76 The Evolution of Floating and Other Dry Docks. 



the difficulties arising through the red-tapeism of Commissioners 

 or Corporations as owners of Docks. The keen feeling of 

 satisfaction with which he spoke of the comparative ease and 

 facility experienced in dealing with private dock owners was 

 very apparent, and it is quite what one would expect. Even with 

 so respectable and respected a body as our own Harbour Board, 

 this must be the case to some extent. It might just be pointed 

 out that evidence of this kind was very much to the point in con- 

 sidering the socialistic proposals for the " Municipalization " or 

 " Nationalization" of everything so often encountered in these 

 latter days. 



The opinion seems to be in the air that a larger dock was 

 required for Belfast. If so, would it not be practicable that its 

 construction and management should be undertaken by one of 

 our shipbuilding firms, or by a Company officially formed for 

 the purpose. If this could be shewn to be a paying speculation 

 no doubt some of the abundant capital and enterprise in Belfast 

 would be forthcoming to its support. 



Mr. Greenhill observed that there was such a difference 

 amongst the Engineers on the comparative utility of Floating 

 and Graving Docks. When you get a Civil Engineer to deal 

 with the question, he simply deals with brick and stone, and 

 when you get a Mechanical Engineer he simply deals with iron 

 and steel. He thought the proper way to get at the thing 

 would be to go where these docks were being used and get the 

 experience of those who actually used them, and also whether 

 the Shipping Owners preferred the Floating Dry Dock or the 

 ordinary Graving Dock, but would like to hear what was the 

 difference, if any, in the upkeep of the two types of docks. 



Mr. Heyn said that like Mr. Brown he came there to listen. 

 Any remarks he would make would be from a Shipowner's 

 point of view. He thought Floating Docks would be a con- 

 siderable advantage in dealing with small ships. One thing 

 was the rapidity with which the work could be effected, and 

 the fact that in tidal harbours there is not the necessity to wait 

 on the tide. Docking operations can be performed at any hour. 



