新英格兰水厂协会。
任何人读取数据的渐进的公司rease in membership of the New England Water Works Association since its organization in 1882, when it began life with a membership of 27, all active members, must be struck by its rapid increase in numbers and influence. During three years its entire membership, active, and associate, was counted in two not very high figures—57 all told. The next year the association added 60 to its roll; and so it has gone on ever since advancing by leaps, till now its grand total amounts to 522 members, of whom 435 are active, 82 associate, and 5 honorary. That the inciease should be greater in the active membership is a cheering sign. It is true that the associate members represent that skill and enterprise, without which there could be no advance in water works plants and machinery—the essential factors in water supply. But, without the active management, the thinking brain to keep that plant running, and to distribute wholesome water cheaply, expeditiously, and plentifully among the inhabitants of towns and cities, the work of the associates, while still materially as valuable, would not avail one-tenth of what it does now when co-operating with, and kept in operation by the energy and enterprise of the active members. Neither, however, can be independent of the other—it is the old fable of the “Belly and the Members” over again. If all were associates, there would be no room for actives; if all were actives, the associates would have no locus standi. But again, as President FitzGerald aptly pointed out in his opening address,the strength of such an organization as the New England Water Works Association, does not consist in mere numbers. What is wanted besides is the joint, energetic, zealous interest of all classes of members, as shown in the efforts they make to attend the conventions, to prepare papers to be read before them,to contribute,each one, in the discussions his mite of information to the general stock—a formidable aggregate of knowledge being the outcome, or to draw out further information and instruction for all present, by frequently catechizing the readers or debaters —“ cross-heckling ” them as ourSeottish brethren put it. In this way such a convention becomes the outward and visible sign of that inward life, which alone can quicken associations of this kind, and render them of real service, first to the members individually, afterwards to the public generally. And such should be the issue of the convention of the Association, whose sittings have just come to a close, as may be seen at a glance at, as well in the report of the proceedings,and by reading over the list of the topics treated at this and former conventions, all of which not only evince honest, hard, and thoroughly practical work, undertaken and performed at the meetings, but also show intelligence and practical skill of no mean order on the part of the members.
任何人读取数据的渐进的公司rease in membership of the New England Water Works Association since its organization in 1882, when it began life with a membership of 27, all active members, must be struck by its rapid increase in numbers and influence. During three years its entire membership, active, and associate, was counted in two not very high figures—57 all told. The next year the association added 60 to its roll; and so it has gone on ever since advancing by leaps, till now its grand total amounts to 522 members, of whom 435 are active, 82 associate, and 5 honorary. That the inciease should be greater in the active membership is a cheering sign. It is true that the associate members represent that skill and enterprise, without which there could be no advance in water works plants and machinery—the essential factors in water supply. But, without the active management, the thinking brain to keep that plant running, and to distribute wholesome water cheaply, expeditiously, and plentifully among the inhabitants of towns and cities, the work of the associates, while still materially as valuable, would not avail one-tenth of what it does now when co-operating with, and kept in operation by the energy and enterprise of the active members. Neither, however, can be independent of the other—it is the old fable of the “Belly and the Members” over again. If all were associates, there would be no room for actives; if all were actives, the associates would have no locus standi. But again, as President FitzGerald aptly pointed out in his opening address,the strength of such an organization as the New England Water Works Association, does not consist in mere numbers. What is wanted besides is the joint, energetic, zealous interest of all classes of members, as shown in the efforts they make to attend the conventions, to prepare papers to be read before them,to contribute,each one, in the discussions his mite of information to the general stock—a formidable aggregate of knowledge being the outcome, or to draw out further information and instruction for all present, by frequently catechizing the readers or debaters —“ cross-heckling ” them as ourSeottish brethren put it. In this way such a convention becomes the outward and visible sign of that inward life, which alone can quicken associations of this kind, and render them of real service, first to the members individually, afterwards to the public generally. And such should be the issue of the convention of the Association, whose sittings have just come to a close, as may be seen at a glance at, as well in the report of the proceedings,and by reading over the list of the topics treated at this and former conventions, all of which not only evince honest, hard, and thoroughly practical work, undertaken and performed at the meetings, but also show intelligence and practical skill of no mean order on the part of the members.
