National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-02-11

oity Of Washington II ID scarcely NECESSARY a
sri that no nSticn nov 10 existence would con- nit
force, and naval force must ascend the va one
hundred and thirty miles to reach the sity' For
5ty OF seventy @ss q I 1GH 10 ~ the river
hUlks and torpedOes, and It's DO sks armed with
guns Of q ealI6re and number hSt would render
The passage Of hostile feet physical lmPosII.
Tie mineral and ayr cultural wealth OF the
country Is bSing SSfS" I'D and the productions OF
ne LOOM ne avn aud the forgs arc AcsqT IS
last two years, hh rapidly that has scarcely
parallel ~ 40 history OF any other country;
the sEaS" " nlch the country has heretofore main
tAlped, BSd which was checked by oureivil strife,
y Tee1F 6rIHg itt Nigor, and ere anether aVe1uo
shall lave passed
oUR NATIONAL PLkS
viii 1oAt nom the masthead Of American mor'
ehIntnen. Shall commerce be pfotecte ~ 70,
tf.6n We must have n navy commemorate with
sfsate tSHt nSyy o. ana 1S' maStS.n f. Sssncy ali
the navy yards now In operation VIII NOT mot T
thRR suihce and TO abolish one 80 complete u all
the facilities requisite to build and equip ships
of!W6r as the Washington navy yard would DO so
unNIse, 20 tuProyident, that Il is diheult 20 %.
lIeVe that Il has ever been seriously contemplated
1.-THE attention Of Congress could be called 70
tho pecessity OF building navy, alike demanded
Tor the interests OF our commerce, the profession
81 cur mariners on the high seas and eur citizens
IN foreign countries, navy yards would DC estao-
likhed HpOn q scale commemorate with the dig
nifty, power ana NeGltu Of tne Ano
Washington navy yaTd is admirably situated for
great national establishment and can be eX-
tended and improved, at . comparatively small
cost, TO make IL dock yard and naval station
equal to any in the world.
iThe Government Of the United States own
nearly three fOurbhs OF the front of the AnacostlR
TiPer on each side, from its mouth to the bridge
above the navy yGTd, the rest Of the front can be
bought IRON the individual owRers At very
Snall cost Within those boundaries can be con-
EIructed
A.coNNoDIoUs BASIN
by building a bulkhead along the whole front
from the Arsenal to the bridge on the north side
upon the plan and following the line as proposed
by Captain g. =. Patterson in the report OF the
board of survey in 1872, and corresponding bulk
head On the south side from GiesbOrO point TO
the bridge with a width Of one thousand feet at
the bridge, and gradually increasing In width TO
fifteen hundred ieet at the mouth Of James creek,
and from thence with an easy curve to conform to
the direction Of the east bank Of the Potomac
river in frGnt OF GiesbOrO'. The deposits Of mud,
sand and gravel excavated from the bed of the
basin to get the necessary depth Of water Weuld
be required 10 fill the flats and low ground inside
Of the bIlkheads along the margin Of the river.
The ground thus reclaimed would afford room
On the south side and to some extent on the north
side for buildings for the preservation OF naval
stores, for workshops, "builuing slips" and 'grav
ing docks" timber docks and sheds, and every
ether requisite for the construction, equipment
and repairs Of naval ships, of which room would
thus be obtained, with the addition Of few
acres on the north side, to make the ground Of an
uniform width from the point of the bulkhead)
TO build thirty and repair an equal number at the
same time. while the basin filed with the fresh
water Of the Potomac and the AnscOstta would
be OF sufficient pacty to moor forty ships Of the
largest, and equal number of the smaller
class; where there will be no fear Of worms to eat
the wooden ships or salt to cOrrOde those con-
structed Of iron, and in q harbOr protected from
violent winds, and where strong currents and
DANGEROUS FLOATING ICE
are unknown. The waters OF the Potomac and
the AnacOsta hold in solution a remarkable pre-
servatiye Of timber, the cOmpOnents Of which,
believe, are yet unknown, but the observation
nd n n a
proved its existence. The letter Of Mr.. John
HOlroyd, published few days since in the
Chronicle, affords very interesting testimony Of
the fact.
The Potomac river affords depth of water sufi-
cent 10 float with safety ships drawing twenty
i've leet throughout its entire course, from Its
mouth to the AnacOstia river, except at point
about two or three miles below Indian Head,
where there is bar, upon which there is but
twenty-five feet. This bar, the maps of the coast
survey show, is Of limited extent, and the water
over 1t can be deepened TO twenty-five feet at a
moderate cost, and which will render the river
Davigable for war ships OF the largest class fitted
complete for service-nOt only ships now in exist
ance, but iron-clad vessels that may hereafter be
built, equal in power TO any In the navies OF
Europe. Some Of the heavily plated ships Of the
British navy draw from twenty 20 twenty-seven
feet ofwaer. but the experience Of brief trial OF
these ships has demonstrated that they draw too
much water for active service, and others have
been built, or are now in course Of construction,
that will bear heavier aTmor and carry batteries
more formidable with less draft OF water Take,
for example, the Devastation" now completed:
Sho is plated with tOurteen-inch RrmOr, carries
four guns Of thirty-tve tons weight each, and
draws nearly twenty seven feet Of water. while
the "lDhexible,' now nearly finished, is plated
with twenty-four inch armor. will carry four
guns Of eigbty-one tons each, and will draw only
twenty. five feet Of water.
Yon will observe Of these two great ships, that
which has the lghtest draft Of water is vastly
the most formidable, and 1t only requires a re-
form in cur present ideas OF the proper relative
proportions Of the principal dimensions Of large
ships TO insure increased efficiency, speed and
power, without corresponding increase In draft
OF water. In truth there is necessity for build.
ing, nor reason why ships should be built, how
ever formidable their power colossal their size,
10 draw more than twenty-five feet Of water, and
If our ships are constructed to draw more than
twenty-five feet, then 1t will be as difficult to
float them down the Delaware from League
Island, as It will be to float them down the POto-
mac from Washington, the water in the two rlv-
ers being about the same depth-diference rather
In favor Of the Potomac, except at the bar below
Indian Head, before referred to, and which can
be easily removed.
IoRATIo n. EAsBY.
FFIRTAEY 10, 1875,