backbone of the continent,
until to-day there is portion Of the wide stretch
OF three thousand miles from the Atlantic to the
Pacific, which is without means of rapid and con-
venent communication.
Details of the organization were then perfected.
Mr. Weissenbruch. secretary of the permanent
commission, was made secretary Of the congress.
with ". F. Allen, secretary of the American sec
ton. as assistant secretary.
President Fish announced that the five sections
into which the congress is divided for discussion
would meet Immediately for organization. Mr. Fish
was made chairman of the first section which is
IN consider ways and works; T \. Ely, Of the
second section locomotive and rolling stock; Sir
George Arrnttage of the third section lighting and
Heafing of trains. automatic block system, bag
gage and express and suburban traffic; NJ Perouse,
of Paris OF the fourth section, slow freight and
suburban traffic, bookkeeping regulation OF work,
and Ernest Girard, Of the fifth section the general
tonic Of light railways.