INTRODUCTORY PROCEEDINGS. xxxvii 



time for arguments on this question, and opinions may change. I know that strong 

 men differ, but wc are like the children in Maeterlinck's fairy play looking in various 

 directions for our particular "Blue Bird" and finding it not; and some day, not 

 too far off I trust, the people of this great nation with its thousands of miles of 

 seaboard, with its great protective Navy which, in the final analysis, must depend 

 upon a Merchant Marine, with its many and large productions from the soil, and 

 from its varied m^anufactures, will realize the supreme importance of having ships 

 and yards in which to build them, will realize that we are to-day deliberately passing 

 to foreigners annually enormous sums which should be earned by our ovyfu citizens ; 

 and they will come to themselves, will unite on the right course, will demand from 

 their representatives a change in the present condition, and they will get it. So 

 be of good cheer. Let your hearts faint not. 



One of the best features of these Society meetings is the social side of them. 

 Here we gather annually, some of you rivals in intense competition during the 

 remainder of the year, but here friends, renewing acquaintances and reviewing 

 accomplishments. I know of no better way of avoiding misunderstandings, heart- 

 burns and ill-feelings than getting together in these meetings, and I am proud 

 to say that, in this particular, this Society has been exceedingly fortunate. 



Let me urge you to continue this good course. Let the younger members not 

 hesitate to make themselves known to the elders and the elders not forget their 

 own struggles in youth. Be ready to extend helpful thoughts to each other, and 

 remember, though you cannot see the growth of shipbuilding as you desire, you 

 are members of a profession second to none in building material things. Your 

 numbers may be comparatively small, but you combine in yourselves the knowl- 

 edge and the skill of all of the other special mechanical and engineering societies, 

 and your problems are more difficult to solve. (Applause.) 



The President : — The next in order is the reading of a report of the Special 

 Committee appointed by the Council last year, of which Admiral Capps is Chairman, 

 and I will ask the Secretary to read the Report. 



REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE. 



November i6, 1910. 



Sir: — On November 19, 1909, during the last Annual Meeting of the Society 

 of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, the following resolution was unanimously 

 adopted as a partial recognition of the eminent services to the Society of its retiring 

 President, Rear-Admiral Francis Tiffany Bowles. 



"Resolved, That the Society desires to place on record its regrets that the 

 President was compelled to be absent from this meeting, and it further desires to 



