The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-27
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
THURSDAY, MARCH rs. 1862.

ina Consideration OF the bill to establish navy yard and
,Iepot on the bay Of Sap Francisco in California.
NMr BRODHEAD. When the Senate adjourned the
other day | had nearly concluded the remarks that
attended 10 make the subject OF the dry-dock BASIN
ana railway in California. shall occupy bur lii
lie Of the time ana attention oi tue senae III concluding
If is imporlant in the first place, Mr. President 10 as
certain exactly the question which is to be decided and
tbe facts which bear upon that question. The question
now 10 be decided by the Senate is, whether we will
establish basin and railway in connexon with dry dock
IN California, pier. That is the precise question
under consideration. e1
stated the other day that the proposed structure Of
hasn and railway not only without but against The
recommendation Of NE NavS DsDazl%sai anas Sssisa.
that il useless and unnecessary The honorable sen
aor from California. in his speech, referred TO forfca
lions on the eastern and lhe western coasts, and 10
steam, vessels With that portion of his speech-and he
ocupd Of his time in discussing questions OF that
lnd-I have nothing 10 do have reply 10 make TO
il have stated that the basin and railway would cost
al least 81 900 900; and therefore that the pier, which
will cost but $50 900, ought Ia be adopted, compliance
with the recommendation Of the Navy Department. That
department has never yet, will show, recommended
this basin and railway and no vessel has ever yet been
tested upon one, either in the merchant or naval service
Of the United States. Nay, more, Mr.. President not
only is it without the recommendation OF the Navy De-
parimen but it is against the solemn decision OF the last
Congress. will refer 10 the last navy appropriation bill
10 sustain this allegation
For The floating dry dock in California, $50 900 and
the Secretary of the Navy is hereby required modify
al January last confne the the constrnc
Of the foaringdock atone. ,citom the basin and ra
mly"
That was based upon the recommendation of the Navy
Department stated this once before and how it
by the honorable senator from California; He stated
that he would not ntrude upon the private business-t
was private bill day-bu, says he:
"When do speak. pledge myself leave the sem
fom Pennsylvania. [Mr BRopnEApl for The argument
brought forward this moning and which has been
borioosIy prepared, an inch o. ground 10 stand on.
"The senator's speech is mere rehash of arguments
5 b1 %
Here make an issue of fact with the senator show
the act OF Congress sustaining those arguments if they
ever advanced before. | was mol member OF the
last Congress But the honorable senator, when he ad
dressed the Senate last, said that Mr. Henshaw, upon
former occasion, recommended this dock. Now, upon
aa examination of what Mr. Henshaw said, find that
he only recommended il TO be tested He did not recon-
mend the adoption Of il. understand il; if he did, |
can be corrected He recommended the testing OF it,
Then Mr. Mason came into Office lie was succeeded
by Mr. Preston and he again by the present Secretary
Of the Navy will show you presently The opinion OF
Mr. Mason, and then will give little sketch of the
history OF these dock operations the Atlantic side
and if do not show you one OF the most magnificent
schemes Of speculation that carried through
Congress, am very much mistaken. will do it from
Mescordfrom the record which the contractors them
M President, have said that this not only
less but unnecessary. In answer TO that the senator
from California says that the basin and railway not
% be erecled until those which are in Philadelphia or
klery shall be tested Suppose the test should fail
then when you going TO have dry dock established,
and howl Suppose should fail, as II has sgnay failed
ia Philadelphia. as will show. The Philadelphia dry
dock not only sgua failure but IL is nuisance, and
has amilion OF dollars In support Of this al
pgalioB, will show what the honorable senator himself
said This subject when he first called up this bill
There is another reason why this bill should pass AT
The last session OF Congress there was an act passed author
1ng lbe building Of sectional floating dock and there
a site selected for the location OF that dock Bot,
upon experiment made PHILADELPHIA. IL has btn
oranad ha there 70 NOT mater enough al The safe seeefed
What the depth OF water at The site selected by the
joint commission which sent out in ls4s and 1s49.
and made a report in 1850 will presently read
tact from tha, report. | understand there are forty
eet OF water there Then III these contr actors told the
truth 10 regard 10 the location al Philadelphia. when
they making their application for that site the
selection made by the joint commission sent out under the
last administration correct and this bill ought not 10
pass in its present shape When they before Con-
gress before The contractors stated, and again
when they were charged by the gentlemen whom they
have taken into partnership with them that their siruc
tore would require greater depth OF water than TO
ure could be put up in Philadelphia But when is put
~, we hod IN the deficiency bill an item OF $4,000 TO
be appropriated for dredging in front OF the dry dock
Notwithstanding that by The terms OF the contract, IL
was be taken of The contractors hands and tested last
June II may have been taken OF their hands but no
vessel, no ship ofthe-lne-and il was designed for
shps-o helne-has ever yet been placed upon II, and
think never will be-
Mr. President this plan OF dock has been known 10
he public for years past How, then, does il happen that
He WnalDg vessels mat are hNed out IN new England
have never adopted Why is it that this basin and
sway has never been adopted in the merchant service
mat 10 an important inquiry. Do you suppose that the
Intelligent Yankees who fl out these vessels would not
have used this dock II useful has been rep
ftsentede made inquiry OF the honorable and disn-
enshed senator from Rhode Island upon the subject and
lound that they have adopted IT, This basin and
sWay never has been adopted the merchant service
bnt says the honorable senator they about to build
one IN New York How does il happen that they
built one beorel But would like To know how he OBJ
tanned his information
Mr., GWlN. Do you deny il
MI. bRODHEAD. | want 10 know whether he speaks
mom personal knowledge. ! would like 10 know how
1a WheIe be got the information
mr. GWlN, assert the fact If the senator denies
y ! am ney ready 70 give the proof.
slI. ohoDhEAD. ! have yet heard OF one
ens es,aohshed and doubt whether the honorable
senator has seen il.
mf GWlN. Mr.. President
Mf bhoDHEAD | do no, doubt that he has been 20
iiI,nea-not al all do not doubt but that he believes
ue mas said But sf, know very well that II had been
sinee f h
we know very well that II il was useful il would
nave been adopted long since. Why should this gov
ennent adopt il irstl
But is said, Mr. President that this pier would be
saen up by the worms Well. sir, il can be coppered, as
sad the other day. in the same manner thai floating
uy.doeks coppered. II the project of building ba
an and railway is adopted how long will il be-and
wv he question to the senator from California. and
me Senae-how long will u be before the floating dry
wck which was ordered at the last session, and which
me senator IRON California informs us is now on s way
lglN can be put TO use II cannot be used without
ssHn and railway, or pier and il will take six
se's according 10 the statement OF the Navy Depart
@enl, to construct the basin and railway So the struc-
eWhIch we ordered al the last session, and for which