The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-08
THE NAVAL DRY DOCK.
Complete Details of the Plans
for the Structure.
WORK At PORT ORCHARD.
Various Materials which VIII Be
Used-PiIing OF Douglas Fir
The Massive Masonry.


Port Orchard. Congress has appropriated
$4,000 for it, and during the last year
careful soundings have been made to get
the best place for location. and the soil
has been thoroughly tested for firm
foundation. The preliminary work. how
ever, is now complete.
The plans and specifications are fully
described in the Engineering Ne,cs, ac-
companied by complete drawings. The
plans were prepared by Mr.. NJ. L. Endi-
colt, of the bureau of yards and docks,
United States navy department, and pro-
vide for timber dry dock Of form re-
Gently patented by Mr. Endic0tt.
In the construction of a dock OF this
kind piles are used when the material I'M
DERIVING the dock is of q yielding nature.
These are cut off at a proper level, and
upon their tops are secured longitudinal
timbers. The soil about the heads of the
plies is then excavated, and n system of
perforated or porous drain pipes Is iaid
down. the drains interesting at convent
ent regular intervals. 4 mass of concrete
is then ranmed into the space above the
drains. and longitudinal drainage cutters
or culverts formed in the con-
crete, preferably in the center of
each half of the dock, or at the
sides, near the affairs. Transverse timbers
are then laid down and secured to the tim
bers, and concrete is then rammed between
the transverse timbers. sloping from the
top of these timbers ut the sides to half
their depth at the middle of the dock. The
longitudinal drains are connected with
larger drain, leading to the pump well.
The purpose is to provide complete sys-
tenn of drains all connected and leading to
the main pump we'll and thus relieve the
floor of the dock and the base of the altar
system within the sheet piling from n.y.
drostatic pressure OF water, tending to
force it up or cause leaks. 1t also avoids
the use of the vertical relief valves usually
employed along the culvert and the horl-
zontal flap valves on the sides.
The sides OF the dock are constructed as
shown, with inclined timbers secured to
the heads of inclined piles previously
driven, and also to the cap timbers and
piles at the bottom and the transverse
timber. The object in driving the piles on
an incline is TO bring them more nearly in
the line of the strains upon them. either
from the thrust of shores from the ship,
or from the hydrostatic pressure of water,
in front or rear, when the dock is full.
The space behind these affairs is filled with
clay, puddle or concrete. as seems best
Drains have been used before in masonry
dry docks. so Mr.. Endicott only claims
the application to wooden dry docks, as
here described.
The soil at the site OF the Port Orchard
dock consists of sand and gravel, with
some clay and a little hardpan. The bot
tom of the dock will be principally on
sand. The dock will be built of timber
and concrete with entrance works of con-
crete and stone masonry. The enIire
structure will be founded upon piles I'M
less during the progress of the work it is
found better to substitutes mass of con-
crete for the piling under the floor. The
culverts and pump well will be of good
hard-burned brick laid in cement mortar
and concrete. There will be one-story
engine, pump and boiler house. of brick
with stone trimmings, and having steel
roof trusses and a slate roof. The three
pumps will be of the centrifugal type, bal
anced and driven by vertical, high pressure,
non-compound engines steam being sup
piled by six horizontal, return tubular,
steel boilers. The caison, or floating gate,
will be of steel. aud fitted with an engine.
pump and boiler. The principal dlmen-
sions of the dock are as follows:
f. ms.
Length on coping; head to outer end of
Length on coping: head to outer gate COS
Length on floor; head to inner abut-
width on coping; at body u
Width on coping: at abutment. ......... % ~
Width OH door in body ................... 67 10
Depth, coping to mean high water.
Depth, coping TO floor in hoiy............ 50 5
Draft over sill at mean high water 20
All piles are to be of Douglas fir. not
less than y and inches in diameter at
the butt and top, respectively They are
to be shod with iron if considered neces-
sary by the engineer, and those which are
to be in contact with concrete or CLAW
puddle must have the bark removed from
such surfaces of contact Piles for the
bottom Of the dock must be driven TO a
satisfactory depth at least Is feet. and TO
a set of u inch under the last blow of
5000 pound hammer falling p feet, or the
equivalent thereof. Sheet piling is 10 be
OF the same timber, inches thick, about
10 inches wide. grooved and fitted with
cedar tongues il{x2 inches, and driven
close. At the intersections of rows of sheet
piling. piles l. inches square and properly
grooved are to be driven. After the piles in
the dock bottom, inside the abutment
floors, are driven, aud excavations made
for the concrete, longitudinal and trans
verse suh-drains 6x6 inches insches are
to be made of Pinch planks, and con-
nected at all intersections. The sides of
these drains are TO be perforated with
three lts-lnch holes per lincai foot 4
filing OF gravel or broken stone will be
laid around the drains. and they will be
entirely covered by the concrete. The
longitudinal sub-drains will empty into
drains leading into the pump we'll. and
have ilap valves at their outlets. The
heads Of the foundation piles are TO be
surrounded by continuous bed of con-
crete ut least ; feet thick and extending
UP the sides OF the dock 10 the foot of the
eighth altar. There will be drainage gut
tiers feet wide with fall of - inches
toward transverse drain, for under door
drainage. and the concrete at the
transverse drain is u extend feet lower
than in the body OF the dock. The con-
crete will be composed Of part Portland
cement, parts sand and parts gravel.
The cement and sand will he mixed drv
and then made into a paste with water
aud spread over the gravel. which will
have been previously mojstened and
spread in an even layer on the platform.
The mass will then be turned over three
times, deposited in layers Of a-inch thick
ness, aud rammef until water appears
upon tho surface. The top of each LAYER
will he nsoisiened before the next LAYER is
placed upon II, and il ii has been long ex-
posed is also TO ne busted with neat ce-
ment The Portland cemeu: is to have =
tensile strength OF not less than 40 pounds