The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-27

the last Congress. that pier coul probably be erected
Tor $4,000. Well, that is probably very true. though
by no means certain IN California In New York il nigh
be. and in Norfolk it might be; but il is very doubtful
whether pier OF wood, could be constructed in
California for S5oooo. We all know that the price o
such work, the present condition of the country mus
be greatly enhanced beyond the price OF similar work
on The Atlantic coast The seaworm in California will
consume 4 directly-in six months il will be honey
comb and worthless Well, what you 10 do then
Appropriate $4,000 to put in another pier and
wenly or thirty thousand more TO get the old pier OF
the way.
The senator from Pennsylvania says the per can be
coppered. Now. was aslonished to hear that remark
made by gentleman OF his sagacity and living The part
o. the country from whence he comes Take the piles
ihat pier IS composed of and copper them and then
brng to bear upon them the immense weight by blows
necessary 70 drive them into the places which they
are TO stand as xtures and what becomes of your cop
per- They are split, rent, and although al little
distance they may show fair front Of copper as ever
sosne neubaze psofessioa which helnng have
shown an exposure OF brass, it would pur-
poses lor II there are assures your "copper" these
have sagacy enough to find them and propensity enough
TO enter through them.
But, again. let us suppose you have got your copper
sunk and put down. Does not the senator from Penn
syvana know that the copperng of ships has to be
newed every live or six years ilhat the copper sub
ect 10 corroson in contact with the salt water 'tha the
bottoms oil coppered vessels have to be examined from
time TO De and The deficiencies OF the copperings sup
piled, that in the OF five or six years the PRO
cess has 10 be outand out renewed? And will you tell
me how you are 70 get down into forty feet water and
recopper the pier With very great respect must say
that the idea almost involves absudity Ii is difficult
OF operation, Il not impossible 10 be performed. speak
not confidently about that but certainly may say that it
must be so difficult TO be almost impossible renew
the coppering OF structure forty, thirty, even
twenty feet under water. How do we renew the copper
ing of vessels The old efficient way always has been,
where there are no docks draw them up Shore and
pull them down until they expose the bottom, and then
make an examination
But, again. what will be the expense of coppering this
pler9 That is matter which addresses itself in
curry TO our sense OF economy You must recoec that
this pier has TO- be 300 feet long, furnish
the purpose OF breakwater TO preserve the dock at
tached to It from the action OF the driven by the
wind, Well, here you have it exsnded two three
hundred feet, sinking into deep water Now, you have
TO copper II all You must not leave single point
at which these worms enter. What will il cost
eel very sure that you could not copper pier for less
than a hundred thousand dollars.
Mr.. BRODHEAD. Will the gentleman allow me TO
Mr.. BADGER Certainly.
Mr.. BRODHEAD. understood him to say that these
piles which are 10 be driven be coppered Now,
understand that they doing that very thing in Pen.
sacoa, and want TO know from the honorable senator
IRON Florida lMr. MoRToNl whether am not correct.
Sir MORTON not beng present, no response was made
Mr.. BRODHEAD. Then would like to hear the SEN
alor from Rhode Island Mr. CLARKEl state how these
structures protected from in Rhode Island
Mr. CLARKE made no response.
| Mr.. BADGER. Until we have some evidence upon
that subject, shall assume at first that they not
Tor the reason understand that the pier is being built
Il
4 Mr.. BADGER-and presume they would hardly z
10 an unnecessary expense OF copperng stone pier.
! Then, Mr.. President, it appears TO me-supposin
$50 900 TO be the first outlay and assuming that the COP
perng can be accomplished for 100000, and that W
should have to the copperng in four iv
years. and allowing sr the difficulty Of getting beneat
into water thirty forty feet, copper which woul
cost double as much-that should have outlay 0
Sl50,0D0 10 start with, and $4,000 year afterwards t
keep and protect ii from the worms. That being tn
case, do notconsider il remarkable operation in pon
| OF saving.
Well, then, II you build pier OF sone why i, viii
cost wo-thirds-at all events one-half the price OF
basin and railway And the why II approximate
so much TO II Is this the basin and railway has alst
one OF lis sides projecting into the water 10 h,
purposes OF pier but IN consequence OF IFS attachment
to the basin, very short pier, comparatively, answers
all purposes That pier, which is now constructing il
Pensacola, has cost already 100000, and not much
more than half completed.
Then the question which is presented 10 the Senate on
that head is- being undoubed that the dock must be
either a pier basin and railway--whether We
shall pay S6o0oo0 al least, Tor pier, or whether we
shall pay $4,000 fer basin and railway, which In
cludes in substance pier. That is the whole question
and il seems me, when the matter is reduced to that
point, there remains nothing further TO be said.
But. Mr. President look upon this measure IN Cali
forna important only for the purpose Of the pabc
vessels oil the United States but look upon as highly
important in regard to the commercial marine OF th'
country. IL has been said by the honorable senator tina
have not many vessels and shall not therefore, otter
require the OF such establishments in California
Assume II to be so. The Secretary OF the Navy, ol
railway to be used for the accommodation OF the com
merca marine when not required for the government
and when consider the condition oi things the Pa
chc ocean, IL is in the highest degree important that tina
particular form OF Improvement should be adoped-it be
ing deemed on all hands that we should have one o
some kindwhch, while il serves the purposes OF th
government, may promote the commercial prosperity
the country, aud afford facilities those who carry
/ ing on an immense business on the Pacific.
] Bot there is another reason. have said this much
for the purpose OF showing that what rs asked by his b
is in itself but in the next place think
am able 10 show that we have no choice, as homes
men, and representing an honorable and faith observing
constituency, but 10 do what proposed TO be done bS
this bill This government has already made conrac
with the patentees, which is binding upon them IN hono
and in faith and that think is capable OF being clearly
established BY the act OF September, $780, this appro
pration was made
For commencing the construction Of the floating dry
dock the OF California, 100000 and the Secre
ty OF the Navy is authorized to enter into contract fo
construction with all BILE despatch sectional
balance floating drydock besin and railway al such
hsrbor the of the Pacific as be may select
capacity and dimensions In inferior 70 the hy
dock in progress OF ofconstrucon Ia Pensacola"
Now here is the authority; and under that authority
the Secretary Of the Navy entered into contract TO com
pee the drydocka contract as binding upon tue hono
and faith OF this government as II IT had been atesied
with thousand seals.
And now let me refer you, Mr. President to the letter
addressed upon the subject by the Secretary OF the Navy
10 the last Congress on the 2is OF January 1851 which
this bill refers You will observe that in that month, two
or three days before this letter received, resolution
was introduced into the House OF Representatives and
adopted 10 inquire OF the Secretary OF the Navy whether
any had been made under that provision OF the
Appropriation bill OF The preceding year, and so, what i
suspend all further proceedings untI further directions by
Conpress Here what the Secretary OF the Navy