Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1803-01-27

IL the iituafion otherwise eligible. Ole
she friga;es requires copptTing at this
,me Others will require repairs which
annot we'll be fetted without fueh apro-
;fion. He further doubted the expeii-
acy of erecting at this time 70 large an.
rtcaal in this place he fhauid prefer that
,ae fllips fhou.d be moored nos all 10 any
nc pace, but nearer TO the occsn, and
10 the popuious towns which aboanded
With ieanen and artizans OF different
kinds.
The engineer had further Gated that
be dry docks might ALTO be uied as a.
bail.iing place; and there could be no
doubt it would afford a motl commod'-
Gus one. Bat he doubted whether II
was jufidable to provide an afsenal tor
building on 70 extenfve plan at this
time and with the prelsnt population OF
this city.
Whether hips were to be bui's or re-
paired, he believed the work would be
carried on with greater advantages and
difpatch in the neighborlood OF large lea
port towns which afforded choice and a
competition of workmen.
In the prefent fate of the navy, and
coniidering the great extent OF our coat,
he could not think it advilable TO CON
ilruc an arienal on 70 large iale at am
one place, and Especially at a difance OF
nearly 800 miles from the ocean. He
fhould prefer di2ribution Of them in.
fome OF the navy yards near tie tea board,
and in the vicinity of popllous town,
containing materials and artizans for
building and repairing. AT fome OF
lhele places tide docks might be con-
ttrutted without very great expence.
He had been informed that at one of the
yards dock might be made tor 10000
dollars bur he could not be anfwerabie
for the correctness of the itatement. A
proviiion of this kind was called for.
The iervice actually required it. Ships
returning from long voyages wanted re-
pairs. One otthe lhips which bad been
repaired at a great expence, ought to be
coppered Immediately. And it is faid
it will be cheaper to lend her TO Europe,
than to have il done in this country.
The want Of iuitable docks aid wharveS
is among the Ieafons.
Whether it be owing 10 torne error IL
the mode OF contribution, or TO whatever
other cauie, our fhips of war have decayed
in lefs than half the time than thofe Of
other nations. Some of them were, hs
was apprehenive, in fuch fate that n
cover could preierve them.
Theie were the observations whicb
had occurred TO him on the fubbtf. H
would wait for shofe ofother gentlemen
after adding, that it was with reluctance
ne Gated Tome Of the objections which
applied particularly to this place, as the
exprelIion Of fmlar ideas had been con-
ftrued INFO a difpohtion unfriendly TO it.
With every inclination to totaer the inter
efs of the city, he was appreheufive this
was not meafure calculated to produce
that effect. Should the work be com
pleted at the eaimated expence of 4
dollars, and fail, from any of the caufes
which have been glanced at, to anfwer
the public expectation, or the ufeful OBJ
jetts on which il is founded, will NOT the
necefary conisquence be df.ourage-
ment TO future enterprises, and TO retard
infead Of promoting its growth and popu-
lation ?
MIR. S. Smith faid he would not OBJ
Jet to the committee rifng, as he was
NOT himielt fully prepared to decide on the
labje6t. He would however make asfrw
remarks on what had zbeen cbferved by
the gentleman from Maaschuietrs, (Mr.
Enitis.) 1t is true that the bottom OF
the Eaitern Branch is generally deep
mud. But the engineer had reported