274 OBITUARY. 
purpose of taking direct charge of repairing and reconditioning the seized German and 
Austrian ships. These ships the crews had previously endeavored to destroy or damage 
and thus prevent their use by the United States in case war was declared upon Germany. 
Following this he organized for the Government the operating company under which 
these ships originally were used in its service. 
Many other important matters were pressed upon this Board of Survey and Consult- 
ing Engineers from time to time during the period of the Great War. Mr. Martin was 
also, for the Shipping Board, one of the three members of the Ocean Advisory Board on 
Just Compensation. 
During all of his long business career, and especially by his valuable services to the 
United States Government, he attained an international reputation for faithful service to 
all clients. 
Owing to his many years of conscientious and efficient duty as a marine surveyor and 
appraiser, Mr. Martin’s testimony was frequently sought in important maritime litigations, 
where it was received almost universally as authoritative and conclusive by both parties to 
the contests. During his career in New York and elsewhere throughout the country, mari- 
time suits involving many millions of dollars have been decided largely upon his profes- 
sional advice and opinions. Mr. Martin’s judgment and opinions in all maritime matters 
have not only been authoritative but synonymous with fairness and justice. 
Mr. Martin became a member of this Society in 1912, and died July 27, 1922. 
EARL PORTER MASON 
MEMBER 
Mr. Mason was born May 18, 1876, at Providence, R. I. He was educated at Moses 
Brown School, Providence, and Providence High School, spent one year in France, then 
entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and graduated, class of 1897. After grad- 
uation he entered the employ of the Eastman Kodak Company. In 1898 he became super- 
intendent of the experimental department of the Draper Company (textile manufacturers), 
Hopedale, Mass. In 1902 he became secretary and superintendent of the Newport Engi- 
neering Works. 
On March 10, 1917, he was appointed a lieutenant, U. S. N. R., and detailed as engineer 
officer at the Naval War College, Newport, R. I., being later ordered to New York as ma- 
terial officer, N. O. T. S. He was promoted to lieutenant commander and commander in 
1919, being assigned to the Commission to Return Dutch Ships. He went to Holland with 
the commission and returned to America in October, 1919. He was relieved from active duty 
with the Navy at his own request December, 1919. 
Commander Mason immediately became connected with the U. S. Shipping Board in 
charge of maintenance and repair at the New York District. He resigned from the Ship- 
ping Board May, 1920, going with the Anti-Corrosion Engineering Company of New York 
as production engineer, November, 1920, where he remained until his death August 14, 
1922. He became a member of this Society in 1920. 
