Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-05-01
UNITED STATES BASIN AND RAILWAY DOCK.

The citizens of Philadelphia last week witnessed
an event which ought to possess more than ordi-
nary interest for them, being the second and final
triai OF the working powers Of the great floating ba
SIN and railway dock recently completed at the NAVY
Yard This immense Government work has been
the subject Of much patriotic small talk and some
little honest falsifcation in certain quarters Of late
IN which itself and the port of Philadelphia have
been made to come in for an equal share of abuse
According to the detractors of the latter the dock
could never be expected to prove of any utility
where it was placed, in consequence Of an alleged
want IF ratsr !. - Ss.1sas sussns i receive ships
Of war ofa large ss OF to allow their approach to the
dock while the amies Of the latter derided ii as piece
OF engineering moonshine declaring incapable Of
dealing with such vessels ALL and others affecting to
believe they could be submitted to its operations with
out great risk and injury We have seen the influence Of
this kind Of opposition in the apparent unwingness of
Government to make trial of it with public vessel
and hence the fact that The honor Of the first experiment
belongs to the steamship City Of Psburg and her pro-
prietors who felt any hesitation in avaiing them
selves OF the opportunity permission could be
obtained from the national authorities for the purpose
The first test it win be remembered was tried some time
since, when the City of Ptsbug was placed in the dock
and hoated out Of the water high and dry all which was
erected with the utmost and success The second
which was tried yesterday, consisted in dragging her.
bodily upon the permanent railway land, which was
accomplished with the facility and in perfect safety
No more perfectly signaly triumphant experiment was
perormed and We may believe that the character
of the work. and its capacity do all required of it in
satisfactory manner, will be now deemed established be-
yond all question cavil The City of Pittsburg is an
ocean steamship two hundred and fortyseven feet in
length which is about fifty feet longer than the largest
ship OF the line and her weight quite equal that of
such ship prepared for docking. She buoyed out
of her element have seen in the first place with
out any difficulty; jolly boat could not to appearance
have been disposed Of easily and in the final ex
pertinent Of yesterday required but little more than six
hours to draw her upon the railway placing her. grand
and extraordinary spectacle, upon fma at dis
tance of nearly three hundred feet from the dock
The plan Of this work is due to Messrs DAKrs &
MooDY, Of New York, the inventors, who we're also the
contractors for building the docks and railways who
certainly have great feel proud Of the success of
their magnificent invention They entitled to every
credit for the energetic and faithful manner in which they
have carried out their plans and fulfilled their engage
nents with the Government Considering that this Is the
irst work Of the kind that has ever been built its COM
olete success without any drawback or defect or the
slightest impediment, is truly remarkable.
Inc hydraulic apparatus for hauling the ship ashore is
he invention OF HoRArIo ALLEN, Esq, eminent civil
engineer of New York, 1t manufactured by Messrs
Sdlman, Allen Co., of the same city and reflects great
redit ON them ALL The machinery for working the pumps
md floats is the invention Of Mr. PSBAs BURGESS the
nirably adapted to the purpose.
The works constructed under the direction of Mr.
J. I DEAN the superintendent Of the contractors and
nnder the eye and general supervision of the Govern
nent superintendent Col. WARD B. BURNETT distin-
guished civil engineer and late colonel of the first reg
nent New York volunteers during the Mexican war
The hoating basin and railway dock form splendid
monument Of American ingenuity energy skill and me
'hanical science No win consider .his euorum ex
rayagant who is made acquainted with the great results
by the works and their vast superiority
'ther works in use for similar purposes in point Of
lomy, working efficiency, and general practical adyan-
ages No other dry-dock heretofore known has been
ate ship at a. time; yet by the method employed by
nessrs Dakin Moody net rstrate ship only but
arge number Of such ships be delivered high and
ny out o. the water at the time fireworks at the
hiiadephia navy yard win be capable Of taking out at
md hfty feet long, and several ships Of the line of the
rst class In this particular the efficiency Of the Phla
eipha navy yard is almost equal to that Of the
ire naval establishment of Great Britain at all her dock
ards combined and is about double that which the Em
the Black Sea- gilmore thantw
ne works at navy yard have cost the Governments
bird of the cost Of the single the old plan st
ne Brooklyn navy yard which capable OF docking but
me ship at a time.
All tho vessels in the United States navy might be
locked here and BY extending the railway facilities
which are capable Of indefinite extenson all might be
lrawn on them and laid up in ordinary, under cover
AnwfbA Ararrr1