The following extracts from letters from the Executive Committee to the Secretary, based upon the receipt of an advance copy of the accompanying sample decisions, will show the judgment of the Committee upon the proposed work.

[From President CHARLES B. HOLMES, Pres., Chicago City Ry. Co.,

Chicago, Ill.]

"I do not know of anything that has been undertaken by the Association which promises larger benefit to its members than the plan suggested in your letter, and I most heartily approve of it, and of the method you propose for procuring subscriptions to the publication. A single one of the decisions might save a large number of the members of the Association thousands of dollars in the litigation we are all so often forced to defend. I hope you will see your way clear to push the matter vigorously, not only with the members of the Association, but with all the Street-Railway Companies in America."

[From Vice-President JULIUS E. RUGG, Gen. Man., Minneapolis St. Ry. Co., Minneapolis, Minn.]

"I am of the opinion that it will be of much value to Street-Railway Managers everywhere, and should endorse the plan you propose, to send all Street-Railway Managers blanks and sample copies with a view to obtain their subscriptions."

[From Vice-President R. DUDLEY FRAYSER, Sec., Citizens' St. R. R. Co.,

Memphis, Tenn.]

"I think it would be best to get up such a compilation as you propose, and then, if we choose to, we can have a digest to go along with the volumes of Reports.

I think a subscription should be obtained, which, no doubt, can be done, from all the members of the Association, and from street-railroads that are not members of the Association; and I think this will make the subscription sufficient for the publication of the first volume without any loss to the Association. I will approve of this. When this is compiled and the reports are finished, they will be very valuable to street-railroad men."

[From Vice-President CHARLES B. CLEGG, Director, Dayton St, R. R. Co.,

Dayton, O.]

"I am quite agreeable to the proposition you make of sending a similar specimen to every Street-Railway Company. I know of no better way of ascertaining the feeling of members of the Association in regard to the project. I hope you will be successful in obtaining sufficient subscriptions."

[From Ex-President THOMAS W. ACKLEY, Pres., Thirteenth and Fifteenth Sts. Pass, Ry. Co., Philadelphia, Pa.]

'My judgment is that such a compilation of cases would be greatly appreciated by the entire railway interest of the United States. Every Street-Railway would become a subscriber and their counsel another. thorough report of each case."

It should embrace a

[From MR. DANIEL F. LEWIS, Pres., Brooklyn City R. R. Co., Brooklyn, N. Y.] "I concur in your judgment as to sending sample copies to all Street-Railways."

[From MR. E. G. MOSHER, Supt., Augusta and Summerville R. R. Co.,

Augusta, Ga.]

"I approve of sending copies of specimen pages, such as you sent me, to all members of the Association, and to all Street-Railways, with subscription blanks, to ascertain whether sufficient subscriptions can be obtained to warrant the publication of at least the first volume. Such a work will be of great value to Street-Railways.”

As stated in the letter, in order to make it possible to publish the work without loss to the Association, it was necessary that an edition of five hundred copies should be issued. As the result of the printed matter distributed, just 125 subscriptions were received, or one-quarter of the number required to warrant proceeding with the undertaking. If each Company that has already subscribed would be responsible for three copies, two of which could be readily disposed of to lawyers in their respective cities, with the number that would be taken by law libraries, the publication could be undertaken at once.

UNITED STATES MAIL LINES.

The question of obtaining the designation of street-railway lines as United States Mail Lines was duly considered by your Committee, and the President, Chairman of the Executive Committee and Secretary were authorized to confer with the Post Office Department upon the subject.

Street cars, especially when drawn by horses, are very greatly obstructed by trucks, carts, wagons and other vehicles; and particularly by those used in trucking. The wheels of most vehicles being set at the same gauge as those of street cars, and the rails on which the car wheels run being smoother than the pavement adjoining, the track is preferred to the stone pavement, especially by truck drivers, greatly to the hindrance of the free passage of the cars.

different

Several street car lines, which run between towns, and hence, between post offices, have obtained from the Government the designation of their lines as "United States Mail Lines," and are carrying the mails between these postal stations. The result of this designation, has been to secure an almost entire freedom from obstruction by other vehicles which either keep off the track altogether, or their drivers are careful to leave the track before the cars reach them. Department officers, and it was ascertained that this designation could be obtained for those street car lines only which run between post offices. It being desired to obtain the designation for all Companies alike, the question was considered as to whether the cars might not be equipped with letter boxes, and thus facilitate the collection of the mails. A box suitable for this purpose has been designed; and the Special Committee desire the question to be continued in its hands, if agreeable to the Association.

The Committee had several interviews with the

KINDRED ASSOCIATIONS.

The Tramways Institute of Great Britain and Ireland was organized to attain the same objects that are accomplished by this Association. The fundamental principle of membership in our Association is that the street-railway companies only are eligible, and not individuals. The Tramways Institute was organized on the basis of individual membership, and not of Companies. It was made up of street-railway officers, manufacturers, inventors and others, and was short lived. An effort is about to be made to resuscitate the old organization on the basis of membership of Companies instead of individuals.

It is with pleasure that we record the formation of two local associations during the year, namely: The Street-Railway Association of the State of New Jersey, and the Massachusetts Street-Railway Association.

We desire to express our regard for the welfare of all these associations; holding ourselves in readiness to manifest this regard at any time that opportunity may offer.

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS.

At the last Annual Meeting the following resolution was referred to the Executive Committee: "Be it Resolved, That the Constitution and By-Laws be amended so as to permit manufacturers and dealers in street-railway supplies to become associate members of the Association, on the payment of the membership fee of twenty-five dollars and the annual dues assessed active members; it being understood that said associate members shall have no voice in the deliberations of the Association, except by general consent; and under no conditions shall they be permitted to vote upon any matter before the Association."

After an extended consideration of the foregoing by the Committee, the following resolution was adopted as a substitute therefor : Resolved, That the President be and he is hereby authorized to issue a ticket to any gentleman not a delegate, upon the recommendation of a delegate, who may desire to attend the Annual Banquet. The number of tickets is to be limited by the judgment of the President, and the price of each ticket is to be ten dollars."

INVITATIONS TO FORMER PRESIDENTS.

Your Committee considers it desirable, and therefore recommends, that the Secretary be authorized by the Association to extend a cordial invitation to all gentlemen who have held the office of President of the Association, to attend its meetings and participate therein.

"STRIKES."

During the past year there have been a number of strikes," with attendant rioting. So far as your Committee has been informed of the facts upon which these strikes were declared, they have been wholly unwarranted on the part of the strikers; and the Committee believes that a long-suffering public will ere long give expression to its righteous indignation by holding to strict accountability those persons responsible for such outrageous interference with the rights of the traveling public. Certain it is that whenever and whatever

differences may arise between the management and employees of a street-railway company, such questions should be settled by arbitration or in some other peaceable way. The public may well demand that their rights, which have heretofore been wholly ignored, in the forcible interference with the running of the cars, shall receive the consideration to which they are entitled; and that they shall not be subjected to any willful or needless delay by the stoppage of street cars provided for their transit from one point to another.

STREET-RAILWAY EXHIBITION.

It was considered advisable that special arrangements should be made this year by the Association, providing for as complete an exhibition of streetrailway appliances as manufacturers, inventors and dealers in supplies might desire to make. The display, therefore, on this occasion is unusual; and reflects great credit upon those who have participated therein.

A large amount of work has been entailed upon the gentleman on the Local Committee having this exhibition in charge; and your Committee desires to specially thank Mr. Hurt for his untiring exertions to make this feature of the meeting a thorough success.

ENTERTAINMENT OF DELEgates.

The Washington Companies have arranged for special entertainment of the delegates and their ladies; and, in addition to providing carriages for the inspection of the public buildings and other points of interest in this beautiful city, have arranged for a trip to Mount Vernon, stopping at Marshall Hall on the return for lunch. This excursion will take place on Friday, and it is earnestly desired by the Local Committee that all the delegates, with their ladies, will remain to enjoy the hospitality of the street-railway companies of Washington on this occasion.

THE BANQUET.

The arrangements for the banquet have this year devolved upon the Executive Committee. It has been ably assisted, however, by the Local Committee, and desires to acknowledge its indebtedness to the gentlemen who compose it. We anticipate a very enjoyable reunion on Thursday evening.

LADIES AT BANQUET.

By reason of the fact that the Annual Meeting this year is held in the City of Washington, it was considered advisable to have it especially a Ladies' Meeting, and arrangements have been made for the participation of ladies in the banquet. We are pleased to announce the fact that a considerable number of ladies will grace this occasion.

NOTICES OF MEETING.

Notices of this Meeting have, as heretofore, been sent to all street railway companies in the United States and Canada; and as usual notices have been received from quite a number of new Companies that they intend to be represented at this meeting. We heartily welcome them all to membership with us.

It is with pleasure that we record that no officer of any of our member Companies has died during the year. This fact, in so large a number, must be considered a cause for profound gratitude to God.

Respectfully submitted,

C. B. HOLMES,

JULIUS E. RUGG,

R. DUDLEY FRAYSER,
CHARLES B. CLEGG,

THOMAS W. ACKLEY,

WINFIELD SMITH,

DANIEL F. LEWIS,

CHARLES GREEN,

Committee.

Mr. Wm. Richardson, of Brooklyn I move you, sir, that the report of the Executive Committee be adopted by the Association; and that in so doing we approve the recommendation of the Committee that the Secretary shall invite past Presidents of the Association to the meetings in the future; and that the President shall issue tickets to the banquet of the Association at the rate of ten dollars each, to the extent that he may deem wise. Carried.

MINUTES OF meeting oF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, HELD AT WILLARD'S HOTEL, WASHINGTON, D. C., WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1888, AT 9 O'CLOCK, A. M.

There were present Messrs. Charles B. Holmes, President, R. Dudley Frayser, Charles B. Clegg, Thomas W. Ackley, Daniel F. Lewis, Charles Green and the Secretary.

The proposed report of the Executive Committee was read by the Secretary. On motion of Mr. Lewis, the report was adopted.

The Treasurer presented his report.

The President stated that he had examined the report and vouchers, and had found the same correct.

On motion, the Treasurer's report was approved.

On motion, adjourned.

WM. J. RICHARDSON,

Secretary.

The President: The next business is the report of the Treas

urer.

REPORT OF THE TREASURER.

The report in full of the Treasurer is, as follows: