New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-07-22
RY THE SOUTHERN MAIL.
The Dock Question.
From he washlngi0n Union.

III IHE NVeluEhN nshtLs
The Dock Question.
From the Washington Union.
,..ore interest has been felt IN the execution OF
- authorizing the construction OF hosing docks Al
snsdelohia Pensacola. and hitt@ry have made 10
s- sod received al the Navy Department, The details
gg,, cour.e pursued An act OF March3. 1871 making
s,ions for the naval service for the hscsl yesr
Ssos on The 3o,h June lsis provides that the seere
v n the Navy IA hereby directed 10 cause 10 o. con
,sc,ed AT each OF the navy.ysrds at httery Phi"oof
49,, and Pensacola floating drydoek for ships se'
,,a with basin and rsilsays ~ Philadelphia Ano I
sn,e thereto the other plscee on such plsn a. ny
rrslerred by the Secretary Of the Nsvy-tns 49,
y PENSACOLA to be completed With al poss pc s.s
ssd the sum Of fifty thousand doilsrs u nsloOy "FP
ssted toward said Dock At kitery my ,noussnu W.
rs toward said Dock at philadelphia snp ''o
and hfty thousand dollars toward saa .nr
out Of sny money In the treasury "''
gnsted," -. ~ ,hs Secondary Of the
n was construed 10 devolve on me Ssoio'1y VI 'u9
Esvynotonly the duty Of conshacuon yI' VI VI
= Man of Plating dock To enAos BIN % petlDth
= 49, -. Re oSssuzed board Of two naval captains.
evil sospeer. ard naval constructor Every pre-
esution observed 10 secure ne =, 80 on I1PsIut
- 80 nsp Th~ board a. directed meet on the 2jth
s - sarn last Proposals made 90 the Depart
nj bV uroyrieors Of seven plans OF floating Docks for
~ adoption OF their respective plans They were oil
s,,sd 10 the board for examination.
"on he 10Th Of March circular letter addrcsfed
.eb persou who had offered plan, asking for specid-
.sons and estimates OF prices AZ which they would
Il a
,,aliles and rAaf price the pstenees would respec-
v sell 30 the Government toe night Of usiog the pat
~, ynviege II the Department should require H. The
considerations which suggested these inquiries borethe
eo.rd acted. very obvious. On the 81 day Of
Ine during the absence Of the Secretary the Board
oorted They express the opinion that the two plans
fnogn a. the Balance and Sectional Floating Docks
more suitable for Davs purposes than any others and
. / veen these two they decide that the advantages
a 'fa Balance Dock prepondersie. Bu, they declare
III ross u the Floating Docks can be recommended
e .~efnment use, In comparison with the Excsvsed
90, Dock in view Of safety durability, economy.
10 reply 10 the .'-cuar letter Of the 10Th Of March,
he pstentees az 9 Balance and Sectional Docks sub.
rritied syecf" estimates proposals, The pro-
ralss Tor fhr ha aDce Dock
Il Piuad '--F For dock Of wood. $3.50 coo
Flr doc .. iron ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS $50 400
For bss and railways .-.--..-.---.------ 100000
NIMUy- dock Of wo0d..---...--.....-.- 10000
For 0lc- Of iron OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 4t3UOO
fof bal and railway .---.----.----..---. %JOOOJ
~ T. a1c dior dock oi wood, c0ppered with
sniy Of camel property .-.--..-.-.-. 10000
..r ock q iron ------.----------. .------ 4fuVO
Dor basin and railways .....----.-...--... 2JuuJJ
build n $50 days u twelve months allowed, thirty
fh0usr nd dollars would be deducted as would seventy
p thousand dollars without the guaranty.
~ proposals for the Sectional Dock were:
40 lhuod,lpiiaFOr dock Of wood .-...-..-.S 27lCcO
For dock Of iron ------..----.-----.---- 3oo4OJ
For basin and rail way..--...----..-.-...- 2sIOOO
IN hm0y-FOr dock Of wood 2elGOO
For dock Of iron -.------.-----.----- 5&IOuO
For basin and railway NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. $4,000
At PcHsaoola-FOr dock Of wood coppered $4,000
For docs OF iron ------.-----.---.-.- "fJDUJ
For basin and railway ..--...-..--.-...-.. $4,000
The patentees Of both DOCKS expressed strong osin
enson to sell to the Government the privilege OF using
their respective right.
The Secretary Of tho Navy returned 70 Washington
from North Carolina the 10Th day Of June and after
careful examin alton of the Report the 2jth Of June
directed the Chief Of the Bureau of Yards and Docks 10
inform the paentoes that II Indispensable that ne
should know the teIms which tho Government will
be allowed the privilege Of using the patent right Of
each Of the floating docks mentioned at the three paces
philadelphia kitefy. and Pensacola. The yateutees
again refused % sell the pHtentrsht for the purpose
eth day Of Jolly the Secretary Of the Navy request
cd the AttorneyG neral his opinion the question Of
the power OF the Department % enter into contract and
on the l2h Of Jolly received that officers opinion ~ copy
OF which we publish below OF ms correct exposition
Of the law the Secretary Of the Navy bad no doubt
and presumed eau be- entertained On the 18th
Of July, Mr. Gilbert proprietor of the Balance Dock,
ubmed alternative proposals Tor constructing the dock
Pensacola by contract at reduced price, and In di
rect reference to the appropriation but dependent on
material notifications of the dimensions proposed by
the Department In the circular Of the 18th OF March
These have been declined and the determination Of the
Secretary announced 10 be 10 decline fRtrin9 INTO
naa for the construction of dock at any one Of the
places named In the law until Congress- view of All
the circumstance shall enlarge the powers of the De-
partmont with such limitations and restrictions as shall
be deemed jus, and proper In the mean time he will
proceed in the most XpedOus and economical manner
70 collect materials necessary q meet the objects OF the
Law sod applicable To such plan es may be adopted.
The Secretary has not made preference 0f plan of
dock because, when that is done all competition ceases
but bic purpose IL 10 the law 90 the extent Of
TIE means appropriated without infringing the patent
rights Of the propefors aud the necessary ord have
been given TO carry this purpose into effect