The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-18
THE GUILE SaIIAnRnN.

without any disposition 10 take sides in the con-
test between different plans of floating dry-docks
which has been carried before Congress this SEES
sion, (for the simple reason that we have never in.
yestgated the subject, and should doubt the worth
of our judgment If we had We cannot omit ex-
pressing our regret that between the two, all pro.
vision of dock for the present use of our feet in
the Gulf Of Mexico, at Pensacola, appears to have
fallen through. We have never had so large a fleet
assembled as that now in the gulf and independent
ly OF any casualties that may grow out Of the state
Of war with Mexico, it is scarcely likely that some
necessity for the use Of dock, for examination or
repairs, will not arise TO Of the vessels there
Either Of the two plans Of floating dock proposed
could have been got ready, we understand, in
few monthsi and, as auxiliary to a walled
dock, which will, we presume, eventually be
ordered by Congress, it certainly was to have been
hoped that some such provision would have been
made for necessity Of the service so probabls and
so important. The Potomac, me remember, was last
summer exposed to serious danger for the want Of
dock at Pensacola. Having sprung leak, which
could not be discovered, she lay for three or four
weeks at Pensacola, unable to venture TO sea- and
with dock to go into there or at any nearer point
than Norfolk. II was at last necessary for the de-
partment, after patching her up we'll as possible
aaoat to give authority for a steamer to accompany
her round TO Norfolk. A recent commission, APP
pointed by the department, recommended the imme-
date construction Of a floating dock at Pensaco.
la; and we understand that several Of the most
eminent officers in the service have pressed the
same recommendation. 1t will assuredly be a mat
ter Of much regret il some serious disaster TO some
ofour vessels should hereafter prove the consequence
Of this fatal neglect to provide present docking
facilities for extensive section Of our coast al.
ways important in a naval point Of view, but now
claiming attention in peculiar degree.
IL it is not too late our knowledge of the urgent
necessity existing at Pensacola for kind of dock
or other, that can be brought promptly into USE i'm
pels to express the hope that Congress will not
adjourn without making the requisite provision
therefor If other foreign governments have already
anopted our American floating dry-docks for their
nayies-such as the Dutch, French, Brazilian, &c
our own may surely toIioW example, which il
might more naturally have set.
We say nothing to prejudice the claims of other
places to dock we'll Pensacola. Docks are
probably wanted at other points, to which Con-
gress will doubtless give their due share Of consider
alton. The public exigency at the place we have
named is, however, at the present time of peculiar
nature and degree in connexion with the large con-
centration flour naval forces in the gulf made
cessary by the war with Mexico. This alone
leads us-impartial are between the competing
plans of floating docks, and uniformed upon their
comparative merits-to introduce the subject into
our columns, and to express the hope that something
will yet be done the earliest possible con-
structon of DOCK upon the one plan or the other,
whichever may be deemed preferable by some suit
ably constituted board or commission, or scien.
tifc officer competent to make the proper invcstiga
ton, and proper selection between the two. And to
such suggestion as this we cannot imagine any
good reason why there should be an unwilingness
or dissent from any quarter.