grades, and operating under circumstances where it would be almost impossible to handle the cars by any amount of horse power that you could get on the street. It is in these special cases that the advantages are most manifest, although I think that to-day's experience shows that, in a system of anything like a decent size, the actual running expenses per car mile are quite a little less with electricity than with horses. Of course, on the great West End system that is very marked indeed, for that location is specially favorable. But the balance is, I think, in at least one-half the cases that I have been able to get information about, in favor of electricity in the line of expense-the total expense per car mile quite aside from the question of increased travel.

ELECTRICAL CENSUS STATISTICS.

THE PRESIDENT: If there is no further discussion on the paper just read we will proceed with the programme. Before taking up the next thing in regular order, I will read the following telegram with reference to the census statistics which are being gathered with reference to the applications of the science which we represent here:

"MR. ALLAN R. FOOTE: All investigations in charge of expert special agents have been postponed until after the meeting of Congress. All agents have been dropped, including yourself. Letter by mail."

(Signed) ROBERT P. PORTER,

Superintendent of Census.

DR. MASON: I was not expecting to be called upon at this moment to bring this matter before the Association. It is a very important matter. You will remember that a year ago in our meetings resolutions were introduced pursuant to the report of the Committee on Legislation. These resolutions urged Congress to make an appropriation of $50,000 to enable a thorough census of the electrical industry to be taken. A bill had been introduced in Congress having this object in view, but at the last moment, in the pressure of business, the matter was passed over, and no appropriation has ever been made for taking a census of the electrical industries. Some $15,000, which has been already expended, has been taken from other appropriations by Superintendent Porter. Now Mr. Porter has found himself

obliged to take the action stated in this telegram and followed by the letter, which perhaps it is not necessary that I should read to you further than to say that, in view of the facts in the case, he states that it does not seem practicable for him to continue furnishing the funds as he has been doing without a special appropriation. In this letter he looks to the resuming of the work on the part of Mr. Foote when a proper appropriation shall have been secured. It seems to me of the utmost importance that at the present meeting this Association should take definite action looking to the securing of the appropriation which was asked for a year ago. and which should have been granted at the session of Congress then being held. Personally I feel that Congress has been guilty of an absurdity. Look at the statistics which have been brought before this Association in the last hour relative to the application of electricity as a motive power in matters of traction. Look at what has been done in a score of industries. And shall no statistics be gathered, no record be made in the Eleventh Census of the development all along the various branches of applied electricity. It is now actually proposed that this work shall stop; that the census of 1890 shall make no mention of electricity. It seems to me that if properly presented to Congress at its next meeting, prompt action may be had. But in the mean

time what shall be done? In the meantime fifteen thousand dollars have been already expended and yet the work falls to the ground unless it is carried directly forward now. I doubt whether it can be laid down and taken up again. It should go on now, and if the Commissioner of Census has no means at his disposal, then some special provision should be made by the Secretary of the Interior which will enable this work to go right on from to-day. There is no propriety in having any

hiatus. Feeling as I do upon this point, and feeling that we should stand before the world in a most unenviable light if this matter were dropped, I beg to offer the following:

"Whereas, the Hon. Robert P. Porter, Superintendent of the Eleventh Census, has authorized the collection of the statistics of the electrical industries, and has appointed Mr. Allan R. Foote Special Expert Agent for that purpose, and,

"Whereas, Mr. Foote has prepared schedules for the collection of such statistics, covering nearly every known practical use of electrical energy, and,

"Whereas, these schedules provide for information of great public value that is imperatively demanded for the intelligent discussion and settlement of questions of grave public importance, and

"Whereas, this Association is advised that the work undertaken is in danger of being delayed, if not altogether abandoned, by reason of insufficient appropriation, thus utterly wasting the $12,000 or $15,000 already expended, and, what is of far more serious moment, depriving the people of the benefits to be derived from a report that there is reason to believe would be a thorough and reliable authority on the subjects of which it treats;

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Therefore, be it Resolved:

"I. That this Association respectfully requests the Hon. Robert P. Porter, Superintendent of Census, or, if he is not sufficiently empowered, the Hon. John W. Noble, Secretary of the Interior, to provide for the carrying to the earliest possible completion the work so well begun.

"2. That immediately upon the convening of the Fifty-second Congress the Executive Committee of this Association be directed to secure the re-introduction of Senate Bill No. 4,329 of the Fifty-first Congress, appro

priating $50,000 for the special work under Mr. Foote's direction and to use all proper means to secure its passage at the earliest possible date.

"3. That this Association hereby expresses its approval and high appreciation of the work Mr. Foote has done in his official capacity as special agent of the Eleventh Census for the collection of the statistics of electrical industries, and its belief that the reports that he may prepare, if enabled fully to carry out his plans therefor, as shown by the schedules submitted by him for examination, will have a value equal to that of the most valuable reports ever issued by the United States Govern

ment.

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4. That the President and Secretary of this Association be directed to at once forward a certified copy of these preambles and resolutions to the Hon. John W. Noble, Secretary of the Interior, Hon. Robert P. Porter, Superintendent of Census, and Allen R. Foote, special agent for the Eleventh Census, at Washington, D. C."

DR. MASON: I desire to say in addition that I hold in my hand a gathering together of the various schedules which Mr. Foote has prepared in his foundation work for the gathering of the information needed with regard to matters connected with electricity; and I have examined them with a great deal of care. I do not consider myself competent to pass judgment upon them, but I will say this, as one who has had something to do with statistics, that it is the most complete of any that I have ever seen. I have examined the census of 1880 with the greatest care, and I know of no department of the census of 1880 that in its foundation work will compare with Mr. Foote's work, as represented by the schedules in this book. I will go further and say of my own personal knowledge that the ablest men and the ablest judges in our country on this subject-such men, for instance, as