New-York daily tribune., 1843-01-31
rhe Du Docks.

| As we hsve, since our description OF Glieert
Balance Dry Dock. given an account OF the Sec
tion.l Dsck, showing ,hs advantages claimed tor
il over thu ether, we now, By desire of the friends
OF the Balance Dock, set fcr, tie points OF suPe-
riority which they asser; it has over the Sectional
They a!lese that the Sectional Dock is most apt TO
meet the approval of the superficial observer by
reason of lis superior size and fnisk bur that the
Sectional Dock we have described,.is the nth OF
the kind, and cos, $50, ,e0C, while Gilbsrt's, the
first OF that description ever constructed, cos, less
than so, 900. These facts should DO considered
in comparison of the two plans by the Docks
now in operation.
The advantages claimed for the Balance over
the Sectional Dsck are these:
/. Accsssi5ihty.-The Sectional Deck now in
use, which will support ship OF 1000 tons, is
fourteen feet in depth. II is estimated that
Dock sufficiently large and strong to take up a
ship ef the line would be thirty feet in depth.
ship OF the line, with her armament on board,
draws about ,wenty-six feet OF water, and IS the
tanks have to be sunk below tie keel, il is plain
that allowing safe surplus Of depth, sixty feet of
size, with her armament and stores on board.
Balaace Dock large enough to take in ship OF
the line would draw only eight fee. of water, and,
with vessel OF tha, size in it, ve feet additional
in the whole thirteen feet, just half of what the
vessel itself would draw when atloar. To deck
ship OF the line by it would require depth of less
than forty feet; and If the water at the station
was not so deep, the Dock could be towed into
the stream the vessel taken in, and towed TO any
spot where there was depth Of fifteen feet. The
Use of Gilbert's Dock in the stream has been
tried, with complete success.
2. Safety of the Vessel docked.-The Balance
Dock being one hrm and substantial body, floats
in its element, an inaexble mass, simply rising
and falling with the tide 1t is stou,ly affirmed
that the influence of a swell of the wster must
cause the several tanks OF sectional dock to rise
and fall in succession, subjectiag the vessel to Sc
ries OF strains in different parts. In the Balance
Dock, if the bottom of tie vessel be hogged or
strained out OF It's perfect shape, il can be ascer-
tained and extra support given to the weak part
bu, in Sectional Dock, the part sprung Up will
have 10 bear the greatest strain. The upward
tendency of the tanks viii press them snusly
against the keel OF the vessel and if that ha, been
bent n the tank at the weak spot, will lose its per
pendicular position in order to fit The keel, the
consequence will be to throw the create: force Of
It's buoyaucy on its highest side, thereby causing
a strain on the weak part of the ships bottom.
j. Durability and Repairs-The outside
structure of the Balance Dock being solid and CT
massive thickness, will, especially if placed in q
galvanized iron tank as proposed, prove to be of
great durability. AS only the inside structure Of
a Balance Dock can possible get out of order, i,
san easily be repaired, wi,hou, any necessity of
lifting the dock out of the water This can be said
of no other floating dock.
A. Si-s.-The width of Balance Dock, of the
capacity required by the Government, will be only
IS feet, that Of Section Dock I4O feet. The
Balance Dock can be made large enough to take
in as many vessels as may be desired not only
one behind the other to the extent OF its length,
which is all that is claimed for any other dock,
but also side by side.
! 5. Convenience for .corkmsn The Balance Deck
presents the vessel in Dock on continuous floor,
rendering every part of her easily accessible TO the
workmen. When We visited the Baasce Dock,
it was after o'clock cloudy afternoon, and
yet there was no lack OF light, in our judgement.
Mr. Gilberts proposal for Naval Dry Dock con-
templates large portfolios in the sides, which
would obviate any objection that the most captious
can urge to his Dock with reference to Fgh and air.
GREAT CoSFLAGRArloS.-Thc Directors OF the
Farmers Bank, asAmherst, cne Of the bes, in New
Hampshire, having been compelled by the aessruc-
tive policy of the State Government to close up
their business have committed to the flames over
$4,000 in good bank bills.
| 70 Mrs. Eliza Morrison, residing in Brooklyn,
was severely burned by her clothes taking FIRE
from coming in coatact with stove on Saturday
last. that she died on Sunday. A Coroners jury
rendered verdict of death from accidental burning.
| ~ The Pensacola Gazette states thar the c. S.
steam frigate Missouri has received orders TO sal!
| for the North.
! Cours Calendar This Day.
| CIRCUIT CtrRT.-Nos. 81, 81, %, 81, 9S, 80,
SO, 81, 81, los, loo, 81, IS, 90, 80, 30, Il.
SO, 80, SO, 95, 81, 85, &C, 60.
CoMMos PLEAs.-Nos. IS, 1, 3, 9, 10, II, 20,
IS, 49, S5, 100.
Museum and mistake, See General now ever.
The grand pectacs OF Napoieon crossing lhe Alps and