The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

148 promised in 30 days, but it was nec- essary to use the standard land type. As these vessels were not to go to sea, however, this was satisfactory. The wornout boilers were cut up and passed out through the smokepipe because the armored deck could not be taken up; the new boilers were passed down the smokepipe in sections and erected on board; finally each of the boats was given a steam trial, which was entirely successful. A great deal of experimental work was done tnder his direction, all of which is published in his annual re- ports. The last of such experiments was a series of tests of oil-fuel, prob- ably the most comprehensive ever made. My brief sketch of this famous man would be incomplete if I failed to speak of his personality. The lion-like head and the frank speech have led some to say that he is one of the old "Vikings", spared to us a_ thousand years after the others have gone; but if this leads any to think that he is harsh and cold, there could be no greater mistake. Like all strong. na- tures, he is pronounced in his. feelings, but heisaman of warm affection, and when he has once taken you into his heart, you are sure of an abiding-place there as long as you are worthy. It is often said that no man is great to his intimates, but I have been with him, day by day, for years; have seen him under all conditions; and my admira- tion and love for him have simply in- creased as the years go by. I have no ambition to be a Boswell and I have not kept notes of his doings; but I have seen the daily workings of a great, kind heart, tender for the humble yet fearless toward the great; and I can truly say that I count it a privilege and an inspiration to have been a trusted friend and helper of this noble man, who has exemplified the highest type of manhood and added now luster to the profession of engineering. ' Acceptance hy Or C. D. Walcott. It gives me pleasure, speaking for the Smithsonian Institute as the cus- todian of the National Collection of Art, to accept from you for the people of this country this fine portrait of Rear-Admiral George Wallace Melville, to be exhibited in the gallery of por- traits of Americans who have achieved eminence in their life work. Among the men who have rendered distinguished service to their country in literature, science, or.art, in war or in peace, in professional or civil life-- few have won such well-merited dis- tinction in so many lines of duty as Admiral Melville. He stands high in the regard of the nation as a naval ing operations. 'Co. contracted to raise the barge and Tae Marine REVIEW hero, as an engineer. of exceptional ability, and as a wise and resourceful administrator and advisor. It is only to be regretted that, under the opera- tion of law governing retirement, Ad- miral Melville was obliged to retire from active duty in 1903, but it is to be hoped that the country which he has so efficiently and actively served may long be permitted to enjoy the benefits of his counsel. The portrait of Admiral Melville is a most appropriate addition to this Na- tional collection and it is peculiarly fitting that his services should be em- phasized in this happy manner by a society which embraces so distinguished an array of men in the engineering pro- fession, a society that for nearly 30 years has exercised a powerful in- fluence toward unity of interest and harmony of purpose in the broad field of American engineering. : WHALEBACKS GROUNDED ON. THE COAST. _ The accompanying picture shows the whaleback steamer Bay City and barge Britannia on the rocks at Block Island, Rhode Island. They went ashore at 5 p. m. Sunday, May 16, during a thick fog. Capt. McCarthy of Detroit, port captain of the line, who also took the Bay City from the lakes to the coast, 'approximately $500,000 7 une, 1909 the Gresham assisted by the tug Tosca dragged the barge afloat after much hard pulling. The vessels had gone on at high tide and were well up onto the shore, Extra pumps were found nec.~ essary to pump out the Bay City. These arrived on May 21 but a northeast gale, having in the meantime set. in blow- ing fifty miles, with a heavy sea run- ning, it was necessary to suspend opera- 'tions. The Bay City floated on May on. REVIVAL OF COAST SHIP BUILDING. . 'Ship building conditions on the coast, especially in relation to con- struction for the pear to be improving rapidly. The American-Hawaiian Steamship Co. has just awarded contracts for three new steamers to cost approximately. $1,750,- 000 to the Maryland Steel Co. for its service between New York, San Francisco and Hawaii. The Ocean Steamship Co. (Savannah Line) has closed contract with the Newport News Ship Building & Dry Dock Co. for two new coastwise liners to cost each. The steamers are to be 379 ft. long and 49 ft. 6 in. beam with accommodations for 235 passengers and 3,500 tons of freight. : WHALEBACK STEAMER Bay City anp Barcr BrITANNIA STRANDED oN Brock ISLAND. represented the owners in the wreck- The Scott Wrecking the Merritt-Chapman Wrecking Co. the steamer. The Britannia after lightering some of her cargo of coal was ready for a pull at high water on May 19. Capt. Uberroth of the revenue cutter Gresham volunteered his service and The Newport News Ship Building & Dry Dock Co. is also building two steamers for the San Francisco & Portland Steamship Co. to be 380 ft. over all, 47 ft. beam and 34 ft. deep. The Newport News Co. has also re- ceived an order to build an oil-burn- ing tank steamer for the Associated Oil Co. of San Francisco. This. tank fap aS A as Stes Pacific coast, ap- .