National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-07
MARE ISLAND NAVY YARD.
REPORT OF TEE Bo6.RD or CIVIL
EE0IERERS.

BIOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE
IsfAND-ITs ADAPTABILTTY YoR A MA
VAL sTATIoN-PLANs PoR ITS FURrH SR
INSTRUMENTATION OF
THE BOARD. s ~ sgsg- 20 s...sF
On the Eth Of last September, Civil Engineers
w. P. y. Sawyer, F., A. SiJstton, and Calvin
Brown OF the navy were appointed as . board
by authority Of the honorable Secretary Of the
Navy TO carefully examine tbs hayward ut
Mare Island, California, and 70 present %
tho Bureau Of Yards and Docks . wellconsld-
cred, economical and coherent planfor its further
Development, having in view all the needs OF .
frst-elass yard, and the harmonious relation
Of Its various departments.
The board, In obedience to orders, assembled at
said hayward onthe 18th Of September, 1873, and
entered at once upon the discharge Of the duties
assigned It. They have now submitted their re-
port. Of which the following is Q synopsis: -
mare island is situated near the outlet Of Nsps
straits, Its southern end being opposite tho en-
trance OF the Straits Of Carquinez and its western
shore washed by the waters of San Pablo bay.
The extreme length Of this island, including .
large tract Of tuls on the northern side, and OK
tending toward Naps and Sonoms, Is about ten
miles, and Its average width, including, tule,
about three quarters OF mile -
The area of upland is IA acres, and Of the tule-
lands On the east side, which will be avaabls for
yard purposes, Is lbs acres. $780,, Il
No accurate measurement has been made Of the
area OF the tule on the northern side, but IN ap-
proIimate area Is 3,9TS acres. Its shore at tho
southern end is prscipItous and the land high,
the highest point being about 800 feet above high
tide. Along the westerly shore, which Is washed
by the waters of San Pablo bay, the water quite
shallow and will admit the approach Of no vessels
of any size above that of ordinary small boats.
Mare island is the only naval establishment on
the whole Pacific coast, and must, in the future,
supply all the wants Of the Northern and South
ern Pacific squadrons, as we'll as that Of the
Asiatic seas. ... ~
Upon comparing the chart of soundings taken
by the officers of tho coast survey In 1872 with
those made by the commissioners in 1852, 1t APP
pears that the deep-wster lines have receded from
the shore-line, while the depths in the channel
are not materially changed; the chart Of 1917
showing, in . few places, deeper water than that
Of 1852. The width Of the channel is somewhat
less, the water having shoaled on the Vallejo
side. .
The first step taken in preparing the plaa was
to establish the location OF the front line Of the
quay wall. The space between the line Of build
ings and the present front wall is only 100 feet
which is too limited for large operations. The
water along that front Ii shallow, and the line,
when extended. is not sufficiently remote from
ways which we propose, without encroaching too
much upon the uplands; and, for these reasons
we have located the front line 100 feet beyond the
present line. --- o.
The present quay-waIl coping is unnecessarily
and inconyeniently high, rendering 1t difficult to
discharge cargoes from small or medium-sized
vessels at low water. And 1t is too high for the
coping Of the dry dock, for at that height nearly
two feet Of the proposed depth Of water on the
20 ha lnaf in SoF
extreme high tide.
As this is the only naval station on the western
coast ample and liberal provision has been made
for all the buildings and other improvements
which may be needed for the accommodation Of
the various branches Of work to be executed and
the large quantities Of material and stores which
must necessarily accumulate at this point.
The object of first necessity was to provide
ample facilities for constructing, launching and
repairing ships, and for these purposes a suitable
number of building slips and dry docks must he
provided.
Two Of the members Of this board were also
members Of q former board of engineers appointed
to prepare plan for the development Of League
island, which board fully and thoroughly inyesti-
gated the subject Of dry-docks, and came to the
same conclusion, that the system Of foatlng-do
in connection with basins and railways for taking
vessels on and OF the land, or what might prop
erly be called the American system, Is the best,
and will furnish greater facilities by the expend-
iture Of 8 given sum Of money than any other
known plan. This system Is no untried expert
ment, it having been adopted by the Government
more than twenty years ago and been In success
full operation since that time at the navy yards at
Kittery, Philadelphia, Pensacola and Mare
island. .....
OF this system at this yard, and have arranged a
basin with railways on o scale commensurate with
the importance Of this great Western establish
msnt.
The floating dry-dock now in use is OF wood,
and at present Is In good order, having been re-
Gently repaired. 1t has o lifting power OF 1000
tons.
The proposed extended basin and railways, in
connection with q properly constructed floating
dock, would be capable Of raising and taking on
shore ships Of any size which will probably ever
be constructed for our navy. New ships may be
built upon the railways, taken upon the floating
dock and placed adoat without mourning the ex-
pense or risk attending the launching of large
ships. The stone dry-dock now being constructed
will be Of ample capacity to receive vessels Of the
largest class, the depth Of water the gate-sill
at high tide being IT'S feet, or rs feet more than
any OF the other stone docks in the country. This
dock, as before stated, with the foating-dock,
basin and railways, Will furnish the necessary
facilities for building and repairing twenty-six
vessels Of the largest class at the same time thus
placing Mare Island, In this respect, on footing
equal or superior to the largest dock-yard OF
Europe.
At the northern end Of the yard Is located
shallow basin in connection with twelve railways
for laying vessels on shore when not needed for
active service. These railways viii store twenty
four ships Of the largest class, or proportonally
larger number Of smaller size, in safe position,
where they may be kept clean and always in con-
dition to be put afoat at q few hours notice and
be ready for active service.
South of and adjoining the large shallow basin
and railways for building and repairing Is deep
basin where large vessels may lie afiost ut all
times Of tide, either when fitting or completing,
or when laid up In ordinary, or when undergoing
repairs which do not render docking necessary
This basin Is s,sis feet In length. ,O3s feet Of
which is 40 feet wide, and the remaining 1850
feet is 40 feet wide, the whole containing 10
acres. & f. J ..|..Hy s... -r-- ..8
South Of the deep basin, and separated from Il
by q oauseway 100 feet wide, Is the timber-pond,
loo feet by 7s9 feet, and containing q
acres. On the east side Of the shallow and deep
basins and timber-pond Is 9 causeWay 100 feet
wide, which Will afford herths for large number
OF vessels to load or discharge cargoes. Along
the western side Of these basins the different
store-houses, ofices, workshops and manufac- |
tories required py this bureau for the accommo-
dalton Of the various classes Of vorkmen. Il
The workshops are large, and are 30 grouped
together as to bring the works most Immediately
or Intimately connected conveniently near each
other. South Of the space allotted to the Bureau
of Construction and Repair, and along the line Of
the deep basin is the area assigned to the Bureau
Of Steam Engineering. All the buildings which |
can ever be required for this bureau provided
for and those In which the hsaviest work will be
performed are placed along the lie Of the basin