Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-07

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have expressed themselves with clearness and
| force, and presented arguments and facts which,
in my judgment, were convincing.
Mr. Lenthall, IN answer 70 my inquiry, expresses
himself thus: SIN compliance with your re-
| quest that should communicate my opinion in
writing, which on several occasions has been
4 verbally given, as TO whether the basin and rail
| way are desirable or necessary, in connection
with the sectional or foating dock, would re-
specifully state thai, without such an appendage
would consider this floating dock in q great
measure, unsuitable for naval purposes. As a
shpbuilder, could not recommend the execu-
ton OF very extensive repairs, which are often
necessary 10 ships Of war, upon the uncertain
foundation such dock would present. and there
fore l consider the basin necessary for its full
efficiency. The danger TO which such floating
| structure would be exposed with heavy ship
upon it, probably for months, in my opinion rem
ders this basin very desirable a4al s1ss
The following extracts are taken from the opin-
| ion of Mr. Sanger s#Etf8t4f t8
In answer 10 the first inquiry, have 10 say
that, in my opinion, the only feature in these
works which commends them 10 favorable con-
| sderaton as suitable structures for naval pur-
i poses in making extensive repairs upon heavy
vessels of war, is the connection of the dock,
basin, and railway, so that when a vessel is put
upon the dock for extensive REPAIRS andto remain
length Of time, the whole structure can be float
ed into the basin and firmly grounded; the ship
may then be taken on shore by the railway, or re-
main on the dock and would, in either case, rest
as safely as if on building-slp, and would be
shored and secured in the same manner. am
therefore Of opinion that, Congress having order
ed the construction of sectional floating dock in
| California, the addition of basin and railway TO
operate in connection with that dock at Mare
/ Island becomes both necessary and useful n
"These floating docks often answer good pur-
1 pose for making slight repairs, such as repairing
| copper, cleaning bottoms, or renewing copper,
where the work TO be performed. requires but lit
4 tie time and the ship is not weakened, but always
in such condition that she could be lei into tie
water at any moment without damages should ne
cessity require il but for extensive repairs,
where the pIanking is removed and the upper
works are 10 be cut 70 pieces as is frequently the
case, should consider their as very hazard
Gus and unsafe, and / do not think they are ever
used, or should be used, for such extensive re-
/ pairs, unless in connection with basin.
/ II do not think that piers could be constructed
/ in such manner as TO render heavy ship-ot-war
| upon the dock safe, when reduced 10 the condi-
ton she must necessarily be placed in to receive
extensive and thorough repairs occupying months,
! nor do believe that any prudent naval construc-
Tor would risk a national ship In such condition
i for alength of time upon any floating structure"
i deemed y also my duty 70 visit the navy yard
al Philadelphia and witness personally the opera
ton Of that dock, similar to the one In California
/ Notwithstanding the Inconvenience and expense
of dredging necessary at Philadelphia the national
vessels entering that port have been regularly re-
i paired on the dock and in the basin with entire
success since its completion. During my admin
4 istration of this Department this dock and basin
| have been successfully used for repairing the
steamers San Jacinto and Fulton, and the sloops-
of.war st. Marys, Cyane, and jamestown. The
San Jacinto was also hauled ashore on the rail-
way, where she underwent several months re-
/ pairing, leaving the dock in the mean time ready
/ for any ship that might arrive. 1 am not to be
| understood as advocating or recommending gov
| eminent 10 adopt this system in preference 10
stone docks. But while am decidedly of opinion
that this plan of dock is trior to the stone deck
in point Of durability, safety, and because Of the
| expense Of repairing, and its requirement of
depth of water involving ofien the cost Of dredg-
ing, am also clearly ofopinion that for naval pur-
poses the basin and rafiicay impart TO its chief
value. and that without the former il would be
/ unsafe. ; 1850
Congress having previously chosen to construct
The sectional dock on the coast Of California the
4 only one on the Pacific coast able and scientific
officers having expressed the opinion and assigned
reasons in favor OF the necessity and usefulness
Of the basin and railway in connection with this
dock, and being aware that the growth Of our COM
meree, and the enlargement of our squadron in
the Pacific, demanded the service Of the dock, i
deemed il myduty "to complete and carry into
execution The contract as described in the law,
for the construction Of the basin and railway, to
| render il secure and useful for the public ser
| vice. For slight repairs these docks are used
! without the basin, 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
| 10 hazarding national vessel on a floating struc-
tnre like this for expensive repairs with her planks
OF, in weakened condition, TO be exposed months
10 uncertain weather, The loss of one ship would
equal the cost OF the basin and railway, great as il
is, and blame might then well attach 10 the Secre-
| tary who refused 10 protect ii with basin and
railway, although Congress authorized him. and
experts advised him OF the hazard.
am thus particular on this subject because Of
the amount involved. The dock is completed
and will soon be thoroughly tested. The contrac-
tors are actively engaged in building the basin
and railway.
Informed you tn my last report OF the difficult
ties which had occurred in regard TO the oock,
basin, and railway at Pensacola. This Is a bal.
ance, not sectional dock. When I came into
the Department. found that the contractors had
already been paid up for these works the entire
amount agreed upon, as well ssthe reserved ten
per cent and that boad in the sum of two hun
dred thousand dollars had been taken from them
for The protection OF the government. The re-
cords Indicate that this was done upon the certi-
hcates filed of the completion of the work and
the opinion Of the Attorney General Of the obles-
ton of the government, and nor the contractors,
70 procure oy proper dredging The depth ofwaie,
had also been appointed, and the ffgaie Columbia
selected 10 test The works, in order that the De-
partment might decide whether or not the stipu.-
lations entered into had been fulfilled, The re-
port Of the board was unfayoyeble, and i declined
accepting the works, The contractors insisted
thai ipjusiice bad been done them In The mode on
making the test, declined attempting 10 ioat the
Columbia into the basin with her srmament on
board protested in writing against having the
works rejected upon this test, and asked thai
another might be applied after they should make
certain proposed improvements and repairs ii
has not been convenient for the Department 10
spare any national vessel for second test, and en-
tertained the opinion that after the governme nj had
been TO the expense and inconvenience of fur.
nishing one vessel, il became Incumbent upon the
contractors 10 demonstrate bya fair and reasonable
test, AZ their own expense, thatihe works were in
truth worthy of acceptance, and that they had
executed what they had undertaken. { 1.
Mr.. HART, junior, Naval Constructor, who. nm.
al recently, was stationed al Pensacola, and was
one ofthe commiiiee reporting adversely inform
ed me 10 an o&cial communication dated March
, 1854, 'fhat from the external appearance Of
these repairs, No., thel am Of the opinion that
the dock and basin is in safe and better condi.
ton 10 perform the test than IL was in Nav Iast
the basin required nothing 10 be done 10 n everv
thing being in good order !" and anef cnumernt.
alterations al roro.~e at ...--aatt