The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1847-01-07
THE BROOKLYN DRY DOCK

sue d' DFooNiyn, Wnich mas already swallowed
up more than half million of dollars. we were
not aware that another press would back Us we
we're. then, gratefully surprised 10 find that the
New York Tribune was, about the same time.
entering its protest against the same thing
That paper Is certainly disinierested witness
against the Dnck, and we nope its voice will be
heard. Although the whole article does not refer
to that one subject, we think its importance will
repay The reader for its perusal.
DRY DOCKS AND THE PUBLIC SERvICE.-It
seems quite evident now that the Government
mnst have a Floating Dry Duck, at least, al
Pensacola; for, if Stone Dock can he built there
at all. il cannot be done in season for the present
emergency. With War in The Gulf and an at.
tack on San Juan d'Uloa in prospect, il is mad.
ness to remain destitute Of convenient dock for
re6ting our disabled vessels. We have abundant
evidence at our own Naval Station at Brouklyn
ct the difficulties that must be surmonnted in CON.
struciing Stone Dock where site is unfit. and
we think it has been sufficiently proved that moth
ing short OF the resnuTces and prodigaiy of the
General Government could have carried ON The
project TO lis present conditiun. We are SO u,ili
tartan in oar views as Ia desire Ia 90 hand in hand
with mUdern improvempnt-to discard animated
and expensive forms of construction in the me
chanc arts, and IN Eister and encourage the labor
and invention of those hn have shown us how
To save Iabnr and cheaper desirable structures
The attempt To construct old fashioned Stone
Dock at Brooklyn is broad satire on The pro
gress of Naval Architecture. The practical uues
ton as vel seems To he, not whether a Slone
Dock Is preferable to any other. hut whether one
can be built at all The foundation has not YET
been lad, and in the attempts TO establish basis
Tor The superSirncurc two disastrous accidents
have occurred. The excavations have twice brok.
en- up and been Cooled with mud and filth and
this simply because The site is had--,he soil to
the depth OF more than one hundred feet, is com.
posed OF black mud. gravel. and quicksand, not
lock, nor boulder, and not even stratum of hard
pan OF thickness adequate to sustain the super.
incumbent weight Of Stone Dock 1t is by no
means our wish to retard OF obsruct The con.
structIon "i Naval Dry Dock at BROOKLYN, but
we do protest against the addition Of another dol
lar 10 the hundreds Of thousands already sauan.
dered on the project Of building a Stone Dock.-
II is shame that half million Of dollars has
oeeh expended IN an attempt To construct one
there, when it was we'll known as has since been
proved That the natural impedimenis are nearly,
VI MOI quite. lnsurmounlable. In speaking of half
million Of dollars, we mean inst what we say;
ana we believe that the outlay and expenditure
nave exceeded that enormous sun. Now one
nan OF this amount would have constructed and
put IN operation an IRoN BALANCE Day Dock,
recent invention truly. bnt one that has already
me reputation OF combining every advantage that
me stone structure possesses, with facilities of
enjoying light. air, heallhness. which the Stone
Dock has not
Two L. S. Commissions. instituted by different
Secretaries Of the Navy. have reported favorably
to the adoption Of this Dock. That instituted bv
Secretary Upshpr concluded Report bv recon-,
mendng The Balance Dock " on account Of It's
simplicity, soidity. stable position, and ample
t'on than any other 10 Tie character Of that for
which II would be snbstilute-uauely, the
Walled Dock"
ooT readers arc aware hat rivalry for adop-