The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-08

construction Of sectional floating dock in California,
the addition Of basin and railway 70 operate in con
neetoa with that deck a Mare Island becomes both ne
"Thess floating docks often answer . good pur-
pose for making slight repairs, such As repair
per- where the work to be- performed requires but little
time and the ship not weakened but always in such
condition that she could be let into the water At any
moment without, damages, should necessity require IL
but TOR extensive repas where the plankng removed
and the upper works are cut to pieces frequently
and unsafe, and do not think they are used, or
should be used for such extensive repairs unless in
II do not think thu. piers could be constructed in
such manner as to render heavy ship ofwAr upon the
dock safe, when reduced to the condition she must
necessarily be placed IN to receive extensive and
thorough repairs occupying months, do believe
that any prudent naval constructor would risk .
national ship In such condition Tor length Of time upon
deemed it also my duty to visit the navy yard
Of that dock similar to the one in California Notwith-
standing the Inconvenience and expense Of dredging
cessary at Philadelphia, the national vessels entering
that port have been regularly repaired the dock and
in the basin with entire success since its completion.
During my administration Of this department this dock
s,es San Jscnto and Fulton and the sioops
ST Marys Cyane, and jamestown. The San Jacnto was
also hauled ashore the railway, whore she underwent
time ready for any ship that might arrive. am not to
be understood advocating or recommending govern
hut while am decidedly of opinion that this plan of
dock inferior to the stone dock In point Of durability
safety and because Of the expense Of repairing and its
requirement of depth OF water involving often the cost
OF dredging also clearly of opinion that for naval
purposes the basin and railway impart to it its chief
value and that without the former il would be unsafe
Congress having previously chosen to construct the
sectional dock the coast Of California the only
the Pacific coasts able and scientific officers having ex-
thon irsn in fb0
necessity and usefulness Of the basin and railway in con-
melton with this DOCK and being that the growth
in the Pacific demanded the service Of the dock deemed
II my duty 10 complete and carry into execution the
contract A. described in the law for the construction
OF the basin and railway to render it secure and useful
for the public servcen For slight repairs thes docks
used without the basn and BY authority of Congress
the contractors have built temporary piers, and are
using this dock in California for such purposes But
could not consent except from necessity TO hazarding
national vessel floating structure like this for
tensve repairs with her plsnks off, in weakened con-
difon, 10 be exposed months to uncertain weather
The loss Of one ship would equal the cost of the
tLen web attach TO the Secretary who refused
10 protect II with basin and railway although Con-
press authorized him and experts advised him Of the
am thus particular this subject because Of the
amount involved The dock is completed and will soon
be thoroughly tested. The contractors actively
gagged In building the basin and railway.
informed you in my last report Of the difficulties
railway At Pensacola. This balance, not sectional
dock when came into the Department. found that
the contractor. had already been paid up for these
served per cent and that bond in the Of two
hundred thousand dollars had been taken from them
that this done upon the certificates dled Of the
peton Of the work. and the opinion OF the Attorney &C.
neral Of the obligation Of the sovernment and not the
water necesssry for the orsrston Of the dock board
had siso been appointed, and the frigate Co.
the department might decide whether or not the
stpalatous entered into h been fu6lled Tho report
~. sose n. e""seors insisted shss INJUSTICE ha
b-eu done them in the mode Of making the test declined
attempting 70 6oat the Columbia into tho basin with her
armament board protested in writing against having
the works ctsd apoa this test asked that another
might be applied after they should make certain propos
sss, IA the 10 spsr. .ny national vessel for
second test and entertained the opinion that after
the had bsss 70 the expense and inconys
nience VI furnishing weasel II became incumbent
upon the coutrsctor 10 demonstrate BY . fair and
reasonable test ~ their own expense that this works
executed What they had undertaken.
Mr. HART, Jr, Naval Constructor Who, until recently.
stationed ~ Pensacola and Was one Of the commit
reporting adversely informed me Ia Official COM
muuicston dated March Z, 1854 "that from the ex
sernai appearance Of these repairs &C. (he) Of the
condition 10 perform the test than IL in Nay last;
the required nothing 10 be done to IT, every thing
~ing ~ seos order and s,ser ennmer.uns Tue ai'era
alterations enumerated above Of great advantage As re-
CARDS the safety and efficiency Of the dock" Still de-
svvrai different vessels With which to make the test
bit declined because did not consider either Of them
I'M ~ ana s s EsT,s 20 ,bsm me
them that should deem my duty to turn the
To the courts Of law they dnay proposed another test
ing a Commodores Morris and McCaney, Constructor
Lsnthell, and Owl Engineer sanger That board
alter consideration advised the Department that il
wss proposed Ia take ballast in the large merchant
ship The Monarch Of the seas," until her weight
displacement 500 tons, and then place ballast
the dock until weight Of 800 tons made up that
heing the estimated weight OF the "Niagara," (,he
ehissry and ia sppufssnsnces on board thus making
weight VI 3lb tons more than used in the former
t~st The vessel 10 TO Be placed the dock hcated in
70 the basin and hauled sshore on the railway, and re
The board considering the details Of the proposed tsst
salcient to enable the Departnsat Determine whs-
Their the works are worthy Of sceeptancs or not The
vcssel nov ON her way 70 reasAcoaa and the second
test VIII be nads immediately, whea the Department
win be the better able 90 judge Of the character Of these
structures. The interest Of the government shall be
m made 20 ASCERTAIN III. true acts ss to III. character
and capabihiy Of the dock, basin aad railway.
In the third section Of tn: naval spproprs-
sress, was provided I" That All the grounds
and sppurtsnsnces thereunto belonging, known
the Memphis Navy Yard, In shelby county, Tennes-
b. and the hereby ocdsd 70 the Mayor and
Ahernrn 81 the city Of Memphis scr the use and beue
~ OF SAID city, and that The secretary OF the Navy order
the eemms ndsnt 81 ssd navy yard st Memphis TO
render 10 the Mayor Of Memphis said property" In
pursnsncs Il that provision OF aw, sddressed .
muncaton 70 the Mayor Of the city u Memphis, 10
errtsin tbs OF the Mayor and Aldermen ~ the
secertsoce u the donation. On receiving from them
certified copy Of their prcceedings expressing their
readiness 10 receive the property order ssaed
the commsndsnt II the navy yard 81 Memphis 70
render the ground aud sppurtenances 70 the Mayor.
The order oheyed, and in due fosm the SURRENDER
made. and the rroT~rsy is in the possession
and under tho control az the corporate authori.
ties az Memphis. 10, perhaps, proper that
shosd ststs that there suudry articles Of
property belong the ssed in connection
IN that yard ts sAle 81 which the % psrtmeut has
for he lsss~ns suspended a the request ~ the Mayor
and Alsrusen their eofnpun esiue 70 the depart
that the, had resolved "a appel 70 Congress -
sstalft-h 10 navy ysrt