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suggested, and in some cases, where certain conditions have been observed, it has not appeared in its crystallized form; and yet, in other places, where the same conditions have apparently been maintained, it has been deposited in increased quantities. One is troubled with naphthaline when he uses certain kinds of coal, another uses the same kind of coal and is never troubled with it; but when he uses some other kind of coal it always puts in an appearance. We all know very well that, as a scientific principle, like causes always produce like results, consequently such arguments go for nothing, because there must of necessity be some cause or conditions in one case that do not obtain in the other.

Much is yet to be learned in the retort house. The almost universal rule seems to be now to produce high heat in the retorts and charge them with all the coal they will burn off, without any special care as to the character of the coal or the length of time it remains in the retort. If six-hour charges are run, the coal must remain in the retorts just six hours, even if the gas is all worked off in three or four hours. From one kind of coal the gas may be worked off in three hours, another will require four or five hours under the same heat, so that we have the problem before us still, of being able to produce certain results from certain kinds of coal-not only the certain results, but the best possible results which can be theoretically obtained from the coal. Whether the present form of retorts and the present method of carbonizing the coal are the best are questions which still remain unanswered. Although many attempts have been made and much experimenting has been done without successful results, yet the continuous carbonization of the coal is a thing still to be hoped for. Whether this and other radically new ideas are to be practically developed by the theorist, or by the practical man, is a question; but probably through the aid of both.

The engineer in charge of large works has little time at his disposal for experimenting, and he who has only the chemical laboratory for his work has not the advantage of working out his ideas practically and on a large scale; but the engineer who is to be the most successful in the future is he who has taken the advantage of a thorough technical education coupled with actual practical ability and application. It is one fault of our

system of education that the young man who is kept at school until he is prepared for the university or technical school often grows up without the advantage of the experience which comes only from actual work with his own hands, and so never acquires that practical judgment which must needs accompany a theoretical education in order to place him in the best possible position as a manager of any great industrial establishment.

This is one pre-eminent reason, why, in the past, the man who has had practical experience, learned a trade and worked with his own hands has been, as a rule, more successful than the one who has acquired a theoretical education and has never had the advantage of practical experience in the work, and so never had his judgment and practical ability developed as does the man who has, perhaps, been compelled to work with his own hands. Theory and practical judgment and ability must go together, if we would secure the best results.

Without doubt the English, French and German engineers in the past have had the advantage of a more thorough technical education and training than have the majority of American engineers; but the standard of comparison in this country is being rapidly reached through the various institutions which are fitting the young men for the active duties of engineer or manager of our special industry.

There are many matters which I might refer to, some of which will be brought before you in the several papers which have been prepared for this meeting by gentlemen of experience and ability, and which will be presented in a more acceptable form than I could hope to do; but I have already taken too much of the time of the Association. Yet I cannot conclude without referring to the great work which has been accomplished by this Association, the proceedings of which have been published and are preserved in a permanent form, the reading of which is of absorbing interest even to the members who have attended all the meetings. But all the results of our meetings have not been published, and never can be. The acquaintances made, the enduring friendships formed, the little private interviews and conversations which have taken place upon all the multitudinous matters that a gas engineer has to deal with, all go to make up the sum total of the benefits which have been derived from

attending our meetings, and have served to largely increase the prosperity of the companies we represent.

Many members have grown old in the service of their company, some have dropped from the roll by death, some have been disabled by accident, while others have reached an age which disqualifies them from active participation in the management of the business, and their familiar forms and faces are missed in our gatherings. New members are constantly being admitted to the duties and privileges of membership in our Association, and those now present will, one by one, pass over and "join the silent majority." During the past year several of our members have gone from us, due notice of which will be taken by the Association, and a proper minute will be placed on our records.

Let us strive to do our work well; and when we are obliged to step out of the scenes of active work and duty, which others will take up and go forward with, let it be said of us that our record and work is worthy of emulation.

MR. MCMILLIN—I am sure we all sympathize with our President in his recent affliction, and sincerely trust that he may never meet with such another accident. I move the address be referred to a special committee, with instructions to report thereon during this session of the convention.

The motion prevailed, and the Chair appointed as such committee, E. McMillin, A. C. Wood and James Somerville. The committee subsequently submitted the following report, which was accepted and ordered placed on file.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS.

To the Members of the American Gas Light Association: Gentlemen: Your Committee, to whom was referred the President's address, submit the following report:

We find that the subjects mentioned in the address were exhaustively treated, and nothing that we could say would add either to the force of the President's suggestions or to their elucidation.

We recommend that the Secretary make a proper record in his journal of the deaths that have occurred, and that he prepare

and publish, with the proceedings in the bound volume, a memorial for each of the members who died during the past year.

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The President appointed the following committees :

On Nomination of Officers.-S. G. Stiness. Pawtucket, R. I.; E. J. King, Jacksonville, Ill.; G. S. Hookey, Augusta, Ga.; Marcus Smith, Wilkesbarre, Pa.; Jos. Krumholz, Buffalo, N. Y.

On Place of Meeting.-Frederick Mayer, Baltimore, Md.; Robert Baxter, Halifax, N. S.; John P. Harbison, Hartford, Conn.; Robert Young, Allegheny, Pa.; James Somerville, Indianapolis, Ind.

THE PRESIDENT-We will now hear the report of the Executive Committee on proposed amendments to the Constitution.

MR. WHITE-I have the pleasure of reporting, in behalf of the Executive Committee, a new Constitution, which is submitted in print for your examination and approval. The Executive Committee, having had this matter placed in their charge by the Association, have held several meetings for the consideration of the subject, and the Secretary has been more than energetic in procuring from various sources matter that might be of use to the Committee in preparing this form of Constitution. It has seemed desirable to the Committee that such a form of Constitution should be secured for this body as would not have to be hauled up for amendment and worked at, to the exclusion of other and more important business, at every meeting of the Association. In offering this the Committee assure the Association that they have worked very diligently in the effort to obtain something whicn seemed to them to cover all requirements of the Association. We trust that no more time will be occupied this morning than is necessary in settling this matter once for all.

THE PRESIDENT-What action will the Association take on the report of the Committee?

MR. KING-I suggest that the Chairman read simply the changes which have been made in the Constitution.

MR. WHITE-That would be almost impossible, there are so many.

MR. HARBISON—I move that the chairman of the Executive Committee read the Constitution recommended by the Committee for our consideration and adoption.

The motion prevailed, and Mr. White read the proposed Constitution as follows:

Constitution of the American Gas Light Association, as Reported by the Executive Committee, Cctober 17, 1888.

I.-Name.

1. The name of this Association shall be the American Gas Light Association.

II.-Objects.

2. The object of this Association shall be the promotion and advancement of knowledge, scientific and practical, in all matters relating to the construction and management of gas works, and the manufacture, distribution and consumption of gas.

3. The establishment and maintenance of a spirit of fraternity between the members of the Association by social intercourse and by friendly exchange of information and ideas on the before-mentioned subject matters.

4. The inducement and extension of more cordial and friendly relations between the manufacturers of gas and their patrons, based upon the mutuality of interests.

III.-Members.

5. The members of this Association shall consist of three classes-Active, Honorary and Associate members.

6. To be eligible as an Active Member, a person must be a president, secretary, treasurer, engineer, consulting engineer, or superintendent of a gas company, or a manager of a gas works.

7. Associates shall be persons holding a responsible position in a gas works, or persons whose pursuits constitute branches of gas engineering, or who are otherwise qualified to assist in promoting the objects of the Association.

8. Honorary Members shall be gentlemen whose scientific or practical knowledge in matters relating to the gas industry, and

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