28 METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION OF CONCRETE SHIPS. 



The Chair is infonned that Mr. Robertson might have some views to present on this 

 subject. Will Mr. Robertson respond? 



Mr. a. J. C. Robertson, Member: — I wish just to emphasize what the secretary has 

 said in regard to the difficulty Mr. Wig faced in taking up the construction of concrete ships. 



He started his work when every shipyard in the country was working its hardest and 

 getting hold of every efficient man they could, and when every steel works was working its 

 hardest to supply the needs of the shipyards, and when there was a very strong prejudice 

 against concrete ships. He faced every difficulty with optimism; in fact, he was an ex- 

 treme optimist. Many of us had criticisms of the steps he proposed, but none of us, I think, 

 could criticise the spirit with which Mr. Wig tackled the work put before him. I think we 

 are very much indebted to him for having tackled the job, whether he succeeded or whether 

 he failed, and giving us a record of the result. 



There is just one point I wish to correct, in Table 1. This table was prepared, of course, 

 some little time ago, before actual measurements of the ships were possible in the matter of 

 deadweight capacity freeboard, etc., and unfortunately the optimistic Mr. Wig was just a 

 little too optimistic in regard to the freeboard assignment and deadweight, for the ships have 

 not been allowed to load quite so much cargo as he claims for them. 



I have no doubt that Mr. Wig- will correct these figures in the final copy of his paper. 



The President : — Are there any further comments ? I am sure that the Society will 

 desire that its appreciation be expressed to Mr. Wig' for his admirable paper. He will also 

 be requested to reply to the comments made and he will, doubtless, make certain additions 

 to the paper as now presented. 



The next paper on the program is entitled "Engineering Features of Shipyards Oper- 

 ative during the War," by Capt. R. E. Bakenhaus, C. E. C, U. S. N., Member. 



Captain Bakenhaus then presented the paper. 



