PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 27 
Testing the Materials of Construction.—The art of 
engineering construction in all its various branches is 
daily becoming more and more exact in consequence of 
the accumulation of data on the physical properties of 
materials mainly derived from the experiments which are 
continuously in progress at the various engineering labora- 
tories associated with universities and technical ne ee Ee 
throughout the world. 
In order that the great mass of this valuable information 
should be more completely understood and the results com- 
parable, it has long been recognised that standard methods 
should be adopted as far as possible :— 
1. In the form and dimensions of test specimens of various 
materials. 
2. In the machinery and appliances used in producing the 
stresses and measuring their effects. 
3. In maintaining the conditions under which the tests are 
made as uniform as possible for the particular experi- 
ment in question. 
4. In properly recording the results obtained, so that their 
true value may be correctly appreciated. 
No doubt a great advantage would be gained in this, as 
in every other department of scientific research, if the 
metric system were universally adopted. The most impor- 
tant and in every respect the most representative society 
in the world in this branch is the International Association 
for Testing Materials, founded mainly by Professor Bau- 
schinger of Munich, who was President until his death. 
Professor Tetmajer of Vienna succeeded Professor Bau- 
schinger, and is still President. ‘The list of members 
include the most eminent scientific men and engineers in 
HKurope, America, and Great Britain, and meetings are 
held each year in one of the principal cities for reading 
and discussion of papers, and receiving the reports of com- 
