that in any other, except railroads, and yet its management is largely in the hands of men who lack a strictly technical education.

Often have I regretted myself, when listening to some glib scientific talker, that my education had not been thorough enough to enable me to detect what I believed to be his errors. A perfectly equipped gas manager should be both engineer and chemist, and besides that should have that technical knowledge of his profession for which many years of experience are the best teacher, but which a hard course of study can, to some extent, replace. When it has been sufficiently realized by the public that there is money in it, then very likely a special course may be given in some technical school, but at present I doubt that it would be appreciated, and I have been turning over in my head the possibility of some similar scheme to that adopted by the association of London Guilds. These ancient bodies have joined together for the purpose of technical examinations, not only for the trades which they once represented, but also for others. They do not teach, they simply examine; and workers in every industry come to London to get, or fail to get, a diploma, which they can show anywhere as a proof of their efficiency. Among the other examinations held is one for the office of gas manager. It is held by Mr. Robert Morton, formerly engineer of the London company, and the papers are prepared and examined by him. It is by no means easy to pass, and a considerable number of those offering are rejected. A young man who should come to me with a certificate that he had passed with honor, would impress me in the same way as would a young physician. His natural common sense could not, of course, be determined by any examination, and his information would be increased by a little experience; but a man possessed of thorough theoretical knowledge acquires experience rapidly. If there were some institution in this country of high repute, which would take up this matter, I think very few holders of its diplomas would find themselves long out of work. I have nothing to suggest yet, for my only effort in this direction has been but a failure; but perhaps something may occur to one of my hearers, from which results may eventually grow, and with that hope I commend it to your thoughts.

Among the other papers which we shall listen to at this meeting, will be one on water gas. Although I know nothing of its contents, we shall undoubtedly be interested in hearing it. cause this Association was founded by the representatives of the older and more conservative companies, and because many of our members are still skeptical of some of the virtues attributed to water gas, yet we are all of us open to conversion. I probably . am reputed myself to be as stubborn an opponent of it as there is, but I am none the less bent on acquainting myself with the details of every new process brought out-its advantages and its weak points. Although the merit of economy can in many places be no longer claimed, yet some most ardent objectors to its use have received a change of heart, owing to the influence of the Knights of Labor. No company can tell when they may be forced into its use, either wholly or as a supplementary system; and with this possibility before us I know no better place than the meetings of this Association to discuss all questions pertaining to the various processes. If the enthusiastic adherents of water gas-first, last and always-insist on withdrawing from their benighted fellows and getting up an association of their own, of course, the rest of us cannot help it; but I am sure I speak the sentiments of this body when I say that we should regret their action, and no matter where they go, or what society they found, I doubt their ever finding more interested auditors than here.

One thing more before I close. One of the weaknesses of human nature is a desire for decoration, and one of the evidences of this fact is the way in which most organized bodies take pleasure in ornamenting themselves with badges. To provide a simple and yet tasteful emblem of membership is always a tax upon the ingenuity and the pockets of those who arrange our meeting. If it is the desire of the Association to continue the custom of wearing something at our annual gatherings by which members can be distinguished from outsiders, then I would suggest that a committee be formed to whom shall be committed the preparation of designs for a permanent badge, and that they be requested to submit these designs to the Secretary, with estimates of their cost, and that he then take the sense of the society as to the one to be adopted, and order for the

next meeting that number which the individual members agree to take and pay for. The only real necessity for conspicuous badges is upon the persons of the Committee of Arrangements, at our annual excursion, and perhaps upon our Secretary. These might be easily provided. The rest of us can use some simple decoration, emblematic of our profession, and which I have full faith that we have among us sufficient ingenuity to design.

Gentlemen of the American Association-"United we stand, divided we fall." The man who manages the business of his company, relying solely upon his individual experience and intelligence, can never keep up with the times. It is only by imparting to each other the results of our efforts to do better, no matter whether successful or not, and putting all our information into a common fund, that we can expect to prosper in the struggle before us. Hundreds of millions of dollars are invested in the business we represent, which it is our chief aim to protect. Nor can I better conclude than by reiterating my belief that if we are true to our duty the supply of gas will continue to be the chief source of modern light, and will yield a safe profit to the judicious investor. Strong in this opinion, I feel, of course, a firm confidence in the future of this Association, and a great desire for its prosperity.

Captain White moved that a committee of three be appointed to consider the President's address, and report to the Association recommendations respecting such matters as are contained in the address which they might deem of special interest to the Association. The motion prevailed, and the Chair appointed as such committee Messrs. R. B. Taber, A. E. Boardman and G. G. Ramsdell.

APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES.

The following special committees were appointed: On Nomination of Officers—Messrs. F. C. Sherman, A. C. Wood, T. G. Lansden and W. A. Stedman. On Place for Holding Next Meeting-Messrs. W. Clark, D. H. Geggie and T. G. Lansden.

MR. HARBISON-Mr. Barker, a member of the Massachusetts Gas Commission is with us. I suggest that he be requested to occupy a seat on the platform during the meeting of the Association.

The PresidenT-We shall be glad to have Mr. Barker take a seat on the platform.

MR. BARKER-Thanking you, Mr. President and members of the Association, for the courtesy you have been pleased to extend to me, I trust I may not seem discourteous if I ask to be excused from appearing on the platform. I can assure you that I am very much pleased to be here. We have come to look upon the meetings of this Association with a great deal of interest; and I am sure that my associates in the Gas Commission would be pleased to be present with you were they not detained by other engagements. (Applause.)

Mr. Walton Clark then read the following paper on

WATER GAS.

There are before the American gas public many systems of water gas making. As to their individual peculiarities and merits or demerits, I have nothing to say here. I desire simply to give to the Association some of the conclusions to which my efforts after economy in water gas making have brought me, hoping they will be of use to some member about to enter this comparatively new branch of our business.

The possible economies may be grouped under two heads, entitled respectively, plant construction and operation. Granting that a proper design has been selected, there is little to be said about construction. As in coal gas or any other manufacturing plant, so in water gas, the apparently cheap is often the really dear, and the saving of dollars in construction may result in the waste of eagles in operation and repairs. The importance of a good construction in water gas plant is even greater than coal gas, because every portion of the apparatus is necessary to the manufacture. A coal gas works can lay off a bench for repairs at almost any time, without danger of landing the holder. With a water gas plant, except in the largest works, where they may be in duplicate, all repairs in the busy season must be made in the shortest possible time-for the night's supply of gas depends upon one generator; hence the importance of first-class construction and readiness of access for repairs can hardly be exaggerated. There is no difficulty about constructing a plant which will need no repairs extensive enough to cause any delay

during the winter, but it takes more iron and brick than another may which will make as much gas per day while in operation, but is liable to fail at a critical time. The take-off pipes are subject to occasional stoppage from careless working, and it is important that they should be put up with crosses and hand plates. All parts of the apparatus, in fact, should be made easily and quickly accessible by the use of plates and doors.

In locating a generator the most important point to be considered is the ease with which coal can be handled to it; yet it is one which must yield in part in extensions of old works to the location of the boilers. When an entirely new plant is erected the generator is best located where the handling of coal to it and ash from it will be easiest, and the rest of the plant made to conform. A generator requires either a cellar or a firing floor, and the coal or the ash must be elevated, unless the works are on rising ground, where one may be wheeled in and the other out without elevation. Unless the necessity of using an old building with a low roof, or some other local complication arises, I should not hesitate to adopt the elevated firing floor. The cost of raising the coal is slight, and the advantage of a well-ventilated and lighted clinkering floor is great.

Under the head of operating expenses are three important items, viz., fuel, oil and labor; and upon the way the first is manipulated will depend in great part the cost of purification.

As the boilers, engines and pumps of a water gas plant have no features distinguishing them from those in use for other purposes, I will not consider them; therefore the first part of the apparatus to be noticed in connection with fuel economy is the blast pipes. All blast furnace experience shows the importance of having them large with long bends. On this point I have no comparative figures, but it is self-evident that reduced resistance to the blast will result in reduced consumption of fuel under the boilers.

Passing to the generators the question meets us-and upon it there has been, and may still be, a difference of opinion—shall the fuel bed be deep, five feet and upward, or shallow, three feet and under? One objection to a shallow bed is that there is danger that an opening in the fuel, or a heavy clinker, will so far reduce the available depth of hot carbon that steam will