The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-11

StringhSm, the captain Of the yard. The eomu;,-
Tee would notice Mr. s. contnued) that both th...
gentlemen recommended a larger sum than In
amendment reported by the honorable chairman
OF the Committee on Naval Affairs but ha
thought the named as much as could
be expended with economy this year, the
season being so far advanced. He would assure
the committee that the work in question was ono Of
great importance TO the yard, indeed was indis-
penssbly necessary TO IL; without il, the channel
was in danger of being filled up, and ships lying
at the yard were exposed TO northwest gale, He
would merely add, that the amendment met the ap-
probation of the Navy Department, and all the off,
GERS Of the navy with whom he had conyersed, and
he hoped that the committee would concur in il.
Mr. S. then exhibited diagram Of the yard, and en-
desyored to impress upon the eommIttee the great
importance Of the work in question.
Mr., +. B. KING advocated the amendment, and
considered it Of the utmost importance that suf-
Gent appropriation should be made, and the work
go on To save that yard. II made, II would obyisie
greater expense year after year hereafter, or per-
haps the abandonment Of the yard ITSELF (which
would be necessary in case this neglect was con,
unued.(
Mr.. WILLIAM w. CAMPBELL and Mr..
| sCHENCK seyeraly advocated the amendment
urging the manifold importance Of the appropnA-
| ZION at the present time
The question being taken, the amendment was
agreed to.
| The Item
Towards building stone foundation under figats ssbin,
| (st the same yard $1,000"
being under consideration,
| Mr.. Mckay moved to amend by striking out
"tow wards and substituting 'for," and by reducing
| the amount from $4,000 to 5000.
| Some conversation took place between Messrs.
MCKAY, WOOD, SEAMAN, and Il. B. KING.
| The amendment was agreed TO.
| On motion Of Mr.. MCKAY, additional item
was inserted as follows
Towards the construction Of timberShed, sIaOOO"
| Mr.. LEVIN moved an amendment to inSert after
\ l26lh line
For the construction Of drydoek at the PHILADELPHIA
navy yard and at the Pensacola nayyyard $4,000 each"
| Mr.. SEABoRN JONES objected to the amend
ment out Of order.
The CHAIRMAN overruled the point OF order
| Mr. WHITE inquired Of Mr.. LEVIN what kind
| Of docks he proposed
Mr. LEVIN replied that he was willing 10 leave
It to the department to decide.
| To accomplish this object more surely, IN se-
eordance with suggestions Of Mr.. L. b. hNG and
| Mr.. ScHEScK,
Mr.. LEVIN modified hi, amendment 90 as TO
| provide for building these docks such plan
shall be approved by the Secretary Of the Navy.
| Mr.. LEVIN advocated the amendment, and
maintained that the Philadelphia navy-yard was
very eligbly situated for dry dock. A dry dock
was admitted TO be necessary for the efficiency OF
navy-yard. Heasked that naval preparations be ma
1
the great valley of the Mississippi as well as OF the
commerce Of the North. He adyerted TO the grow
ing greatness Of this country and the necessity OF
| preparing TO meet the consequences 10 which our
peculiar situation exposed us. Everything connect
ed with the navy appealed to the patriotism and
pride Of the country, and il would ever be cherish
ed. The navy YVES created and renovated by Ia
Dor, and our shIpwrghts entitled TO the NEED
Of praise, we'll as our gallant officers and crews
The workshop, we'll IS the deck, was the theatre
Of their well-earned fame. Not only Philadelphia
suffered from the neglected state Of the nayy-yard
| there, but the whole country.
Mr.. HAMLlN moved to amend the amendment
ofthe gentleman from Pennsylvania by embracing
IN the proposed provision dry-dock at Rtery, in
Maine He would show very clearly that dry
dock there Of vast importance.
There had 1t was true, been no report in favor Of
dock at that place. nor any report against IT. There
had been memorial from citizens Of the town, and
from officers at the yard, which fully set forth the
advantages to be derived from dry.dock at that
place. The navy-yard to which he referred
commonly called the Portsmouth navy-yard, but it
| was IN the town Of Kttery. IL n matter Of sur
prise that drydocks had been proposed at two yards
and not at this. Why the Committee on Commerce
had reported in favor Of dock at Philadelphia, and
not at Kttery, he did not understand. But they had
not done so, and perhaps had sufficient cause for
| their course
Mr.. McCLELLAND said the subject did not
come within the scope Of the duties Of the Commit
tee on Commerce. There being necessity for
making a report on the Philadelphia dock, and
the subject had been brought before it by the gentle
man from Philadelphia that gentleman was permit
ted to make report. 1t not the duty Of the
committee to act on the subject.
MIR. BROCKENBROUGH stated that TIE Gem
mittee on Naval Affairs had made favorable reports
upon dry-dock both at Pensacola and Philadelphia
Mr.. HAMLlN proceeded TO say that the repairs
Of our vessels could not be economically and eff
IrIpD do tbnpt he ,hArn If
dry-docks at the different navy-yards The cost OF
repairs of our navy was two to one compared with
| the cost of construction. We paid twice the sum
for repairs that we did for building vessels. Three
| times az much, the gentleman from Florida says.
| No argument was necessary, therefore, to show US
that 1t was necessary to make provision for econom
| cal and speedy repairs.
| At kttery labor was 90 per cent. less than at
any other navy-yard, and SO per cent. less than at
some Of the navy-yards and there was certainly not
haroor on the coast, equal to that of Portsmouth
All he asked was, that this matter should be decided
upon principles Of equality and justice, with ref
erence to the interests Of the navy.
| Mr.. BROCkENBROUGH sent to the chair an
amendment, which he would, at the proper time,
offer to the amendment Of the gentleman from
Name providing that commissioners be appointed
| by the President of the United States to decide
upon the place upon which said docks should be
constructed. He should propose this because he
had not himself sufficient practical knowledge to
enable him to judge of the comparative utility Of
the different plans Of dry-docks, which the inge.
nnity Of our countrymen had perfected. He doubt
ed whether any member Of this House possessed
the scientific and mechanical knowledge necessary
to enable him to judge between the merits Of the
| different projects which had been offered.
lie should be sorry to be compelled to say for
himself, or for the country, what kind of dock was
best. All that we wanted was the best and most
economical description of dry-dock. As to Pensa-
cola, Congress had already decided, in effect that
there should be dock there; but it had not been de-
c'ded what kind of dock it should be. The COM
mission which was appointed to nvesti gate the SUBJ
ect, had reported in favor of the oldashioned stone
dock; But if floating or sectional dock should be
found to be cheaper more expeditions, and equally
efhc'ent ought to be adopted accordingly This
no local question, and it not question Of dollars
and cents. All the expenditures to be made at PEN
sacoa on account of the dock would nure to the BEN
| eht OF the north and the west. The stone was all TO
be brought from the NORTH and all the workmen were
frnpn thn 18th IL ~ -