New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-03-02
The u. 4. Dry Dock at Brooklyn Navy Yard.

now so lar advanced as 20 place Us coH Plr'4'- 10
yond the risk Of the acc leniswhch have heretofore
delayed It's progress. The greatness Of the under
taking. and Of the obstacles which have been over
come in carrying il Oh, are perhaps more readiy
seen AZ the present than alta later stage. through
the kindness Of Mr. McALPiSE, Engineer, Mr.
MorsE. Assistant, and Mr. NEvISs, We were ena-
bled 10 examine all parts Of the work and obtain
some knowledss Of IL plan aud Dimensions. Litue
h,s been done upon it since sst al excep, repairing
the granite blocks and keeog the interior Of The DOCK
clear Of the water which Is constantly pouring into 1t
from the spring. beneath the foundation The ina"
has now act in however, and In three four weeks
the work will be fully under way Tor another se1,on-
The Dock was commenced some three or four years
ago but owing 10 numerous accidents and delays j"
construction proceeded very slowly until within tne
past year and half The soil which It stands colia
scarcely be worse f,ted for foundation consisting en-
tirely Of yielding clay. into which the piles were
driven more than thirty feet without hndirg conc
bottom Il = also penetrated with numerous springs
Of fresh wster which press with great force sgansttne
masonry forming the bed Of the Dock. A. the com
rnencement Of the work although 1t was surrounded
By three distinct Golfer dams without the other
the immense pressure Of column Of water nearly
forty fee. deep from the side Of the rver frequently
burst through these barriers occssonng CREST damage
and delay Thus the dam, which originally cost -i'-
Co., has since occssoned expense Of -9OJO Tor re-
pairs ard enlargement. The difficulties which have
been overcome 10 resisting the treacheroas nature OF
the soil and the force Of the water can scarcely be
conceived By those who have DOT been upon me spot
The foundation s 100 feet 10 length by ia in width,
and rests on 2s3 piles averaging 5inches 10 diameter
and 32i feet long The tops Of these piles are "eagea
into one soh5 mass by filing OF concrete and By
layer Of heavy pine timber, trunneled upon them
over this are alternate layers Of timber fastened 10 the
most soid manner and filed in with concrete, l2OOO
tons Of which are used for this purpose-tne whole
forming foundation Of feet upon which rests the
granite bed Of the Dock, ) feet thick The bottom OF
the chamber 26 feet long By 80 feet wide Is no" hnsh
ed As well five SIX courses Of the sltar-stones
conpr.ipg the sides The masonry Of the most solid
and massive character The large blocks used 10 the
construction Of the sides form connec,e1ly series OF
inverted arches which oppose themselves to the power
ul hydraulic pressure beneath aud throw part OF the
weigh, Of the vast walls upon the center OF the foun
dalton.
The springs under the work-sbout 40 in sll-have
heretofore been serious Inconvenience on account Of
the great head on many Of them. II was decided to
carry them in pipes through the foundation until the
Dock should be completed Some Of them were found
to raise fine sand threatening In time to weaken the
foundation, this was however remedied by elevssing
the level and diminishing the force of the stream The
largest Of these springs which flows clear water
at height of II feet from the bottom Of the foundation
discharges at the rate of 10 gallons minute Another
the Of the swinging gates at the entrance OF
the Dock was accidentally closed, when it displaced
1000 feet Of work forcing the li course Of the floor
more than a foot In thickness.
The Chamber Of the Dock when finished, will be
3O7 feet long &c feet wide at the top with 20 feet
Of the mitre sills against which the gates
close high tide. The least width between the
ouos OF the swinging gates is % feet and taking the
whole length to the outer floating gate, vessel $40
feet between her perpeDdculars and &C feet in width
can be locked This would take In the U. :. ship
Pennsylvania the mammoth steamship Great Britain
and leave room 10 spare. 1t exceeds by 40 feet In
length and in width, the Dry Dock At Boston, and
will compete in size and workmanship with any In
| Europe.
The entrance upon the East River will be closed by
floating gate, between which and the massive swing
ing gates there chamber between 80 and 40 feet in
length. In which the latter move closing against a
mitre oil Of immense blocks of granite These form
horizontal arch supported by the foundation and the
inverted eliptcs arch Of the head OF the Dock lmme
disiely within either side, are the dschargng cu
yeTts which extend the whole length of the Dock 10
the rear, where they unite and will communicate with
the pumps OF the steam engine. The floor OF the DOCK
descends Is inches toward the mouth OF the culvers.
The inverted arch at tho entrance is probably one Of
the finest pieces of masonry in the world, combining
perfect sodiiy with exsctness Of form and hnish
truly wonderful The pointing OF this arch will be done
by mode first tried by Mr.. Morse upon the cul-
vers Sand and hydraulic cement are pulverised to-
gether in an iron mortar with just enough Of water
added form sort OF dry paste aud this mixture Is
driven into the seams with caulking iron after the
manner OF driving oakum. 1t soon becomes as solid
| and imperishable As the granite itself
| The entire quantity of masonry IN the Dock, when
flushed will amount 6s 600 tons 1t will hold 100000
cubic feet of water which ii is calculated to pump out
in three hours The engine house and machine shop
no, yet built will be 300 feet in length, containing
Cornish engine Of the largest kind having L. feet stroke
and working pumps of so inches diameter The fl-
ing cuverts have the entrance into the Dock IS
the dschargng ones and extend through the masonry
TO the river which they strike Just below low-wster
mark.
We have thus presented in detail description
| of this grand national work. The main difficulties
! OF it's construction are now overcome, and 1t will
advance more rapidly 10 completion. lii TO be nm
shed in every part and ready for vessels by the st
of July 1850 but the present year will suffice TO bring
the principal labor end. The entire is esa-
mated at Sl4S000O; the expenditures TO the presen,
time sre about slO50OOO With the increase OF our
Navy and the multiplication OF lines Of Ocean Steam
ers the vast importance OF such work is evident
Like the squeducts Of Rome and the omb and obesks
Of Egypt TO possess element OF decay, and
| will hold the keels OF American vessels for ceniu
ries TO come Certainly il will be long time before
its dimensions prove Inadequate to conisn anything
tbs, may float the seas
| Ia conclusion we should not omit 10 notice the
thorough ard admirable system with which the work
Is at present conducted under MIR McAlpines direction
Seven employed to land the materials and
all kinds Of ingenious mechanical appliances used TO
diminish the Of labor and expedite the consruc-
ton great portion OF the stone TO be used this
season is already on the ground aud ready for the
workmen. We shall hereafter give farther account
OF their progress,
Congressio nal Nominations.
| CONNEcrICCT.-LOren p. Waldo has been nom
mated for Congress BY the Locos OF the let District