Applications for active membership from the following gentle

men were read by the Secretary :

The applications were referred to a committee of three for consideration and report, the President naming Messrs. G. A. Hyde, Cleveland, Ohio; G. B. Neal, Charlestown, Mass.; and A. B. Slater, Providence, R. I., as such committee.

The committee subsequently reported favorably on the above applications. On motion, the Secretary was instructed to cast the vote of the Association for the gentlemen proposed. The tellers, Messrs. W. H. White and A. C. Wood reported the result of the election. The newly elected members were then duly introduced to the Convention by the President.

WELCOMING A DISTINGUISHED ENGLISH GAS ENGINEER.

President Vanderpool, in a few well-chosen words of welcome, introduced to the Association a distinguished English visitor in the person of Mr. R. P. Spice, ex-president of the Gas Institute, and an active member of the fraternity.

COMMITTEE ON INVITATION.

On motion of Capt. W. H. White the President appointed Gen. A. Hickenlooper, Cincinnati, Ohio; Mr. Thos. Turner, Charlestown, S. C., and Mr. C. H. Nettleton, Birmingham, Conn., as a special committee to invite officers and directors of gas companies (as well as other gentlemen interested in the business of gas manufacture, but who were not members of the Association) to attend the sessions of the organization. dent Vanderpool then delivered the following

INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

Presi

GENTLEMEN OF THE AMERICAN GAS LIGHT ASSOCIATION :— The Thirteenth Annual Meeting of our organization opens to-day in this flourishing city of the West under exceedingly pleasing and favorable auspices. Many of you remember when the American Gas Light Association was formed in the city of New York. The obstacles encountered and overcome, the struggles and successes of our early years-these have long since become part and parcel of the personal experience of most of us. But the Association, concerning the survival of which we at that time had doubts and fears, is to-day the representative gas light association of the North American Continent. Our past record encourages us to renewed efforts in the future.

We now have about three hundred members, representing this Association as far north and east as Canada and Newfoundland, and from California on the west to Cuba on the south. We are engaged in an industry employing a capital of over two hundred and fifty million dollars ($250,000,000), invested in plant and used in manufacturing and distributing more than thirty billion (30,000,000,000) cubic feet of gas per annum. It has dependent upon it mines, railways, iron works, and other industrial establishments that are represented by many millions more.

The members of our Association have not forgotten the hospitable manner in which they were entertained in this beautiful city in October, 1877-eight years ago. The invitation of the President of the Cincinnati Gas Light and Coke Company, one of the honored ex-presidents of this organization, was eagerly accepted not only because we remembered with pleasure our former cordial reception, but also in recognition of the fact that much has been done by the gas company here, under his wise management, in originating and developing methods for manufacturing and distributing the best gas in the most economical

manner.

The Cincinnati Gas Light and Coke Company, under its present management, was the pioneer in this country in successfully introducing mechanical appliances whereby the labor account in the retort and coke houses was largely reduced.

We were aware that we should here find, in operation, newly built and complete gas works with every new and improved arrangement and appliance, originated or adopted, which it was thought would improve the quality and cheapen the cost of making gas; and that we would derive much benefit from a critical inspection of one of the most perfect gas plants in existence.

Considering the depressed condition of the general business of the country, and the severe competition of oil lights, the development and progress of the gas lighting industry during the past year has been remarkable. The outlook for the future is most promising if the danger of overburdening the industry by too much capital, forced upon us by unscrupulous speculators, can be averted by wise legislation that will protect both the interest of the consumer and the producer.

The use of gas in nearly all of our towns and cities has largely

increased, and the wise commercial policy of securing a fair return upon the capital invested, from a large in preference to a limited gas consumption, is now almost universally recognized and adopted. This would be done to a far greater extent were it not that we have learned from daily experience that our franchises are precarious; and prudence demands the continuance of a management that takes into account the uncertainty of our future profits occasioned by so-called competition.

It has generally been found that an increased consumption speedily follows a decrease in prices. This increase, together with the economy that can and must now more than ever before be excercised in all industrial undertakings, will keep a fair balance on the right side of the account, and should induce us prudently to continue to lessen our prices and enlarge the output of our product.

As an indication of the extent to which prices have been reduced from time to time in this country, and of the strength and vitality of the industry, and the improved methods of manufacture, it is only necessary to state that there are many companies now supplying gas at a fair profit, at more than twenty per cent. below the cost, and over fifty per cent. less than the selling price, of fifteen years ago. A remarkable and creditable showing indeed, particularly so considering the difficulties under which we have labored in this country.

It is hardly probable that such enormous reductions as these can be made in the near future; but enough has been done in the past to demonstrate that, if our property is protected by wise legislation, we shall sell gas of a high grade, within a comparatively short space of time, at as low prices as it is furnished in any country in the world.

It is plain that the results above stated could not have been obtained except under the best management and the practice of all known economies in manufacture and distribution.

Any well-arranged gas works, fitted with modern plant, is radically different from those of a few years ago. Every possible appliance is now adopted whereby labor can be economized. By means of improved hoists and cars the cost of labor in handling coal has been reduced one-half to two-thirds; and, where the coal is taken directly into the retort house, a still greater saving