El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-06-15
- HE American Society of Civil En-
= ociraaa1.i1,s- Z.

HE American Society of Civil En-
gineering is now holding its for
ty-third annual convention in
Chattanooga. The president of the So
ciety is Mordecai T. Endicott of the
United States Navy. Civil engineers
from all parts Of the United States are
present, and many questions of mo-
ment in the engineering world are be-
ing discussed. Perhaps foremost among
the matters being considered is the
question of principles and methods for
the valuation of railroad properties and
other public utilities. 1t long has been
the conviction of many leading stu
dents Of railway rates that the only
just basis of rate making is that of
the actual physical value Of the prop
erty involved at the time of making
the rate. They hold it TO be manifest
ly unfair for a railroad to reckon
among its assets the value OF its fran
cnfse since 1t has been given it by the
people. They also contend that rates
predicated upon the face value Of
stocks and bonds are equally unjust
since often they contain a great deal
CT water Therefore the only way
to settle the question is to have a phys
ical valuation Of the property by i'm
partial experts, and upon their find
ings to determine the amount of net
income a road Is entitled to earn.
Idea May Be Adopted.
1t seems TO be one of the probabiIi-
ties Of the future that congress will
pass a law requiring such a valuation
Of railroad property, and 1t is proba-
BILE that it will adopt the ideas for
mulated by the American Society of
Civil Engineering for doing the work.
Already that society has decided TO ap-
point special committee to investi-
gate in detail all question pertaining
to physical valuation. This investiga-
ton probably will be one Of the most
notable undertakings on the part OF
an engineering society in the entire
history OF engineering work.
Treating of Highways.
Other special committees are work
ing under the direction of the society
One of these is engaged in the study
or bituminous materials for the con-
struction of roads. The treating of
unpayed highways with tar and oil
preparations, together with many 9TH
er comparatively new questions relat-
Ing to road construction have arisen
IN the past few years, and 1t is the
hope Of the society that this process of
making good roads shall become so
cheap and practicable as to enable
road builders everywhere to eliminate
dust and other bad conditions.
The society also has a special COM
mittee for the preparation OF uniform
tests TO determine the quality of con-
crete, cement and reinforced concrete.
Another committee has to do with en-
cheering education 1t is held that
the civil engineer never has received
the rank and standing to which his
learning and his service to humanity
entities him. and 1t is the aim Of the
Society Of Civil Engineering so to reg
ulate engineering education that the
profession may rank along with med
icine. law and theology. Another spe-
cial committee has been engaged in
the study Of steel columns and struts.
and 1T is upon the Investigation made
by the engineers that the construc-
ton of all skyscrapers, bridges and
other structures using structural steel
IS based.
Has New York Building.
The Civil Engineering society was
in 1852. number OF years
ago 1t built a large building in New
York where it maintains permanent
headquarters. Nearly all of the lead
ing engineers Of the country are mem
bers of the society, and it publishes
two different sets of books each year.
One OF these is known as the Trans
actions of the society, and the other as
the Proceedings Together they consti-
tute what is regarded as the finest /,
collection OF discussions Of engineering |
problems in the world. There are local !
societies in every partof the country.
Is = Controlling Genius
The civil engineer feels that his |
work lies at the basis of nearly all /
human progress, and that he is the |
controlling genius Of the whole organ
cation of modern-day civilization. He
points out that a hundred years ago
man living so miles in the country, /
to consult an engineer before
the construction Of 1
small canal. would rise before day;
make a light with a flint. steel and
Under; have his breakfast cooked with
kettle and crane; eat ii by the light
If a tallow dip; and then take a stage
coach over muddy roads and rustic
bridges. crossing rivers on ferry boats
whose paddles were driven by mule
lower attached to wooden winches;
md finally would be landed in the
ity over cobble stones, where he would
20 to three-story brick structure
,uilt on the sand. with a dark hall. and
wooden staircase. and into the office
f the engineer, lighted by sperm oil
amps and the floor covered with home
woven rag carpets.
Today his grandson, eating a break
asst of ham and eggs cooked on a gas
ange, reads in his morning paper.
made possible by typesetting machines
nd electriclights and telegraph wires,
hat an irrigation dam in which he Is
Interested has sprung a leak. He gets
nto an automobile, drives to the sta
ion in time to take a parlor car into
own across great bridges. through
ong tunnels. and over concrete via
ucts. When he arrives at the gates
f the city he has the choice Of under
round. surface or elevated cars. or au-
omobiles to carry him to the 20-story | ,
ffice building erected upon cassions
He'd with manufactured rock such
s It would take nature 100000 years {
0 produce.
Once in the building. which IS Of 8
reproof concrete and structural steel
obstruction, he rides up to fifteenth
tory in a vertical railway and walks
Ito a twentieth-century office fitted
18th every convenience, from electric
gifts and fans to suspended push but .
ons He considers that all of these
lings have been made possible by the !
.udies and Investigations OF the civil I
ngineer 4
Makes Discoveries Useful. 7
The civil engineer takes the diScOy- /;