The Portland daily press., 1863-02-27
Portlend DRY Dock--Is IT neededf

in this city. Twice, If not.more, the public at
tention was called to it, and meetings were ad-
vertised to be held at the office Of the Ocean
Insurance Co. These meetings, it is under
stood, were quite well attended, and commit
tees were appointed to obtain estimates of
cost, and consider the best site for location.
Reports we're made in part, but no practical
results followed, and the subject is little agi-
tated now in business circles.
Now, it appears to me that matter SO i'm
portant to the interests Of our city, should be
neglected no longer. believe, il the subject
were properly understood by our citizens, there
would be an immediate waking up to its i'm
portance, and vigorous and successful action
would be at once put forth.
do not profess to be thoroughly posted in
respect to all the advantages of the undertake
ing, but some thoughts in connection with 1t,
have been suggested TO me, aud l state them
for what they are worth, only promising that
/ write without solicitation from any person,
and am actuated in this effort, chiefly, by my
interest in the prosperity and material ad-
vancement Of our city.
II il my firm belief that no enterprise that
we could engage in requiring, as this does, SO
small an outlay of capital, promises SO much
for the business interests Of the city, and il
can make others believe it, especially those
can com uand The means requisite, my desires
will be accomplished and my labor not in vain.
win comprise what have to write upon the
matter, in consi dering three very natural and
pertinent questions, viz
LIST. Is Dry Dock needed here?
I'd. Wilitb be profitable to stockholders?
Sd. Can II be constructed now?
Coming then, at once, to the discussion of
the first question, argue that Dry Dock is
needed here, and
LIST. Because ofits great convenience to the
shipping Of our city and State.
1t is well known to those interested in navi-
cation, and who have been long residents here,
that there are now, in this place, fewer facili-
ties for the repairs of vessels, considering the
present size of our ships, than existed thirty
five years ago. About that time Marine Rail-
way was built here by some enterprising and
energetic merchants and ship masters, repre-
navigation interests, aud a few years subsc-
quent it was found necessary, by the same pro-
prietor, to add another and larger one; and
for long period, both were In constant opcr-
alton. In the progress of time these were found
inadequate for the accommodation of the in
creasing size OF the ships, and the land being
wanted for business improvements, the whole
property was disposed OF, and the corporation
closed up, having accomplished in its day all
and more than all that was anticipated by its
stockholders.
The enterprise Of the proprietors was not en-
tirely satisfied with what was accomplished by
their railways, but perceiving that they were
not up to the demand OF the times, they OBJ
tanned some twelve years ago, an act of the
legislature to build floating Dry Dock, and
committee was appointed to make estimates
and contracts for material. The project was
however abandoned, for satisfactory reasons;
and perhaps II is well that it was. as 1t may be
questioned whether 1t would have met the
wants of the present time, and it might thus
have been in the way ofmore ample accommo-
dations.
We are not, now, entirely without railway
facilities. A Marine Railway Is in operation in
Cape Elizabeth, built few years since, and is
used, occasionally, for the class of vessels which
1t can accommodate. have nothing to say
against this Railway. 1t is managed, as far as
know, with judgment and liberality, and may
be all that its proprietors expected. However
this may be, it can safely be affirmed that its
capacity Is insufficient for the convenience of
the larger class of vessels belonging to this
port
Railway, what are the consequences to us of
being without one, oil a capacity fitted to take
10 ships and steamers of any size, except those
Of the extreme size of the Australasia and
Great Eastern? Why, everybody knows that
II large ship or steamer comes in damaged
In her bottom, she must go to port where
the conveniences requisite can be had; and If
any of our vessels meet with disaster away
from home, though itmay be near by this port,
they cannot be ordered here where the own
ers can attend TO their repairs, but they must
be sent to another and more expensive place.
How seldom do we see a Portland ship at
home now! As soon as they are rugged and
fitted for sea, when new, they leave us, and
oftentimes, though surviving the perils of the
sea many years, never return. If they need
coppering or other repairs, the work must be
done at another and frequently foreign port,
notwithstanding for cheapness of labor and
materials, and for despatch and thoroughness
Of execution, this port is second to none in
this country or Europe.
II we add to the number of Portland ships
thus prevented from returning bone, the large
number OF other ships belonging to this State
which would be ordered here for repairs occa-
sionally, II they could be accommodated, we
have an aggregate of tonnage of very large
amount that would enter our port under cir
cumstances favorable to their coming.
We must not leave outof our calculations
the necessity Of providing facilities of repairs
for the English steamers, nor forget the fact
that our own coasting steamers need every
year to be examined, and sometimes repaired
Il Is not long since the dry dock of the Ports
mouth Navy Yard was used for the accommo-
dalton OF an English steamer needing repairs,
which could only be made there.
There are owned in this State 500 to 100000
I tons Of shipping, one-fifth of which is owned
IN this city. We have built, rugged, and fitted
them This is well-but is il well to be con-