The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-11-22
From the Philadelphia Argus, New. 10.
Success Of the United states Sectional Dock.

II is with feelings of than ordinary qualification
mat we record the triumph OF the experiment made yes
erday The navyyard draw the United States steamer
San Jacno upon the marine railway attached TO the
ona dock The vessel referred has been undergoing,
Tor week or two the necessary preparations for trial.
large platform OF heavy unbers having been placed i'm.
mediaey underneath the ship so arranged az 70 glide
readily the fabricated ways OF the railway. With
view TO the greater convenience OF the wOkmen engaged
in making the alterations ii determined TO haul tho
vessel out completely clear OF the sectlons-a process
calling into play the efficient services OF the hydraulic
engine which expressly constructed for the purpose
To those yersed in the theory OF hydraulic engines the
feat yesterday accomplished would not excite the very
strong sensation OF wonder which 1t naturally did in
many lockers who ignorant Of the secret OF the
engines working. II demands. indeed, than
binary stock OF crednlily TO believe that Lilputsn
nachne not ten feet in actual length could conveys
ship of fifteen hundred tons weight distance OF hundreds
Of feet! But such is the positive ac however incredible
and marvellous at first sight. To place the matter in s
full significance before the public. We add herewith an
account OF the apparatus employed and the performance
itself.
The apparatus consists OF two engines entirely distinct
the hydraulic, the other the usual steam engine
The latter (Which in general appearance. resembles
somewhat locomotive) supplies motive power 10 the
former being OF the capacity OF thirty horse having two
cylinders fifteen horse each, working at right angles with
each other As specimen OF mechanism It is beautiful
y and elaboratey finished and its performance IN every
point satisfactory The hydraulic engine (Which is the
Titanic wonder worker has cylinder moi over ee in
length, being bored feet inches to admit the ~
il is styled forcing rod, which s cast-ron cyndri-
cal column, 10 inches diameter and 81 feet in length.
The connexon between the ship and the hydraulic pow
effected by means of erohtsd in front oil the hY
drauc engine, and against which the ram works. To
this cross head or crOss-piece, are attached pair OF
heavy wroughtiron hauling rods Zone on each side OF
the engine running back and secured to che head OF the
cradle, or wooden platform, upon which, as bed. the
vessel lies firmly fixed The power is applied BY four
hydraulic pumps (worked from the steam engine which
placed tank, located upon the top OF the hydau-
c cylinder These pumps take water from the tank and
force through aperture OF only fve-sighhs o. sn ~sh
diameter into the cylinder Immediately behind the ram.
This m bpInn nv the yno OF
the wafer forced through small an orhce, Is forced
against the head which being free to move. thus
mpeled forward dragging, OF necessity the vessel At
ached to it, rm
While The power is being applied. the hydraulic engine
is secured TO the foundation lmbers OF the railway BY
of two heavy castiron keys These keys are re-
leved the expiration OF the time required to move the
distance OF eight feet, The length OF the ram. Then
the process OF Aeetng is required. (Which 10 the seh-
meal term Tor hauling The engine ahead Tor new draw,)
which is accomplished by screw running parallel with
the direction OF the machine. and worked BY pulley, es
and gearing As soon as has resumed is new Posauoo
he same water previously employed having been let
back into the tank by OF valve) the process
goes again as before, the vessel advancing eight
feet at each draw ln yesterdays trial. tas average time
consumed in hauling, feelng and adjusting each draw
did exceed nine and half minutes, and the whole
time employed in drawing the immense steamer distance
OF Two hundred and twenty fee! was bat iour and bali
working hoursl The hydraulic engine we have been
describing s from the shops oil Sullman, Allen, Coz
Novelty Works, New York. and the 6Tst application
OF the hydraulic principle 10 the purposes OF marine
railway The pressure which the engine is guaranteed
to bear is 100 ions. Yesterday pressure OF 100 tons
all that required TO start the weight OF 1900
lons and after il had been put in motion The aver
age pressure carried not over rs tons, thus proving
conclusively that the capacity OF the engine IS more
than ample to take up the Psnnsy ylvana, with all her
armament and stores aboarda feat greater than would
be required by vessel aHoat IL establishes too,
beyond all doubt cav. the eminent superiority OF the
sectional dock all Others for by the simple and ex-
peditous process have been detailing, in few brief
hours the largest vessel be hauled upon the railway
where repairs be carried upon dry grou~d, with
perfect comfort and secory all engaged and with cef
tain immunity from the deeierious influences naturally
engendered in the Shiny basin OF any submerged dock
successful experiment than that OF yesterday
could have been desired the whole having been &C
compshed without the slightest accident or interruption
OF any kind The affair was managed throughout under
the immediate direction OF the dock master, Mr.. w. C.
Root who has desevedy added TO his distinguished rep
uiaon the triumphant success Of The effort.
There exs, longer any difference OF opinion 70
regard to our sectional dock Its capacity fully equal
10 that of any dock in Union, and its performances a.
satisfactorily proven, both in Yesterdays trial and IN the
previous one with the City OF PiitsbuT, - far beyond
what its sangulne friends could have anticipated
Having a double track of railway and double 81 OF
secions it can readily accommodate two largest size ves
sells shore and two rs,oass soops OF war upon the
sections