34 INLAND NAVIGATION AND BARGE CONSTRUCTION 



I do think that his statements about mud and changing of a bank 9 miles in three weeks 

 is rather ludicrous. As to the change and stability of channels I suggest that he reads page 

 109 of the report of the Chamber of Commerce of Rotterdam of 1913, which says a few 

 words about the change of the channel in the Rhine which will put his statements to shame. 



I can agree with few of the statements made by Mr. Reid. Let me assure Mr. Reid I am 

 not one of those foreigners who thought to revolutionize America the day after his landing. 

 Most of what I have learned was learned here in the United States, and I look upon this 

 country as a most kind employer and teacher. I have merely attempted to repay my grati- 

 tude in doing my best, analyzing problems in my profession as I saw them, the privilege of an 

 engineer, not the rights of a foreigner. I at least have never been one of those men, like Mr. 

 Reid confesses to have been, who stated that the people on this side were a lot of "silly asses," 

 and I do not like to see Mr. Reid attribute such ideas to me, and will gladly grant him all the 

 credit due to his statement that he claims. When he told the contractor that his plant was 

 no "damned use," I would suggest that Mr. Reid, if he is a foreigner like I am, had better 

 study local conditions before he again makes such a statement. It has taken me many a 

 year — almost ten now — of hard study before I was ready to condemn what I believe as an 

 engineer to be wrong. No wonder Mr. Reid got a lot of antagonism, from which I have been 

 able so far to steer clear to a great extent. 



Mr. Reid further takes issue with me and states that I am entirely wrong when claiming 

 that the naval architects of this country ignore river navigation problems. A careful 

 reading of his next eight sentences prove to a great extent, if not entirely, my statement, 

 which, however, was not as strong as Mr. Reid put it. I have said neglected — not ignored. 



I am glad to see that Mr. Reid winds up by stating that after all I am copying what he 

 has done before, only, according to his statement, "lost a good deal of money trying it," 

 and thus was not so successful as I. 



Mr. Reid further seems to doubt the possibility of building a boat which will navigate 

 the New York State Canal and the Great Lakes. It is his privilege to doubt this, only doubt- 

 ing Thomases have not so far moved the world. It may be of interest to him to know 

 that money has been set aside to permit me to carry out my plans, which seems to show that 

 money (naturally timid) is willing to agree with me. 



I wish to thank the Society for the opportunity afforded me in laying the matter before 

 them, and I wish to repeat that the only desire I have had in reading this paper is again 

 calling attention to the great inland water systems of this country and to impress the naval 

 architects of the United States that a great opportunity and large rewards are waiting for 

 those who care to devote a portion of their time and intellect to the solving of their problems. 

 I will be the last man to claim I have solved all or any of these problems, but I do claim the 

 fact that I am earnestly devoting the best that is in me toward understanding the difficulties 

 confronting us, and if I can be in this manner of some service to this great country I shall 

 consider myself particularly blessed. 



Mr. Parker H. Kemble, Member (Communicated) : — I have read with much interest 

 Mr. Bemhard's criticism of my discussion on his very valuable paper, and would comment 

 briefly on one or two points. 



As regards smoke — it is to be noted with interest that the photograph on Plate 14, sup- 

 plied by Mr. Bernhard as an illustration of the "Typical Stem- Wheel River Steamer," shows 

 absolutely clean stacks although the boat i s traveling at good speed. 



