The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-02-26
HOWE FAVORS
 LOCK CANAL
 AT PANAMA
Members of American Insti- tute of Engineers Guests of City of Bridgeport.

About 160 of the engineers who have been attending the annual conference of the American Institute of Mining Engineers at Sheffield Scientific School arrived here from New Haven. at 12:45 to-day. on cars furnished by the Con- necticut Co. At the Hotel Stratfield they were met by President Fred Enos and a delegation of 30 members of the Board of Trade. upon whose invita- tions the engineers visit
 The party were entertained at the Stratfield. Mayor Lee welcomed the guests in the name of the city, and
 Horace H. Jackson spoke for the Board Of Trade. Brief papers were read by members of the society. including a paper on the Panama Canal. by mem- Der selected by the society.
 After luncheon the guests were taken in electric cars to Fairfield avenue and State street. where they were trans ferred into passenger coaches, and drawn by locomotives in the South avenue plant of the Crane Go. This company manufactures much mining machinery. Of particular interest to the visitors was the power plant. Four huge steam turbines are used. It is one of the largest of it's kind in the world. operating blast furnaces and converting raw pig iron into the fin 1Shed product. The visitors were made acquainted with many of the modern methods used at the plant. When they return to their homes in every part of the United States. Canada and Mexico they will nave knowledge of the khd of work that is being done in Bridge port. and know how some of the huge valves used at many of the big mines are turned out
 From the Crane Co.'S plant the en- EineerS were taken to the plant of the Locomobile Co. of America in order that they might see the methods used in the. manufacture of motor cars of the highest type. While at the plant the visitors were given a demonstra- tion of the use of the automobile-chem- ica. engine and the automobile ambu- lance. through the courtesy of the Charities Department and the Fire de- partment.
 The time set for the departure of the were highly pleased with the manner of their entertainment. and spoke in the highest terms of the fine types of factories they had seen.
 The speakers following the luncheon were Vice President w. l.. Saunders and Vice President Ernest Howe. The latter spoke on the conditions as they are to-day at the Panama canal. He said that when he visited the canal in an official capacity he favored the sea level but that his investigations there caused him to change his opinion and he now favors lock canal. He gave vivid description of the difficulties which beset the engineers in charge of the construction. It seemed to him that the chief criticism directed against the project was based upon two things. First that the lock type of canal would be wiped out in the event of an earthquake and the second crit icism was as to whether or not the character of the foundations would be capable of supporting the canal.
 The party left the hotel after the luncheon chaperoned by President Enos and the citizens committee on the tour of inspection of the factories The engineers expressed a desire to come to Bridgeport sometime when they could stay longer as they were much impressed with the reception they received.