The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1880-04-04
THE lLGIBRS DOCKS.
Stroll Of a Democrat Reporter
Among the D0ckmen Of
Algiers.
A Full History of the Shipping Inter-
ests of Algiers, Together With
Many Correlative and In
structive Reminis-
oenses.
Some fifteen days have elapsed since our

Some fifteen days have elapsed since our
ALGtERs
reporter has taken walk through that little
town, to paint geographically. for the benefit
OF the public the several places and things
therein worthy OF note. Thinking that his
tory of the shipping yards and dry docks for
which AIgiers has acquired deserved repIta.
tion might prove interesting. the reporter.
armed with paper and pencil, found out and
interviewed the irrepressible eldest inhabi-
tant" on the subject.
INTRODUCTORY.
Before going into the details Of the article. 1t
should be remarked. In the preamble, that
few days ago Gen. Gibson introduced resolu.
sion In Congress asking for an appropriation
OF 100000 to establish naval yard and dry
docks at Algiers. The resolution was referred
to the Committee on Naval Affairs, and will
probably receive Il favorable consideration
A similar resolution had been presented In
Congress some twenty-five years ago. A Dor
tion OF ground from tho Camus estate. about
one. half mile from tho Morgan Railroad Depot.
was bought In 1856 for that purpose. 1t meas
ured two aruents front on the river by fifteen
arpents ia dopth. For some unexplained rea-
son the navy yard was never used. During the
war. and for u long time afterwards. the United
States monitors were moored In front of this
property. Among these war vessels were the
Kiekapoo, Cherokee and WinnebBgo. whose
hus subsequently, were purchased by parties
who on theln built tbe magnificent tteamboats
Henry Frank. Ohas. p Ohouteau and Oaronde-
let.
never used FOR tts original purpose, and 10 now
occupied by an old negro, who. with the consent
Of the Fedefni , h ana ma for email coh
bages and onions for his own benefit. Such Is
the fate OF government navy-yard Ia the
South
ever constructed with ways was put up by
Frenchman from bayre. named Andre Seguin.
~ e m s The on ne ae
purchased from the Daverjes, and was the first
piece of property sold by this estate.
Immediate descendants Of Seguin. It L. held
by DR.. Fox. OF Plauuemines, u distinguished
and bs PpsaT bad been established
many others sprang up. but this one claims to
be the ''doyen' OF the Aieiers ship yards.
THE DRY DOCKS OF ALaIERs.
:, AZ far as the oldest inhabitant'", can recol
year 1888 II was called the New Orleans Float
Ing Drs Dock COMPANY with capital Of 5000
IL Richardson secretary. In 1851 the largest
ccwn,sd by Messrs. VIM a: Hyde and Thos; G.
Planters oil Works. . 0'' '
BUILDING WITH HISTORY.
Our readers will lose sight of tho dry docks
with a building which many, visitors TO, Alaiers
occupying Q whole square Of ground. and sub.
in 1876 by Mes .rs. J. r. whitney l. o.. who who
Intended to establish colossal foundry In All:
em a se s a as fs69s M"s Castle sa1a ID
hands Of msssrs oook Fallon. Hse At The time me-
4ts..t lot. In m
tor. the Incarceration Of the Consederates who
had fallen into the hands OF Butler. The
oR te ts Seee
used as a depot for Confederate ammunition
The o9ntlscatik9nI k failed, and ia 1899 c1l; g T.
In 1878 Mrs Il. b. Sumner, owner of the prop
erty, sold 1t to the Planters Cotton Seed Asso.
citation for 100000.
THE DOCKS RESUMED.
:, The Algiers dry docks remained active until
the twenty.thir day Of April. 1891. News was
then brought that the Federals were ap proach-
Ing the city. Several persons. .actuated BY an
the docks. "ld opensd their I 'ns Valves aHns and
caused them TO sink, This act was regarded as
pVcially the l4boripg classes. who were thereby
thrown out Of employment. Efforls were made
by the Federals to save the docks. but 1t was OF
no avail, and they now lie on the muddy bottom
OK the Mississippi,
AT THE END OF THE WAR
Algiers. was without a dock. and the suffering
entaiisd upon the laboring classes was terri
hull Of the steamboat Illinois. plying between
": Louis Wni and NeM ,. Orleans. 1t was owned by
Other docks tnen followed In rapid success.
sion. Mr.. Thos. G. Mackie. from hull bought |
IN the west. built what is known now as the |
The Nessrs. Yallette also constructed the |
largest dock on the right bank of the river. It |
was built at Gainesville. Miss, on Pearl river. |
In 1896, and measures 3l5 feet in length by 81 |
feet beam. Il has capacity for the largest ship
that can come to this port
THE SOUTHERN DOCK
was moored near the present locality of the |
Planters OIL Works. and was sunk through
stis The Good fntent Dry Dock is located above
the ds isndtng sa OF the Canal street ferry; The
depth The dock Is 400 feet long BY 81 8 ieS ieet TIN IN
breath % II Minboard: Il was built near Madison
Lang. and completed In May. 1866. This dock
now belongs to the Red river. the Ouachita and
me q Lower Coast sao companies ~ who haye dubbed
the dock.
THE MARINE DOCK,
2 few arpents below the Second District ferry,
has . capacity for ships Of about 1900 tons. Its
yard mas front Of 500 feet by $50 feet in depth,
;, The old timer, Capt. John o. Mclean. bosses
the dock.
/. The Ocean Dock Is near the Second District
street. IL IL 2es feet long In the clear, 50 feet
beam as5 feet keel and has a draft of Is feet It
a
steam sawmill and a smiths shop are q 'tached
20 the dock. Mr.. o. Mcclellan is the superin-
eendent OF the place.
TIE LOUISIANA DRY DOCK,
ONE OF the most important In Algiers was built
10 1872. 1t is. divided into three sections. In
snch way that one part can be submerged
Whilst the other two are afoat Its dock-yards
occupy the whole space between Verret and
OiIyier streets, near the Third District ferry
!aandlng la All the work of the Lighthouse and
the EnRtneers' department Is done In these
dock yards. From this dock the i'll. fated Nc.
4 lester sailed on its voyage to Sabine Pass on
the hrst Of January. 1878. The vessel, 1t will be
remembered. never returned, and 1t is yet
doubtful question whe. her she was wrecE ed In
. gale. or whether, beink top heavy she foun-
cred In the gulf. Capt. BENZ. q. Kelly is fore
man OF this dock. and Capt Fayssoux, who
the works.
MINOR NOTES.
Below Gretna are the marine ways managed
by the Msssrs. Mackie. and owned BY Mr..
Gerome Hauly. They have been In successful
operation for long time. and bid fair to con-