The daily union., 1852-09-15

Dock basin and railway had my reasons Tor il al ibe
Tune. When that contract entered into there had
oeen no experiment OF this class OF machinery No yes
sci OF any large size had been upon any OF these
docks Seeing notice in paper last spring that there
about 10 be test at the philadelphia dry dock determined
10 go and witness IT, started with the hope OF reaching
eIe III e 10 see the vessel upon the DOCK and witness
the operation. did not, however reach philadelphia
nnl me vessel had been taken OH refer TO the steamer
City OF fsbnrg, which the vessel with which the
experiment was made Then examined the whole appa-
raius and the dock. looked into as critically as nv
poor powers would enable me do lexamned tn con-
nexion with the basin examned the whole in connexion
WIN the railways examined the machinery by which
me vessel was taken upon the dock from the ways
eoaversed with The persons a. work about the ma
chney, who seemed to be intelligent men, without let
ting them know that member OF the Seaate in or
der that might get the incidental observations Of those
men, Tor the purpose OF satisfying myself They spok
OF as matter Of course that the vessel taken up
easily, safely repaired, transferred from the dry-dock
ana noaled into The basn and transferred from the dock
upon the railways After looking at il became entirely
satisfied IN my own mind that the machinery was capa
pie OF doing so. had previously asserted that did not
believe any private individual would have the temey Of
risklng his vessel on one OF these docks seriously
thought seriously anticipated that il vessel was
attempted TO be taken upon that dock from the railways
sne would De turned over, or in some other manner
broken TO pieces The large steamer the City OF Pitts
burg had been upon that dock, and safely launched
after having been repaired Since that, as the senator
from California has remarked seventy-four, with a
thousand tons OF ballast IN her. has been one OF these
docks, and launched safely and with great expedition
Under this state oil the case my former objections having
been 10 the nutliy and neicency of the machinery,
and having been satisfied as to that by practical observa
ton, am convinced that formerly in error and |
take back all that have said against this dry dock
basin, and railway
/ Mr.. CLARKE. I have not said one word against the
DOCK basin, and railway. have not said that il was
mol equal 10 The operations for which it is designed but
nave oDlecled 10 making the appropriation for 1t at
this lime for California before sle is selected for
MIR, CLARKE called for the yeas and nays upon the
second section OF the amendment, and they were or
dered accordingly
The question being then taken by yeas and nays the
amendment was rejected yeas 10, nays 25as follow
YEAs-Messrs, Adams, Badger, Bell, Brooke Dssans.
oTy Morton. Norris, Rusk, Seward SouIe, Walker, and
NAYs-Messrs. Atchison, Bayard, Borland. Bright
Brodhead, Chase Clarke, Clemens Davis Dawson Dodge
Of Wisconsin, Dodge Of Iowa, Felch. ieyer, Houston
Spruance. Toucey. Underwood. and Wade-25.
Mr.. GWlN. AS the first branch Of the amendment
has been adopted and the second branch has been
eced, VIII De necessary to add 10 the first branch
And for the OF carrying this section effect,
the OF be- and the same hereby appropr
aied OUT OF any money in the treasury not Otherwise ap
The amendment agreed TO.
Mr. GWlN. am instructed by the Committee on Ma.
val Affairs to offer another amendment:
for the purchase and San Francisco OF paten,
black marine paint Tor painting the n'ero! Of the sections
and end-iioats OF the California dry-dock, 81, 500"
| The amendment was agreed to-
Mr.. GWlN. The next amendment is to insert after the
one which has just been adopted
"For snperintendence, office rsn labor and contingen,
dry-dock In the bay OF San Francisco, SIS, 500"
| This is according TO estimates from the department
MIR. HUNTER. ! understood the honorable senator
from Rhode Island Mr. CLARKEl to say that this dock
had been hired oat.
| Mr.. BRODHEAD So il has
Mr.. GWlN, The dock has not yet been put together.
The materials have been packed up and sent out The
object OF this is have them properly put together The
department has sent estimate to the Naval Committee
Tor This, and the intention is 10 employ individual OF
great skill and experience in these matters 10 see that
the deck is put together according to contract.
Mr. BRODHEAD. do not understand this matter.
These contractors have received 100000 for
ing hoang dock for California. We have already ap-
propriaed $500 to paint the dock with particular kind
OF paint. ! made no opposition that But il is now
proposed TO appropriate Sl33o0foI what To supern.
tend the putting together OF this dock understand that
the dock is done by contracts and il does seem to me
that the mere supenendence cannot cost this amount
MIR. GWlN. II is necessary for the interest OF the
government TO have somebody TO that the dock put
up properly, otherwise the contractors can do as they
please about It, Here is what the Secretary OF the Navy
says in relation TO the matter:
AS the estimates OF the department embraced no com.
puaton Tor contingencies connected with this dock
as pay and other incidental expenses.
would respectfully recommend that Congress be asked for
| an appropriation OF Sl5, 600"
II have paid 100000 to the contractors for this
dock surely we ought to pay this small for the pur.
pose OF nnD,n hay,ng i put properly together.
Mr. BRODHEAD But short time ago understood
that officer had been sent 10 receive that dock There
are plenty OF officers OF the pavy well paid who un-
employed who could attend TO this We had a contract
Transmitted to the other day by which we
that the contractors for this dock 10 be permitted 10
IT for three years without any charge upon the part
OF the government. ! suppose they would not be able
to use II Tor three years without putting it together.
MIR. GWlN. We paid 100000 for constructing the
dock and putting il up but the object OF this is 10 get
somebody TO take care OF the interest OF the government
and see that the contractors put il up properly.
Mr.. BRODHEAD called Tor the yeas and nays on the
amendment, and they were ordered
The question being then taken by yeas and nays, the
amendment was rejecied-yeas II, nays 2i-as follow
/ YEAS-Messrs Dodge OF Wisconsin Dodge Of Iowa
Douglas Downs, Gwin, Hale, Hsmlin, James. Mallory,
Morton Norris Pcarcc Rusk, Seward, Soule Stockton,
and Weller-l7
| NAYS-Messrs Atchison. Badger Borand Bright B, oil
head, Brooke Chase CLARKE, Clemens, Cooper Dawson
Desaussure Feloh, Foot, Hunter, Mangum Meriwether
Miller, Pat, Smith, Spruanoe, Toucey, Underwood
Wade, and Wslksr-A
| Mr.. GWlN. have another amendment to offer |,
IS TO insert at the end OF the appropriations in the bills
"Fo deficiency. in the making appropriation. for
the naval service o the year ending the 30h June 1850
approved March3 ISi9 Tor paying unsasaed
for continuing the survey of the coast on the nf OF Mex
TO be taken out OF the balance Of the fund appropriated by
the act OF the 81 Of March, 1884, but which has
ried to the credit OF the surplus iund."
This is Tor services rendered The accounts were pre-
sented TO the Treasury Department, but the appopr alton
had been carried to the surplus fund and therefore the
demands could no, be paid This merely reappopri.
alton Of the amount and is recommended by the Secre.
tary OF the Navy.
! The amendment agreed TO.
MIR. GWIN have another amendment OF the same
kind TO come in after the one just adop ed
4