The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-10-08
IN CONGRESS- OF THE III STATES.
SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER %. 1850.
I'm CONTINUATION


bet Of highly intelligent gentlemen and officers are
very strongly q opinion that Puget sound is the hest To-
cation II will require some time to make the location
What peculiar opportunities Commodore Jones may have
had to form judgment upon this matter cannot say
can only rely upon authentic information The Secre-
afy Of The Navy not opposed the construction OF
dry dock there al all On the contrary, understand him
TO be Of opinion, that dock there will be necessary
we all know tha, i will be necessary thsre should be
well objects upon both o these grounds the appropa-
lion now proposed in this bill One Of them is, that in
view Of the early day at which Congress will again
dock il necessary now, We shall meet again Ii two
months By thai time we shall have full report; and
we can then decide whether dock shall be built and Of
what description Il shall be. But the other objection
stated In the Secretarys letter Is that he thinks perma
nent stone dock would be better If Congress determines
10 make an appropriation now The appropriation, a. it
comes from The House, is this: II proposes TO build
floating dock, basin, and railway, when we do not know
that they will answer the purpose tor which dock to
be built. @
By dint OF several years urgency upon Congress, ap
preparations were made for the construction of three Of
these floating docks. with basins and Hilways, very
much as an experiments one OF which was to be al Pen
sacoa, as Stated by The senator from California, and
other at Philadelphia and the other at Portsmouth.
None OF them have yet been completed 10 such extent
to be able TO permit their being tested Il yet,
them altogether an experiment have heard the opinion
expressed BY very competent and skiliu engineers that
even they answered the purpose for year or two.
there is very little to believe that they can last
more than three, four, OF five years AT all events, it is
an experiment yet, aud one which will have been
tested oa certain extent by the next session. because the
dock at Portsmouth nearly completed We shall then,
have an opportunity by the next session TO test il
But upon the score OF economy, The provision con-
tained in this clause. which propose 10 strike out,
that in the Pensacola navy yard, with - per cent added
and then in addition that the cost OF the transportation
Of all The materials from this side OF coast TO the Pa
cifc side. My estimate is that it will cost very nearly
million The appropriations Tor the structure at Pensa-
cola, which have been already made, and which are
made by the bill now before US amount to $l047, 1853
and am apprehensve that additional expenditure
will yet be necessary to make the bottom of that
dock Add TO that ~ per cent and then add the cost OF
the transportation of all the materials from The Atlantic to
the Pacific coast, and you will form estimate OF the
cost Of the structure upon the plan proposed here and
that, too, upon experiment which we have assu-
rance will succeed. Bu il has worse feature than that
The Secretary of the Navy is required TO enter into an
agreement with the contractors that in certain cases, the
use and disposition OF this struCture--which will have
been built for the United States and with the money OF
the United Slaes-w be given for commercial and pri
va,e This ii 10 me- cannot be other than
an unwise and dangerous precedent leave u to the
Senate TO determine WHEELER the objections which l
have suggested sufficient TO induce them 10 strike
out the provision, whether they will sanction such
an appropriation by refusing 10 strike il out
Mr.. GWiN., IL will take Ten years 10 build stone
dock there and il will cost three times much money
as wooden one Besides, where are you going to get
the stone.
Mr. YULEE will state that il requires much
stone for the basement proposed by this contract TO be
made as for permanent stone dock so that wherever
the from Tor the il must be obtained
in the other And will state fm,heI ha, The permanent
stone dock in the navy-yad at Charesown, Massachu-
ses cost about the same as the basin and dock IN ts
Mr. GWIN Mr. President. have very good infor-
nation, upon which rely, that the difference in the ex-
pense Of the two kinds Of dock very great This ques-
ton has been thoroughly examined by the COMMITTEES on
Naval Affairs in The House, who brought N bill ior
imous vote. II thoroughly discussed before came
here, and is recommended TO us by The action o the
1 House.
But the senator talks about the location OF the dock al
4 Puget sound What we want 10 floating dock The
location is matter OF little consequence, as y can be
spring up on the sound sooner than on the coast we
want floating dock also for commercial purposes
Mr. YULEE. None OF our docks here are used ioI
4 MIR GWIN Well, sir, we want this dock for com.
mercia purposes. suppose the senators from Name
and massachusetts, would take some ineres, 10 having
commercial dock there where whale and merchant ships
could be reIaired II IL, however obviously oar in.
sresi 10 have dock there that Twill not desin the Sen
ale By debating the question
i Mr. BRIGHT. The honorable senator has referred 70
the action OF the House. and makes that one OF his rea
favor OF the proposition. will answer that bj
referring TO the action ot The committee OF the Senae
We have appropriate committees, TO each oi whcm ~ as.
signed its appropriate business This subject was referred
10 the Commillee Naval Affairs, and u seemed TO be
part Of their duty TO confer with the head OF the naya
service here, and inquire his opinion ~ reference 70 n
subject He gave that opinion, in writing, against Inc
appropriation s this time and he has given what appear
to my mind TO be very satisfactory reasons or mat opn
tured. and that the government is now IN process OF as
certaning the proper point and the probability OF gene
the right kind OF materials of which TO construct the knt
of dock required Alter the committee bad received tue
communication OF the Secretary OF the Navy which ha'
been read they decided against this appropriation ant
they have made that decision known 10 the Senate
Now the action Of the committee OF the Senate, backed
by The opinion OF the Secretary oil the Navy worm a.
much as the report of the committee of the House
think our safest plan 10 TO follow the recommendation
the head Of the department having charge o hs pfanc
, of business | admit the necessity OF dock az th
pointnot 20 much The immediate as the approaching ne
ce.sy bui do not believe this IS the proper me 70 con
structn How much is this work TO cost! Is there am
gentleman here prepared TO answer that question onue
The provision OF this bill. the secretary o' s rnsy
bound 10 contract with certain Individuals lhe amour
of that contract is unlimited He Is bound 70 give Inos
contractors just what they please 70 ask now suPpos
ing that manual labor costs Just as much more ~ Sso
mia as---- ,4,L-.,, ~ ...,.
MIR. GwIN, lin his sesi) The maleralswill be trans
ported there from here. rtE,
III MI BRIGHT. But II viii require an immense amoun
OF labor complete the work after the msIer ~ ~
there Now we have agreed to pay our Judges OF ,n
United States court s5 500 per annum and for me sam
class of judges in other States we pay Si,5v 90 ~
increase OF the price OF labor s to be computed py ne N
crease OF the salaries OF the Judges IN Cafofna, INV
work will cost something like SIX or seven millions
dollars believe the cost OF such work IL estimated
the old States Al and half millions OF doiiara
fairs 10 estimate the cost At two millions Now,u
estimate the cost OF labor In proportion to the increase
other cases. this dock will cost from four TO I'VE million
of dollars For one, therefore, am not willing 70 Incu
This vast expenditure at this time do not think the ne
cessifv il 20 immediate to justify A. lconcur with IN
opinion OF the Secretary OF the Navy, that the prope
time would be after the report recsssd rom rom ,ns eng,