in the highest degree so that it was always safe to feel that, when he had completed the 
work on any problem, it was well done. His intimate service during almost the entire 
life of the marine department had given him a familiarity with all the marine work done 
by the company which those coming later on can never hope to equal. His memory 
was remarkable, and until the enormous output during the World War it was safe to 
say that he knew the number of every marine job and a good deal of its history during 
the life of the vessel. 
Besides his life work as an engineer Mr. Mills had interests for his leisure hours 
outside of business in which the same painstaking attention to detail gave him rather 
unusual distinction. His chief avocation was the study of polar exploration, particularly 
the Arctic. He had been collecting books on this subject for years, and his collection 
is probably the finest and most complete of any private individual. He enjoyed the 
acquaintance of the late Admiral Melville, and on one occasion showed the admiral 
the catalogue of his Arctic library. After looking it over the admiral told him that 
included in it were a number of books of which he had heard but which he had never 
seen himself. It had been his intention to present the collection to one of the geographic 
societies or to some public library, and his family has carried out this intention. 
He was also interested in astronomy as an amateur and had built a small observa- 
tory at his home, where, with a telescope of moderate aperture, he carried on searches 
for double stars and other astronomical pursuits in which an amateur with a small 
equipment can be of service. 
Mr. Mills was a fine specimen of a Christian gentleman of the highest type and was 
a faithful friend and an agreeable companion to all his associates. He had been an 
officer and active worker for many years in one of the leading churches of Jersey City 
and always stood for what was finest and best in American manhood. He leaves behind 
him an enviable record as a loyal, efficient worker and as an upright, agreeable man 
whose memory will always be cherished by those who were close to him as one of the 
agreeable features of their lives. 
WILLIAM T. NEVINS 
MEMBER 
William T. Nevins was born at Cleveland, Ohio, January 6, 1873. He was edu- 
cated in the schools of Cleveland and served an apprenticeship at the trade of shipfitter 
at the Globe Iron Works, Cleveland, from 1888 to 1891. Thereafter he was employed 
as journeyman in various coast and lake yards and navy yards from 1891 to 1896. He 
served as foreman of hull construction and repair department of the Globe Iron Works, 
