The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-01-13
Dry Docks.

visited this city, for the purpose oil examining ana
obtaining the opinions OF practical and scientlfc
men with regard TO the several docks in here,
with view of reporting the result to Congress- As
you are aware by an open, tree, and unbiased ais
cusson of question that the most favorable results
are elected, therefore subloln the following oo-
servatons promising that should you discover there
in sufficient merit to entte them to place In your
valuable journal, that should feel proud OF so dis
tinguished mark of your appreciation. Although
perhaps not strictly relevant TO the subject, yet al
low me here to speak in terms OF commentator OF
the course adoped by the Secretary of the Navy in
thus seeking the advice OF others, who from long
experience are rendered competent to be OF the
most essential service in this important matter.
Under governmentke ours, where our rulers de-
rive their whole authority from the consent of the
governed, it evnces becoming sense OF respect as
well responsibility, thus to consult the source OF
official power, whenever the public interest can
thereby be advanced.
shall proceed sir, briefly to sllude to some of the
principal dry docks of our city, and after the express
sion OF an opinion of their respective merits de-
merits, conclude by the recommendation Of such a
dock think best adapted to the present wants OF
the navy; together with few other remarks con-
nected with this subject having other object in
view than that OF lending my humble aid towards
the ultimate adoption of such work, as will best
answer the purposes required, and at the least posi-
bic expense.
First, then would call your attention to ''Gilbert's
Floating Dry Dock" in the form of an immense ba-
SIM having gates at one end, through which, when
sunk sufficiently low, the vessel is f1oated, when
they are again closed, and the process of raising
commences as the surrounding water is elected by
the assistance of an engine. To this kind Of dock
there exists many torcibe objections, and however
we'll it may answer when applied to small crafts
could not, apprehend, be advantageously or even
safely employed in the raising OF very large ships
tor the reason that the entire eight OF the vessel Is
made to bear at the keel upon the centre OF the ba
sin, thereby predisposing the sides to lift, by means
OF the great depression at the middle, or unequal
pressure of the burthen within, thereby rendering
n oYfI 1oi a MOI nj
cling heavy weights upon the Sides to counteract the
effect alluded to- In addition to this, it will readily
be perceived that another important difficulty pre-
sents itself in the circumstance, that much greater
depth of water is required for its application than
can be commanded at this or any other dock yard
with which l am acquainted, the absence of suffi-
cheney of which would not only render 1t shut
prove fatal to the dock itself, upon trial, in the event
of its grounding The liability to injury from exter
nal causes particularly while in the act after hav
ing taken up vessel, the danger OF sudden leak,
together with the inconvenience to the workmen,
arising from the want of free circulation of air,
and the effect of the confined rays of the sun, offer
obstacles of too great magnitude to be overlooked
There is in use another floating dry dock, the
principle of which although similar to the former, is
in my judgment preferable to It, at least IN point OF
safety, being composed of many ciserns in sections
rendered water tight, with the exception of an aper
ture through which wateri admitted for the purpose
of sinking beneath the bottom the vessel about to
be raised; after which the sections are firmly uni
scribed The superiority 9th plan over the for
mer is made apparent by its additional security,
ing to division of the risk among the several Sec
tons employed and the absence of those minor OBJ
ections peculiar to it; but there exists nevertheless,
the same insurmountable difficulty, in the great
depth required tor its free operation There is yet
another formidable operating adversely to the
adoption by government of either of the preceding
plans, vz shelter be affored either the vessel
or workmen during nclement weather, thereby eau
sing delay that might prove pre9dlcial to the pub
I,p hot ith Off hos hea ode
quate to all the wants OF the merchant service is pro-
babe, but submit, whether this important branch
of our national defences should not depend upon a
more secure and satisfactory source of co-opera-
ton.
The stone dock which next commands consdera-
ton, has been found in Europe to answer a better
purpose than any other in use, possessing the in,
portant qualities of strength and durability; and
where the locality OF it can be such to afford at
all times safe and unobstructcd access to it, is
doubtedy among the best employed, especially
where the rise and fall of the tide is great at
London But the mpracticability of constructing
such dock at the Brooklyn navy yard is obvious,
owing to the liability this to fill up with mud
Indeed the time is not far distant, when government
will be compelled from this circumstance, to remove
The depot TO seine other situation, in the event of
which the loss to the public treasury would be great
y enhanced by the outlay necessary for the prose-
cution of this work Neither is this sort of dock
entirely free of well founded objections;'on the con-
trary, the dampness, and particularly the darkness
peculiar toit, whereby the number OF working hours
in each week is materially curtailed, deract in no
inconsiderable degree from the otherwise substan-
tia claims TO favor, which itpossesses over its con-
temporaries.
have thus far endeavored, in as concise man.
ner possible, to point out the most prominent de-
fects in the docks before enumerated, and will fur
ther request your indulgence while call your aten-
ton to the superior advantages associated with the
"Hydraulic Screw Dock, such is at present in
use at the foot of Pike street. 1t can be made of
sufficient power to take up any vessel aoat, and in
t,alTt tkov kx,a vvDthAr
light dry, and airy, from being above ground; is
susceptible of having covering over it; and what
is of equal importance, in the present deranged state
Of the finances of the country, will cost less than the
lowest estimate that have seen tor one OF either
the former descriptions, and about four or five hum
dred thousand dollars less than one OF stone A
toerably correct idea can be obtained OF the proba-
bic cost Of dock of this description of suitable size
to answer all the purposes of the navy, when it is
stated that the sum of seventy thousand dollars only
expended in the construction of the alluded
to, including steam engine, and capable of taking
up vessel of fifteen hundred tons. In the estma-
ton of every practical man, the immense advantage
derived from the facility with which the various
sections can be raised or depressed at pleasure, by
means of which the "sheer'' of a shT can be re-
stored, no matter how badly "hog'ed" it may be,
together with the circumstance that no exraordna-
ry depth is required beyond the draft Of the vessel
are facts of too vital character to be lost sight Of
have before alluded to the probability of the cove,
which the Brooklyn navy yard s at present stu
ated, becoming soon unfit for a naval depot in
reality, the time may be said to have arrived al
ready, when the fact is made known that sufficient
depth of water cannot be always depended on here
to warrant the building of suitable dry dock, into
which our vessels of war can be taken when occa-
sion requires. The interest of the navy therefore,
seems to require the selection of another site ere
the expenditure of more money at this place; and
what spot, within our waters, presents so many and
such forcible claims to public notice as Governors
Island! Nature. in the formation of our beautiful
harbor points to this spot as the one, of all others,
best adapted TO the foundation OF national dock
yard, for to what other, better purpose can that
large tract ofvacan land be applied, isolated as it is
from the main shore, and yet within convenient
distance from it-possessing the boldest soundings
and an unrvalled protection from the assaults of he
elements and of man. The most desirable location
for this important work lies on what is termed But
termilk Channel, between the south battery and the
wharves used for landing towards the north. II is
here, sir, where great sufficiency of water is al
ways to be found, that dock, Of any size or des-
crptlon whatsoever, could be constructed; and
would most respectfully and urgently solicit the at