The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-09-16
The wEATHER.-Ths Thermometer at Dr,:w. Il. Lewis
Drug Store, under the Atlantic Hotel, indicated the fol-
lowing state of the weather Friday:
PORTSMOUTH MAYNARD.

PORTSMOUTH, VA, June 10th, 1855.
Messrs. Editors: 1 take the liberty of sending you a shor,
account Of what has been done in the way Of work at tb,
Norfolk Navy-Yard, for the past year, thinking it NIGH
be interesting to some of the many readers of your valua
Bile journal.
The work has been done under the superintendence o
the following Government officers Commodore Berrien,
Lieut.. Robert +. Reille, Executive officer, Chief Engineer
John II. Long, Fleet Engineer Theobold Teller, Naval
Constructor John Hanscom. Too much credit cannot be
given to the above named officers for their untiring ener-
gy in the discharge of their duties and in getting all the
work done with correctness and despatch. The first OBJ
ject that attracted my notice was the dock engine, she is
u superior piece OF mechanicism, and one of the best en-
gines owned by the Government, as the quantity of work
she has performed will attest, being always ready to do
her part by night or day. The number of vessels that has
been in the dock and repaired during the past twelve
months is 81. The hrst vessel received into the dock was
one of our neutral English blockade runners, the Bri.
tannia, who claims to rule the waves; but Uncle Sam has
taught them q valuable lesson since the breaking out OF
the rebellion, and the time for braggadocio of that stamp
is past. The last vessel admitted into the dock was the
rebel ram Columbia, built in Charleston, South Caroline,
by the rebels, and our sisters in the South are said to have
given their watches and other jewelry to build her but
she was not SO fortunate as Aaron's calf, that the children
Of Israel worshipped. When their gold and silver was
turoWu iuto IL iuTuace, 10 anu DeHOlu, II 0lu come out
a calf, and they fell down and worslipped the said calf
and it is said in Holy Writ that God was angry with
them and did punish them, for forsaking Him and follow
ing after strange gods; and such has been the case with
the rebel ram Columbia. Her days were numbered, and
that dod who rebuked the idol worshippers cursed the
attempts made by traitors to destroy the best Government
ever conceived by man. The ladies' ram Columbia, when
about to test her mettle with our cheese box Monitors
struck upon a sunken wreck and went down, whore she
remained until the Yankee boys raised her and brought
her here, and che 10 now undergoing repairs tn she dVcl,
so you see what the mud stills can DO. will now give
you a short description Of the Engine which 10 used TO
remove the water from tho dock. She was originally
built by the firm of Woodruff 1 Beech, Hartford, CT, and
was destroyed by the Rebels whom they left Norfolk, on
the 10th ofMay, 1862. She was rebuilt by the U. 8. Gov
eminent In 1858. The engine cylinder Is &c inches In
diameter, foot stroke. Two pumps Is inches In diane.
ter, 8 foot stroke. Each pump throws ats gallons; both
pumps throw $50 gallons the sngins working 70 strokes
per minute, throws 1900 gallons; each hour, 10000
gallons in SIX hours pumping: which emptis the dock,
$780, 900 gallons.
During the past II months the dock has bssn pumped
out la times. The total quantity Of water raised and
into the river again is s4S, 900 gallons
The cost to run the engine foi twelve months for coal,
wood, Oil, and the labor Of an engineer and two frsmen,
S7,16O. The lumber Of vessels taken into the dock Ii q.
The cost to dock each vessel Is SO es cents. Tbs Norfolk
Navy-Yard is Of great advantage to the Government,
particularly in the winter season. a. vessels can come In
to Hampton Roads drawing anydepth Of water, and at all
seasons Of the year. The Elizabeth river is open to vss
sells through the most Indictment winter, thereby giving !
the Norfolk Nayy,Yard great advantage to vessels re. |
quiring repairs. The dock engine 10 in charge Of Joseph
D. Booth, formerly q resident Of Baltimore, aud well
as . thorough practical mechanic. Mr.. Booth de-
great credit for the excellent order in which the |
angine and It's surroundings are kept. Visitors to Nor. |
ok would be amply repaid by going to the Navy Yard. |
md viewing that beautiful piece Of mechanism, the dock |
ngine. A VISITOR TO NORFOLK NAyY.YApp.