New-York daily tribune., 1846-12-30

encourage the ldDOr anu Ih'SHtIph VI N'p9S WV
have shown us how to save labor and cheaper de-
sirable structures The attempt to construct anod'
fashioned Stone Dock at Brooklyn is broad satire
on the progress of Naval Architecture. The prac-
tical question ns vet seems to be, not whether
Stone Dock is preferable to any other bnt whether
one can be built at all The foundation has not yet
been laid and in the attempts to establish basis
for the superstructure two disastrous accidents
have occurred The excavations have twice broken
up and flooded with mud and filth, and tins SIMPLY
because the site is bad-the soil, TO the depth oi
more than one hundred feet. is composed oi black
mud. gravel. and qucksand, not rock nor boulder
and not even stratum of hard pan OF n thickness
adequate to sustain the superintendent weight OF
a Stone Dock 1t is by no means sur wish 10 re-
terd or obstract the construction oi a Naval Dry
Dock q: Brooklyn but we do protest against the
addition OF another dollar to the hundreds OF thou
sands already squandered OH the project OF building
Stone Dock 1t is shame that halt million OF
dollars has been expended in an attempt to CON
strict one th6re when it was well known, as has
siuce been proved, that the natural mpediments
are nearly. II not quite. insurmountabie. speak
ing OF half million OF dollars. mean just what
We say and we believe that the outlay and expen-
diture have exceeded that enormous sum. Now one
half OF this amount would have constructed aud put
in operation an IRoN BALANCE DRY Dock a recent
invention truly, but that has already the repu-
tation Of combining every advantage that the stone
structure possesses with facilities of ENJOYING light
air, heathiness, which the Stone Dock has not.
Two L. 3 Commissions, instituted by different
Secretaries OF the Navy have reported iavorably
to the adoption of this Dock. That instituted by
Secretary Upshur concluded a Report by recon-
mendng the Bnlanoe Dock account OF ITS
simplicity, solidity, stable position and ample buoy
ant power-in Short for its nearer approximation
than any other TO the character of that for which
it would be substitute-namely the Walled
Dock.
Our readers are aware that rivalry for adoption
exists between the iron Balance Dock aud that
termed the Sectional but ought this to prevent for
ever the adoption OF one or the other! A Floating
Dry Dock must be ordered ior the Pensacola sta
ton, aud il is mperatively necessary to do it now.
Congress may pass law directly, or it may direct
tho Secretary to institute a commission Of compc-
tent scientific aud practical men whose decision
shall settle the question. There is little chance of
an incorrect decision for the responsibility will he
OF TOO weighty nature to permit OF an erroneous
conclusion. Ii the decisions heretofore made by
the men deemed best calculated in this and other
countries to decide the question and il science.
harmony with practical results is to- avail anything
ii use or experience be worth more on large
scale than on u small one, and in many cases than
in few, or in one, then it would seem that the
Balance Dock is decidedly preferable. 1t has been
preferred after SD examination OF both plans. IN all
cases both for Commercial and Naval purposes,
and is now in use at New York ut Charleston, at
New.Orleans at Havre, at Marseilles nj Amster.
dam. where there are two docks on this PLAN at
Nieu Dieppe and at Batavia, for the Dutch Royal
Navy. The French government is building enc at
Toulon as all auxiliary to the three Stone Docks
already built there, and another dock is in progress
Of construction for the port OF Rio dc Janeiro The
Sandman government, has likewise adopted the
Balance Dock. and Is about to build again ar
rsngements are partially made to build large Bal
Dock for the port Of Havana, and Balance
Dock large enough TO take up seventy four gun
snip is now in an advanced stage OF construction &,
the foot OF Thirtie,h.ss n. X. 1t will be finished
and put 70 at this port IN March next.
AS between the rival Docks now claiming the at.
tenton of the Government and the Public. our
original preference was given tc the Sectional,
and was freely stated We did not, however. lay
much stress our own opinion nor wish others to
do but desired that the Judgment of Naval Archi
tects, Ship Builders and practical men should be
deemed conclusive. Time and experience appear
10 have virtually settled the question agains, our
first impressions and in favor OF the Balance Dock.
While that has been adopted and put in use in
nearly every quarter OF the globe we are informed
that there is bat single Sectional Dock now act.
ually az work, and that but three have ever been
constructed. The objections urged against !, by
scieuiihc men are its comparative trsilty. its
semblsnce, when in use, 10 vessel loaded entirely
on deck, with nothing in the hold and its want of
power Tor taking up readily and safely the largest
class Of ships. Ii must be mooTei in smooth wa
ter. snd smooth water Is not usually deep. II re-
qa'res great depth !or its operation, ana exca-
vstion .o- II tends I'LL up Our decided prefer.
ence, therefore, is now given TO the Balance Dock
while We hold either an improvement on the old
Stone Dock. Why ahoald the Government 90 on
expsndins hundreds OF thousands on these costly
and irconvep structures when FlostiuS Dock
may be built so VASTLY cheaper snd deu,oas,ysbv
better answer the purpose VIII not the s,,sn-
tion of sax. payers be drawn II this subjecsi
Il A CoSvsSrloS OF FrieHis Of Assoelatioa
will be held in Boston tomorrow and next day,
with view OF devising and putting in operation
measures for the promotion OF the Cause. whether
by Public Lectures Publications., or otherwise
Many OF tho leslins advoessss of Association viii
be present. Az who can attend are invited, and
letters or suggestions from those who cannot will