PROCEEDINGS OF THE ANNUAL MEETING

OF THE

ROADMASTERS' ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA,

HELD AT

ST. PAUL, MINN., SEPTEMBER 15, 16 AND 17, 1883.

ST. PAUL, Sept. 15, 1883.

The meeting was called to order by President Burnett at 2:30 P.M., in the following remarks:

GENTLEMEN, The hour having arrived to which this meeting was adjourned at Chicago on June 14, you will please come to order.

On June 13 and 14 a number of roadmasters met in Chicago for the purpose of organizing a roadmasters' association, which they did, under the name of The Roadmasters' Association of America. The Secretary will please read the minutes of that meeting, so far as they were taken. They were not taken very fully.

The Secretary read the minutes, as follows:

PRELIMINARY PROCEEDINGS.

Pursuant to a call from Mr. I. Burnett, of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, a meeting of roadmasters was held at the Matteson House, Chicago, June 13, 1883.

The meeting was called to order at 9:30 A.M. Mr. I. Burnett was chosen Chairman, and Mr. Tierney, Secretary.

Mr. Burnett, on taking the chair, announced the object of the meeting, and a general interchange of opinion was had. The discussion resulted in a determination to effect a permanent organization, which it was decided to call THE ROADMASTERS' ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA.

A motion was adopted that until a Constitution and By-Laws could be prepared, the officers of the Association should consist of President, First and Second Vice-Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, and an Executive Committee of five members, including the President and Secretary.

The following officers were elected:

President-I. BURNETT, Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad.

First Vice-President—G. C. McMICHAEL, Louisville & Nashville Railroad. Second Vice-President-DANIEL WRIGHT, Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul

Railroad.

Secretary-J. TIERNEY, Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad.
Treasurer-THOS. ADAMSON, Ohio & Mississippi Railroad.

Executive Committee S. L. SWINNEY, Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad;
J. H. MCDONALD, Chicago & North-Western Railroad; J. C. EVANS,
Wisconsin Central Railroad.

The President delivered a short and interesting address, after which the Secretary read a Constitution and By-Laws which had been prepared.

Mr. McMichael, Mr. McClintock and Mr. McQuiston were appointed a committee to examine, revise and report upon the code at the next regular meeting.

The afternoon was devoted to a visit to the Railway Exposition, and an invitation, from the management of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, to use a special train to visit Pullman and the North Chicago rolling mills, was accepted.

CHICAGO, June 14, 1883.

The morning was devoted to the enjoyment of the train furnished by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, as of record the 13th.

The business meeting was called to order at 2 P.M., and it was decided to hold the regular meeting at St. Paul, Minn., commencing the second Wednesday in September, 1883.

After an informal discussion, the President and Secretary were directed to prepare a blank form of certificate of membership, and to procure a suitable seal for the official use of the organization.

A committee of three having been appointed to prepare a list of subjects to be discussed at the next regular meeting, reported as follows:

1. Drainage-Tools and Appliances.

2. Crossties-Manner of Laying; What, if Anything, will Take the Place of Wood?

3. Joints-Best Fastenings, and Manner of Putting Together; What Nut Lock?

4. Surfacing-Manner of Filiing in Track with the Different Kinds of Material; Elevation of Curves.

5. Frogs and Switches.

6. Creeping of Rails-The Cause and Prevention.

7. All Life-Saving Appliances, especially Footguards for Frogs and Switches. Bring sample.

On motion of Mr. Wright, of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, a vote of thanks was given the proprietors of the Matteson House for favors shown the Association, and to Mr. T. J. Brush for complimentary tickets to the Exposition.

On motion of Mr. Cox, of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Omaha Railway, a vote of thanks was given the management of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, for courtesies shown the Association.

The convention adjourned at 4:30 P.M., to meet in St. Paul on the second Wednesday of September, 1883.

THE PRESIDENT: Gentlemen, you have heard the minutes of the meeting in Chicago; what will you do with them? If there is no objection, they will stand accepted. The minutes are approved.

The first business in order would be the enrollment of new members, but as the By-Laws were given into the hands of the Committee for revision, it will be necessary to call. upon that Committee for a report, in order that we may be able to get them back into the hands of the Association, so that they may be read in order that members may know what they are doing.

MR. MCQUISTON: Mr. President, as Chairman of that Committee, I have the honor to tender to the Association our report. The report was read by the Secretary, as follows:

Your Committee to whom was referred the revision of the Constitution and By-Laws, respectfully report, that after a consideration of the same, they recommend their adoption as they now stand.

J. C. MCQUISTON,
GEORGE C. MCMICHAELS,
W. H. MCCLINTOCK.

THE PRESIDENT: Gentlemen, you have heard the report of the Committee, what will you do with it?

MR. MOLL suggested that there were quite a number of members now present who had not heard the By-Laws read, and it would be proper that they be read at this time.

After the reading of the By-laws by the Secretary, Mr. Wright moved that they be adopted and the Committee discharged. Carried.