Proceedings of the Eighth Annual Convention

OF THE

Roadmasters' Association of America,

HELD AT THE

Michigan Exchange Hotel, Detroit, Mich.,

September, 9th, 10th and 11th, 1890.

The Roadmasters' Association of America assembled in convention at 10 a. m., in the Michigan Exchange Hotel, in the city of Detroit, Michigan, on the 9th day of September, A. D. 1890, pursuant to adjournment at Denver, Colorado, on the 12th day of September, A. D. 1889.

President John Sloan called the convention to order in the following language:

Gentlemen of the Roadmasters' Association of America: You will please come to order. When we adjourned one year ago at Denver, Col., we adjourned to meet at Detroit, Mich., on the second Tuesday of September, 1890. That time now having arrived, you will consider yourselves in order, ready for business.

Since the adjournment at Denver, we have had many changes, pleasant and otherwise. Some have been inevitable, and we must meet them as they come. I hope we will all enjoy ourselves while here.

The Mayor was expected to meet us here, but he writes that he can not be present. The Secretary will please read the communication.

Thereupon the Secretary read the letter of regret of Mayor Pingree, which letter was as follows:

CITY OF DETROIT, Executive DepartmeNT,
September 8, 1890.

W. H. Courtney, Vice President Roadmasters' Association:
DEAR SIR-Being otherwise imperatively engaged, I shall not be able
to attend the opening of your national convention.

I wish to say, however, that your Association has my best wishes for its continued prosperity and its growth in usefulness. These good things, I take it, cannot fail to come from the annually recurring interchange of ideas and experience which your convention brings about.

Upon the excellence of the road-beds of our great trunk lines largely depends the easy interchange of our products, the quick transmission of our mails, and the safe and rapid transit of persons desiring to go from one part of this great country to another. Upon the fidelity with which the Roadmasters perform their work we are largely dependent for what we read; for what we wear; for what we eat; for our own personal safety, and for that of those dear to us.

As such important factor in the well-being of our country, I bid you welcome to Detroit-a city which I sincerely trust and believe you will find a pleasant one to spend a few days within.

Very respectfully,

H. S. PINGREE, Mayor.

By consent the letter was accepted and placed on file. The President-Our honorable ex-President, J. W. Craig, being present, I would be glad to hear from him in response to the communication of Mayor Pingree.

J. W. Craig—Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Convention: I would respond very cheerfully, had I not an address which I hope to present later on in the proceedings. I am, however, very happy to so many Roadmasters and ladies present to-day. This is my first visit to Detroit. It is a very beautiful city. I am sorry I am not a resident of it. I hope we will all enjoy our trip.

The President---I notice Mr. G. W. Bishop, President of the Roadmasters' Association of New England, is with us. We would be happy to hear from him.

G. W. Bishop- Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: This is a thorough surprise to me. However, I do not know that I could do better were I prepared. It is certainly a very

great pleasure to me to be permitted to attend this convention, and be with you. As Mr. Craig has just remarked, 1 am very much taken with the general appearance of this city, and realize that it is a very desirable city in which to live. It is perfectly evident that this organization is growing, and will continue to grow as time goes on. I wish it success and prosperity. [Applause.]

The President-Ladies and Gentlemen of the Roadmasters' Association: I am pleased at this time to see so many of the old members whom we have met at former conventions, and also so many new faces. I hope we will all have a pleasant and profitable time; that there may be something of interest done at this meeting that will be the means of advancing our Association practically and theoretically in the line of our work. I hope our Association will grow each year in numbers, strength and importance, until it will be recognized all over the country as the leading factor in all the business operation of the track. The convention would be glad to hear from Mr. Doyle.

John Doyle-Mr. President, Fellow Roadmasters, Ladies and Gentlemen: I am proud to meet you here to-day in my native city, as a son is always proud to see a new gem placed in a wreath upon his mother's brow. It gives me pleasure to see so many friends here whom I have met at Denver and elsewhere, and to welcome you to this beautiful city, the city of my boyhood. Detroit is one of the most substantial cities in this country, with all modern improvements, not one dollar in debt, with beautiful broad avenues, an abundance of pure water, a fine sewerage system, grand waterways, with beautiful islands and parks, easy of access for a nominal sum, with newspapers second to none in the nation, her hotel facilities the finest in the land-all tending to make Detroit the most inviting place on the continent.

Mr. President, why do the people wish to come to the city of Detroit? Why do the people come to the great shore of the Detroit river? Because the citizens of Detroit always open wide their arms to receive their guests, and meet them

with kind hearts and a broad Michigan welcome which comes from the heart of a progressive people. Such is the welcome you will receive while in the State of Michigan.

Michigan, one of the most beautiful in our great Union, extending from the broad Atlantic to where the Pacific washes the sands of the golden shores of CaliforniaMichigan, my Michigan! Bounded by her beautiful lakes, blessed with pure, wholesome air, domed by a beautiful blue sky, lighted by heaven's stars, upon whose altar we worship good health, good wives, beautiful daughters and brave sons -wishes you all prosperity and bids you a hearty welcome. [Applause.]

The President-The next thing in order will be the calling of the roll.

The Secretary called the roll as follows:

NOTE.-Names marked with a dagger † indicate that such members were present. Addresses marked with an asterisk indicate the correct address of the member; those unmarked are the last known addresses.

Manhattan Elevated....*71 Broadw'y, New York.

+Brown, George M... F. & P. M