Scope for Improvements in Inland Water Transport and Harbour Development: What Has Been Done: Need for Deeper Approach to Shanghai River The following is the text of the Presidential Address, delivered at the opening meeting of the 1925- 26 session of the Engineering Society of China, held at the Astor House Hotel on December 2:
Your past President, Mr. A.W. Brankston, left Shanghai and China, about June 1 and the Council ceted me to carry on. Owing to the chaotic state of affairs in Shanghai during June and July, the annual general meeting was not held ventil this autumn, following which the Council elected me to the Presidency, and I appreciate and thank the Shanghai Society of Engineers and Architects in 1901, and later chang. ed to the Engineering Society of China, is now entering on its 25th session Your Council last year decided that probably this child of 25 winters would develop and grow strength and wisdom, if the constraining influence of past presidents as members of the Council Was withdrawn, Strangely enough, you assisted them and passed the amendment, and now we a new starting post It ficant that this society has had 24 sessions and the procectings published represent to a certain extent the progress of engineering in China, especially with reference to public' utilities. Our membership fist refers to "The Honorary Members who have retired from China," and this is a group of men who have done great things for Chine and who have been a credit to their profession and to this society.
The Engineer in China Shanghai and China in engineering represent a comparatively small group of technical men with very diversified interests. Probably whi ial ten to a paper on It transformers, ete., or the Electrical to a paper on river regulation, but if we persistently Keep on we may be able within few years to hold sectional meetings as well og general ones.
The most recent statement I have read giving the requisites of a suc-that he knowledge of the technique of his own special field.
Papers presented by members of this society will always supplement your general knowledge, and cccasionally hit upon your special Technically Trained Chinese The number of technically trained Chinese engineers and likewise the number of such occupying important positions is gradually inereasing, and the members should make fan effort to interest them in this society.
The officers and council are trying to obtain a series of interesting papers for presentation and to make several inspection trips to industrial plants during the session. If you know of any important engineering development cither in Shanghai or any other parts of China, presenting new or unusual features, that woud interest members, kindly communicate with the secretary or member of the Council. Your ce-operation is essential to the success of this sestian and of the sociely.
The custom of having the Pres ident deliver an address by such societies insti-tated by the great engineering £0- eleties of Europe and America in the days when the proceedings of the society constituted practically the only literature published on engineering subjects, and a review of the year's progress was thereby recorded. To-day, in our homelands, every new project is heralded far and wide in an attractive, readable form by our magazines—igazines for every phase of enginecring—and the presidential address of recent years deals with a general aspect of a single specific problem, while in China our news-Papers and " few periodicals keep us informed of industrial progress. T think I should briefly refer to a few of the most important developments of the past year, Engineering "Events" in China Probably the most outstanding addition to public utilities in Shang-the paxt year is the installation of the new 20,000 KW. tur-me by the S. M. C. Electricity Department. Other important improvements include the installation of a new pump by the Shanghai Waterworks with a capacity of 600,. 000 gallons per hour, and a battery of eight rapid ' sand filters, capacity 24 million gallons per day, and an additional intake with a ey: Linder of 10 fect diameter and a supply main of five fect diameter, The French Waterworks have also completed a new intake and a considerable extension of their sedimentation bede.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.