The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-02
RAIL EXPERTS CAME
 HERE ID BE SHOWN l
Have Different Opinions of the
 Districts Products
A TRIP MADE TO ENsLEY
RaiI Committee of Engineering Asso- cintior Greatly Pleased With What They Saw of BirmIngham's
 Plants Yesterday

After spending yesterday on a trip around the horn, the steel rail commit tee of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way association called the regular gathering to order last night at s o'clock The railroad en- gineers, whose visit is expected to be of great value to Birmingham, were in ses- sion for several hours. The delay i'll getting down to business was caused by the opinion being expressed that today would be too late for the trip around the horn, so in order to keep any member from missing that spin the committee de- cided to go out yesterday.
 The session last night was presided over by c. S. Churchill, chief engineer of the Norfolk and Western railroad, whom is chairman of the committee. The discussions were in regard to the uniform standard of rails in size and quality which has been engaging the Sttention of the railroad experts for several months. Their deliberations were of all executive nature. However, it was stated that no very wide differences of opinion were heard last night as to the objects sought
 Trip over City Today
 The meeting will convene again this morning at g o'clock. In the afternoon It is planned to carry the engineers for an automobile trip through Norwood and the South Highlands section. This trip will probably wind up at the Country club, where several informal dinner parties will be given. The majority of the visitors, however, said last night that 1t was their wish to return to headquar- .ters today If possible on account of pressing work to be done at home.
 The engineers arrived every few hours yesterday, and by o'clock yesterday morning a full committee was on hand. The visiting officers were told. of the proposed trip around the horn, and the reason for the change in plans
 All of them agreed to the new pro- gramme, and at 9:30 o'clock gathered at the Louisville and Nashville station, where the special over that line was awaiting them. The train was composed of the private car Tennessee of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad com pany and the private car of R. Mont ford. consulting engineer of the Louis- vile and Nashville railroad.
 First Taken to EnsIey
 The engineers were carried first to Ems ley. They were taken in charge and shown every process employed in making the worldfamed open hearth rail. Some of them had witnessed the making of the Bessener rail and others but few of them had ever seen the open hearth pro- cess in operation. They were shown the steel from the time of it's conversion un- til the rails were placed in the cooling shed ready for transportation to any line in America. They were also given every opportunity to question experts as to the facilities of the plant. The visit- ors were shown the furnaces and all the industries of the Steel corporation at Ensley.
 It was the general opinion among those who composed the party that the Ensley plant Is among the most modern in Amer lea. The engineers were informed that since the Steel corporation purchased tue plant quite a large amount of money had been expended in making improve ments. They were shown the improved processes and marveled at the changes that had been made by the present own- CTS.
 The visitors were piloted through the plant by c. J. Barr, general superintend- ent of the plant at Bnsley. The party was also accompanied by George c. Crawford, president; Frank H. Crockard, vice president and general manager; H. c. Ryding, assistant to the vice presi dent and general manager, and other ot. ficers of the Tennessee Coal. Iron and Railroad company.
 Lunch at Oficers' Cafe
 After inspecting the steel rail mill the visitors were served with lunch at the officers cafe in the Tennessee of : flee building. About 25 were present at the lunch. which was one of the regular fares served the officers al the company cafe every day.
 In the afternoon the special carried the engineers to the American Steel and Wire plant. They also inspected the dam where the company Is mak- ing an effort to secure a large supply of water. The technical visitors were very much impressed with the magni- tude of the water reservoir from an engineering standpoint. They expressed the opinion that marvellous mind de- signed the dam and said 1t would rank with some of the best engineering feats of the country
 The engineers were shown the ore deposits on Red mountain and were acquainted with the fact that all the important properties of the Steel cor poration here are connected by the Birmingham Southern railroad. In this way 1t was pointed out to them the raw materials could be transported to the source of consumption very cheaply and