The Evolution of Floating and Other Dry Docks. 77 



Another thing, the vessel wasn't sunk in a hole but was raised 

 above the level of the dock, and so the drying process is more 

 rapid. He didn't know that a Floating Dry Dock could be got 

 for Belfast. At present he was in favour of the Graving Dock. 

 In some places the Floating Dock has been of very great 

 advantage to Shipowners. 



Mr. Dempsey said he thought he would be more entitled to 

 claim reasons for keeping silence than any of the gentlemen 

 who had preceded him. The Graving Dock question was one 

 that concerns every one in the city. He thought there should 

 be both Floating as well as ordinary Graving Docks. 



Mr. Carson said he came like some of the other members of 

 the Corporation to hear Mr. Maxton's paper. For his own 

 part he preferred the old system, but would not like to say 

 anything against the new. 



In briefly replying, the Author regretted the absence of 

 Mr. Redfern Kelly who had favoured the meeting with a 

 critical letter and plans. 



Mr. Maxton explained that Mr. Redfern Kelly's plan shewing 

 the proposed new graving dock for Belfast was very similar 

 to that now just opened at Glasgow ; and some of the figures, 

 for comparison between this modern Dry Dock at Glasgow, 

 and a modern Pontoon Dock as given in the paper, should 

 be studied. Had the Belfast Alexandra Dock been a Pontoon 

 Dock of similar dimensions there would have been no need 

 for another new Dock in this port, for with an expenditure 

 of small amount it could have been altered to meet the new 

 condition of things, whereas to alter the present graving dock 

 was tantamount to its re-construction, and it is quite possible 

 that the dimensions now proposed for the new graving dock 

 will be totally inadequate for vessels built within the next ten 

 years, and since the conception of the large dock at Liverpool 

 it has undergone considerable increases in dimensions, and 

 Belfast should not be satisfied with anything less than Liverpool. 



Mr. Macllwaine certainly followed the paper carefully and to 

 his remarks little can be added, one remark, however, that the 



