New-York tribune., 1894-04-15
BIG DRY DOCKS NEEDED,
GREAT OCEAN LINERS AND BATTLE
SHIPS WANT THEM.
NEW ONE BUILDING AT THE NAVY YARD
ENGLAND WILL HAVE THE LARGEST IN
TIE WORLD.


With the rapid growth in the size Of merchant
vessels and OF men-of-war the question or dry
docks in which they can be repaired has assumed
serious importance Only few years ago the stone
drydock at the Brooklyn Navy Yard was able TO
receive with the largest man-of-war IN mo
American Navy and the largest ocean steamer In
this mort could be docked in the Simpson drydock
AT the Erie Basin. Now there is only one dock in
the United States that will take merchant steamers
~ tho size of the New-York and Paris and no dock
in the United States in which the new battleshps
be pla ed ~
The cruiser New-York has been successfully
docked in the Simpson dock at the Navy Yard but
this was done en- the top Of an unusually hish tde
and there were only four inches to spare 1t Is the
draught of water the sill of the entrance ana
the width Of the entrance that have to oe con-
sldered especially in building docks for the accom-
moiation OF modern steamers ana great oatue-
snins There is 4 big dock in course Of construc-
tion M the <avy Yard which when completed VIII
h alls m tae the largest battleship Of our Navy,
hut there h. been much delay in its construction
and the Navy Department IS considerably eNer-
csed over its present condition
The contract FOR this dock was awarded to John
Guis at n contract price Of about $i62,yo. When
,,nleted II will be GO feet long, 80 feet wide at
the ton G. feel wide at the bottom. lO5 feet wide
~ the entrance and with draught OF y feet over
the sill. Captain Harrington OF the Navy was re-
Gently sent 20 make report on the condition OF
work on this dock. Formerly dr$ docks used 10 De
built of stone but with their increase IN size came
a general substitution OF wood for the purposes OK
their construction II would seem at first that the
building OF a drydock comparatively simple
thing but IT is not Really it ia complicated aai
expensive operation. The old stone drydock at tne
Navy Yard was built IN iNol' anu 'ho"s" II Is ''
''1 rh ere 'os or several systems OF building timber
docks of which the most successful so TAR seems
to have been the simpson process, Under "n,ca men
htiil he
Newport New a id IL Is o. o" ,be botom % feet
wide at the entrance. and has draught Oh % leet
over the sill 1t is TO this dock tnat the Aniesoai H
line were obliged TO send their big steamer NV W
York 10 be overhauled recently. not even tne DIG
simpson dock 1t the Erie Basin being able 70 re- re-
ceve her The drydock at the Ere basln ls' 10y , s
way next to the Newport News dock. the largest
in the country There IS drydoSk s1mHar w IN s'ae a9
St. Johns y. r. These two are the largest ones on
'ns bermuda the English have a 6OD-foo sectional
| dock which was built in England and towed across
rairs ~ which are submerged when vessel wishes
70 enter and then they lift the ship by their noat-
| compartments They have many disadvantages
over the drydocks for big vessels The The one at ber-
| The simpson dock AT the Navy Yard. which Is as
ia G feet a. long iso feet wide at the top feet wide
at the bottom s. feet wide AT the entrance ana mas
depth OF water Of 25 feet inches over the sl'i'
There TUsr IS similar drydocE at the Norfolk Navy
ward which cost $4,000 and one OF the same size
! AZ the League Island Navy Yard at Philadelphia
| which cost >5iS,10o . - -, ,.o
There is a big drydock now in course OF construc,
,ion ON Puget Sound which when completed VIII
he $50 feet long and will cost $l6gO. IL Will be
timber dock. but the abutments ana ehtlte entrances
way will be OF stone. - ,,.,..A,,. a
II will be seen that at present no batueshIps ana
No rrerchantship Of the size OF the Cainpanla ana
Incania can be placed on drydock on thls sie or
| The Atlantic When the big dock al the Navy
Vari and the one building on Puget Sound are COM
! nisted there will be TWO dryfocks owned Dy tne
| t;ovornment capable of receiving modern battle
| ship. .,, c...A,.,r,on r-,ci,nd
a drydock 500 feet long 10 feet wlie @ ana ha',hs
| ~ feot of water over the sill This VIII be the
| larpesf drYdOck In the world