Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-09-09

places 1t useless at Pensacola unless you have basin
place in which you put the dock after
you have ship in it, The dock, may say, is large
scow, which, being sunk underneath vessel and then
exhausted of its water raises the vessel up, and in that
position the vessel be repaired provided the dock
mains stationary. To keep it in that place you must
have basin pier to it. 1t is for such basin
that this appropriation Is proposed to be made.
Under the for constructing the dock at Pen
sacoa the Secretary of the Navy was bound to furnish
ship to make the experiment He sent frigate, and the
experiment unsuccessful The dock raised the fri
gate very well but could not float it into the basin be-
csuss the ship being frgate instead Of hne-ofbate-
ship, too short and the main weight came in the
middle and thus gave the dock curved FORM and made
draw more water in the middle than at the ends aud
dded twelve inches to its draft The work there
fore, not received by the board of examiners and
accordng to the contract money could be paid until
received In defiance of what think was justice and
correctness in the transaction of public affairs however
the whole contract price, $993, 0OO nearly million OF
dollars actually paid to the contractors notwith
sanding the basin would not receive the dock and vessel
IN it, The only thing for the Secretary of the Navy to do
to bring suit upon the bonds but leave the Senate
say what chances there for enforcing payment If
they knew much about the bonds as those who exam
ned the work. they would the Secretary ought to use
every to make available before resorting
to suit
Mr.. TOOMBs Has not the Secretary, under the dis
cretionary authority to build dock of the kind in
against whose dock this commission reported
Mr.. GWIN. will answer that question presently.
in favor Of these DOCKS and viii speak the other
side.
Mr.. MALLORY. Now, sir, this dock and basin at PEN
sacoa present entirely useless after you have spent
81 000 900 them but by making this deep basin in
front Of the dock you will make it available The
tractors have the money and there is question to
whether you shall pay the money for it is already in
their pockets Now having this dock hands, tits
important to have it available In that view, think it
advisable under all the circumstances, to make the ap
preparation which the honorable Senator from Pennsyva
nia In wi he
Pennsylvania to the manner in which the contracts
have been made and the money paid but do not agree
with him in the position that the dock ITSELF when COM
pleted, will be useless because if have basin deep
enough we have the experience Savannah and Charles
tom and other places where vessels are being locked
every day, to show its practicabiy. Unless you are
disposed undo what you have DONE to throw away this
public money at the Pensacola navy yard the only navy
yard the Gulf it is wisdom to make the appropriation
will say further that find among the papers sub
mitted to here very long memorial, numerously sign
ed by the inhabitants of Warrington who live where the
dock u.s. testifyng to its usefulness. Of that know
thing but feel bound to mention the fact should not
advocate this appropriation if did not think it essential
to carrying the public service @.a.
Mr. BRODHEAD. / should like to ask my friend from
Florida what in his opinion the annual depreciation in
value Of this dock? MI.
Mr. MALLORY. The dock is coppered to hgh-water
mark 1t depends, matter of course, the charac
ter of the copper. II it be twentyeght copper it
will last for years These docks very faulty in
respect: you cannot get at the bottom readily
in the sectional dock So long the copper lasts no
worms can reach the dock fitwere twenty ounce
copper it would last for years, but if it only
eighteen ounce copper it would not last so long.
Mr. MORTON. Mr.. President, shall vote for the
amendment proposed by the Senator from Pennsylvania
although the appropriation is for work within the Dor
ders Of my State and within my immediate vicinity
look upon the establishment of this deep basin per-
fsctly unnecessary and worthless to the Government
The board Of commissioners appointed to make test Of
the dock and basin built by the contractors reported that
sufficient water to oat any vessel which could pass the
bar Of Pensacola There some twentyfour or TWEEN
six feet Of water there. would ask then, where is
the necessity Of having what called deep basin there
am opposed to it.
The basin there is not now the property of the
Government 1t made acontract with the contractors to
construct basin for this DOCK and appointed board of
commissioners inspect the work and whether that
dock had been completed according to contract. The
board Of commissioners reported to the Government that
the dock not completed according to the contract
and they refused to receive it, Then, if you make
appropriation for raising the walls of the dock basin it
will be taking possession of it by the Government and
will place in false position before the country if
should bring suit against the contractors for COM
pance with their contract. An effort made, by ap
pcation to the Navy Department. to expend 49, 900 or
900 for the painting Of this basin but the Secretary
Of the Navy had too much asuteness to do this because
taking possession Of the doook basin for the pur-
pose Of painting would be construed by the contractors
and perhaps by the courts of the country receva
by the Government The Government has nothing to do
with that BASIN It is in the possession Of the
tractors 1t has been turned to the Govern
ment The Government has refused to receive it. Should
we then make appropriation to raise the walls OF the
basin? If take possession of it, for the purpose of
raising the walls it may be construed by the courts
taking possession Of the dock look upon the dock and
basin as nuisance to the Pensacola navy yard and
worthy the expenditure Of cent by the Government
further than has been expended.
am not disposed OF this time sir to 60 into discus
sion Of the question whether the contractors have
piled with their contract not All say is that
from the parte evidence presented to this body in the
report Of the Navy Department and the report of the
who examined the dock it appears that the
contractors have not complied with the contract. The
subject has referred to the Committee Naval At
fairs of this body and it that the contractors have
made response the report of the board Of commits
sioners am not disposed to pass judgment the me-
rts or dement's their claim until have report from
the Committee on Naval Affairs When that report is
presented to the Senate think shall be prepared to
show by ncontroverbe evidence that this contract has
not been complied with by the contractors that the Gov
eminent should receive the dock and basin, and that
suit ought Immediately to be brought against thsse de-
faulting contractors for noncompliance with their
tract But sir as remarked before, do not wish to
90 into discussion Of the question until have
port from the Committee Naval Affairs the subject
That will be the proper time to enter into the merits or
dement's of the claim set up by the contractors.
Mr. MALLORY. have q few words to say to my col
league It will be well enough to bear in mind that this
dock was all paid for under the last Administration
der an opinion Of the Attorney General that the United
States we're to find water
Mr. MORTON. Will my colleague suffer me to inter-
rupt him for moments
Mr. MALLORY. Certainly.
Mr. MORTON. The amount was paid under the last
Administration l admit l make charge against any
Administration l would scorn, as Senator on this