Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-01-12
THE ENQUIRER.
RICHMOND, VA.
SATURDAY. Morning, January g. ls4I.
Tur c,J1r SQUADRON AND PENSACOLA DRY

DOCK.
We had hoped 10 see an early mose'neu'
CONGRESS in regard to Dry Dock IN some na''
49, ef,he Gulf for the use of our ships. large
n,,h.r of our vessels are there, and although PEE
culiarv Liable 10 injuries OF various kinds 10 'neli
kill. M examination even can be made wiih-
49,, .s,d;oo them as far North as Norfolk, expos
ING them 10 still greater peril, Than 'oyase
from any of our Atlantic ports TO Europe. i"',
o,ob, not 10 be. All seem 10 agree in mat; anu
.,so ,ba, Pensacola is the most suitable place
The na ners of the North are filled with articles
on the subject. They dispute about Inc oineieh'
,,;,ao ne dry dock-most of them seem against
tho stone dock as too costly and tardy 10 con-
slructiop. while some think il utterly imPracu-
cable at that place within any reasonable llmils
orernenditure. Some scientific opinionsaTe ad-
vanced ,ha, a good foundation could not be had
At less cost than at Brooklyn, where half mil
lion has been spent in vain, according TO The Til
bune, in the effort to obtain foundation. we
humbly think The effort TO obtain stone dock
should not be persevered in al this time .oi press
ine need, even il it shall be contemplated here
after. While the subject is under discussion, ell
her of the floating docks could almost be i'm
isaed, whereas many years would probably be
consumed in The erection OF the stone dock.
If one OF The floating docks be adopted, in
few months any OF our vessels OF war, under sus-
piciop Of damage, could be examined, and il me-
cessary, repaired and returned 10 her blockading
position.
AS 10 which of The floating dry docks the pre-
ference should be given, we have but little 10 say
and would be satisfied with the decision OF COM
pe,enl officers of The Navy, or scientific civilians
appointed for the purpose, il Congress be unwil-
ling to determine the question. We see some OF
the papers, that formerly preferred the sectional
dock have changed their opinions, and are now
in favor of the balance dock. The great disin-
gushing feature between them appears to be This
The former is composed, mainly, OF series oil
large water-tight tanks or camsls, which are
sunk, or placed under The vessels intended TO be
raised, and by pumping out the water, The lifting
mower is obtained The other, or balance dock,
i, composed Of one large structure, like the hull oil
large ship, or floating lock, closed by gates al
one or both ends When the gale is open, the
dock sinks 10 the required deplh-lhe ship is in
troduced. the gates closed, the waller pumped out,
when il is suspended, as on The stocks originally
The sectional dock has more light, bu.requires
greater depth OF waller, (as the whole thickness oil
The tank or camel has 10 be accommodated below
the keel Of The Ship and, when The ship is rals-
"a il is more liable to be turned over, The weight
trim nj 10
saw i, has light enough, and certainly as much as
stone dock-lhat it requires very little more
deph of water than is necessary 10 float the ship
that vessel in il cannot be burl-ihat gales and
storms cannot affect it--tha il is cheaper, strong
er. and more durable, and has almost every con-
ceiyable advantage OF the stone dock, without
many OF its disadvanlages-th that they have butt
a great number OF them, which experience has
fully tested. and that the result has been uniform
ly satisfactory.
From the statements in The Northern papers, It
seems these balance docks have been built at
nine or ten different ports in Europe and this
country. for national and commercial purposes
and al each vi h lriumrhan, success. This de-
cison Of The public would seem 10 have settled
IN. question of relative value, and we certainly
concur in i; oul Why hesitate about building dod
if doubt be sill entertained on that poin!2 The
COST is literally nothing in comparison with The
advantages TO The nation under existing circum-
stances. The injury from me years. deioy may
greatly exceed the cost Of both kinds-(one al
PHILADELPHIA and The ohera al Pensacola)-to say
nothing OF Tie loss Of reputation 10 the na'ion, il
one OF her national ships should be lost, in conse-
ouence of the difficulty Of getting TO dry dock.
We hope the subject will attract the attention OIL
Congress-