PRESERVATION OF METALS USED IN MARINE CONSTRUCTION. 167 



With reference to the statement made by Chief Naval Constructor Watt the 

 author has to say that he has served on seventeen ships in the Naval Service, on two 

 for over three years each, and has no recollection whatever of having ever seen any 

 trouble with the sea chests whether of steel or composition nor of the surrounding 

 steel. It is believed that the sea chests of the Oregon, on which he served three 

 years, were all of composition. No trouble was ever experienced with the out- 

 board deUveries from commissioning in July, 1896, to August, 1899. It is the 

 author's beUef that the trouble on the Massachusetts must have been due to the 

 metal used or to the way in which it was treated or fitted. 



It is the author's belief that more time and money have been wasted in the 

 U. S. Naval Service by a too quick generalization from a specific incident without 

 proper analysis than by almost any other one cause. 



The President: — Is there any further discussion on this paper? In the 

 absence of the author, we will close the discussion and proceed to the next paper, 

 with a record of a vote of thanks to Commander Lyon. The next paper in order 

 is No. 8, entitled, "An Electrically Propelled Fireproof Passenger Steamer," by 

 Mr. W. T. Donnelly and Mr. G. A. Orrok, Members. 



Mr. Donnelly presented the paper. 



