The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-22
rsssnts,ives in Congress from the city and county
Philadelphia, viz:

undcfk4ncd, having bccn requested Dy the OmceH
ofa pubic neetng Of citizens at the commssIossrs Hall
south am rhiiadephia, May 1sd $40, 10 proceed C
Tor The purpose Of Expressing % zee me ysw
dock and the sectional deck respectfully state that hs
messing which they represent expressed dsedsdy thsi
cd TOR ts purpose Of repairs at the Phasasph st.aon
The undsnignsd would further sta,., that having e.Is
concur n ths oplnion expressed by the meeting ~
Aasrns equal tacility IN working the two machines
sAd thai they both fully stable and safe for raising sps
ofaay oi.s doe presents ts
tsse NJ tbs asiy by which repairs may be executed boh
20 sAa =. 'hs % ap"a which sh9aia Dc
with pssasDsnt stone basin and Of railway b.
which may viii ti,rIs and sntse hey enable toe
aass az . iS, az. 'ia .s r.s
tass the dock wkeh has Hitherto been
IAsr, ssnslss dspsh Of ws,sr Il. The .icair, Of tn,
q PHILADELPHIA for .As sshs,aetan and use Of
Very respectfully, your ObedisH, servants.
| - ". SERHicH
-, JAMES BRYAN. NJ D. .
To the Hon. Jos, x isefr.OrL,
q. J. lssEssOLL,
L. 4. LEYs,
J, H. CAaPbELL,
h1Rie--AsNsss VI the city and ssuniy- St PhteRhiI
la addilion 90 these instructions from sshotaJ
meeting Of my oonsuaeais IN favor Of the sectional
dock the board of commissioners Of the district OF
Southwark sent on TO me a certified copy Of reso.
luton unanimously adopted by the board, speech
eAy prefsrlng the sectional TO the balance floating
deeh, and urging It's adoption on Congress in the
strongest terms Of oommendation! O." i
The impositions which were practised upon
by the advocates Of the valance dock were il seems
used more successfully with others Commodort
Stewart has been deceived by them. This Is spps
rent on the face OF the commodores letter as It ap
peared In the public prints. He betruys his ennr
ignorance Of the sectional dock by one remark r.
WA ohst, in case Of q bombardment OF the navy.
yard by the enemy, the balance dock could be re-
mo nd do.k -.
The atlsr, being made in several distinct floating
parcels, Is more easily movable than the former
THIS aso appears by another remark to whi tina
the latter cannot be used as a camel; whereas ~
properties in this particular are far more desirabl
han those Of tho former, for Il draws considerably
less water when floating ship over a bar, and u,
several sesuons or parts can readily be keyed 81
wedged together in structure as firm, inheIlble
and unyieiding, as II originally made in one frame
Commodore Sewart also shows further his ignorance
Of the form and principles Of construction OF the acc
nonsi dock by the assertion that the water az IN,
yard is not deep enough to allow off,
use, but thinks there Ia enough for the other dock
Now, Professor Johnson, in his report on docks
l5i2, says that balance dock for ahip-oEthe
hne, requires eight feet water than the draughr
Of the ship. The sectional dock for such a ship
light requires but eight feet, and for one loaded bu,
ten feet ,.... .,,-,.,..,,.,,.-
Gf6rtier 10 setde the question about deph ,ot VI.
rt uiu uHautlpnlh ydru, anu lDe Ocptn TcQulrc0
ps the sectional dock, about which such strenuou,
efforts were made to create false Impressions by tn.
advocates Of the balance dock I addressed letter
10 the Chief Engineer Of the Bureau Of Yards and
Docks who ia the responsible adviser Of the govern.
ment on such subjects, and received from him the
following reply, viz: ......:.
BUREaU YASD, DOCKS June 2, IsIs
sBl have had the honor receive your eommunic.
ssris o. tie ,eetions end bsahes docks and si.o pro
tyysy The subject Of floating docks has bssn so ssn
xaminea spS acasssd and The Advantage. and d.dssn
s;. & IN Ne r aas .ss rs.
sn upeH tsa that almost every ksss sstensSon
With them and Is therefore Unnecessary 20 enter nip
any detail but simply EXPIRE" an opinion. as yod dssire
In giving an opinion upon this subject sbail undoub
-dy place self In conflict with persons Of high stand
ng and whose opinions entitled TO great
Nevertheless as called upon by who s els deeply
Interested with the subject and who has the ghtts qne
ons public oc.r in which asci the public inter
ssts shall cheenuhy comply with your feqest trusting
hat my opinions will be taken for what they
should them give clear aud decided preerence to the
ana taIwsy landing ships am satisfied that the
ormer is vastly superior to the latter.
Having thus briefly given an opinion, will now endeav
Or 10 snsweB yeur sueyuons IN order .,.i H1TrDl
,t ~ WSs Y ne Of opposite the aavyyad
.fnnser In May isas sounded in front of the yard and
It the Port Wsrens line, the Upper boundary of the
Iard found feet inches and short distance further
Sssond what Is the drought Of water of shp-oEthe
inc without her armamentiss a,u"
Anspe The mean draugh Of the hull Of the Pennsy
,ia With ballast alone y y feet inches, r
"Isrdy What would be the additional draugh, required
or the sectional dock for such aship7" ..Ho =.
usyer This will depend upon the plan Of construction
the tanks very wide, they may be shallow butIh
isp,h should say not less thahte feet y s'''
"Foarta What depth of water is required for the sec
ional dock; with sucha ship upon itl'
.ansps The depth Of alter will be equal to the depth of
he tanks ten feet at least -
"Fhy Whether there is not forty feet of water and up
y ards the yardr' ri'... .. '
.ausvsr There is information in this Office which will
nable me TO answer this question definitely. The only
oundings in the office taken by in May ls43 and
hey bat short distance beyond the Port war
iens line where found twentyseven feet nine nches be-
ond this point the water evidently deeper but how
"S4Mg Whether, in your opinion, there would be any
iiealtyo doubt about using the sectonadock at that
.nspe My knowledge Of the river about the navyy ard
quite limited but should apprehend no difficulty, in OBJ.
regret having particular information about the
liver but the above will prove satisfactory
% you
And an with f ysTy s ssss' ss' servant
w. P. s. SANGER Engineer.
Hon L. C. LEVIN, Present. - :. - = L
In addition to this testimony to depth Of water
one of the committee appointed at the meeting a.
Iuded to actually sounded it, and found the depth 10
agree with Mr. Sanger's statement far il goes;
and ascertainod besides that the depth thirty feet
beyond the port warden's line, opposite the yard, s
Ihirty-nine feet seven inches and short distance
further out in the channel it is ortythree feet deep
Il will be observed also, that the committee OF cit
izens report that the depth Of water is suficient,1
Thus 1t will be seen that the question Of depth Of
water for any kind Of dock at the yard, is put at
given by Mr.. Sanger, occupying the responsible po
ston that he does, is entitled to great weight and 10
worthy to be added TO that overwhelming mass of
high testimonials TO which am about to allude.