The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-25
THE TIDE-BOUND INDIANA.
DOUBTS As TO WHETHER SHE CAN
BE DOCK ED At PORT ROYAL.
There Has Not Been Over 2t Feet at the
Docks Sill, and the Battle ship Draws
Over 2i Feet-Even if She Gets In the
Dock All Right. She Mny Not Get Out

Docks sill, and the Battle ship Draws
Over ei Feet-Even r She Gets In the
Dock All Right. She May Not Get Out
WASHINGTON, March 24.-Ser!cus doubts are
entertained by prominent officers OF the Navy
Department as to whether the battle snip Ind!-
ana can be locked at Port Royal on the Goth
inst. and If she should then fail to be taken in
It is predicted that it will be impossible to make
further attempts to dock ner without dan
ger to the vessel. 1t is generally admitted that
u mistake was made in designing the dock with
n sill hardly low enough to admit vessels with
the drarght OF many of the cruisers. Aside from
this it has been found necessary TO expend
large sums of money 10 deepen the channels so
that the largest vessels OF the navy can ap-
proach the dock. The moon is supposed to AS
sist the spring tides this week, and the condi-
lions are expected to be more favorable for
docking the vessel than she has yet had. But
even with the tide ut its full height it is claimed
by the naval constructors that the Indiana can
not enter the dock without some danger, and
that it is yet questionable whether she can enter
II Mt all unless the tides are higher than they
have been there for many months.
Capt. Evans reports that previous 20 the ar
rival of his vessel ~easterly winds had been pre-
vailing for several days. which should have
backed the water in from the ocean and caused
an unusually high tide near the dock; but re-
ports from the officials NJ the station all show
that AT no time has there been twenty-six feet
OF water there or sufficient Ia float the Indiana
across the entrance of the uocK. Just now the
big vessel is IN n hole q few hundred yards
above the dock, waiting for the moon 10 help
dock all right. 1t is questionable il she can get
out again. Her exit is rs much, dcpendent on
the tides MS her entrance. and II the vessel
should be caught in Il trap there is no telling
what might happen.
Port Royal have served to impress strongly on
many Of the officials the great mistake that was
made in locating u dock at u place where there
is doubt about the tides or the depth OF water.
Commodore Matthews. chief OF the bureau
having charge of docks. admitted this evening
that no naval airy dock should he less than thirty
feet deep at the sill. and that somebody bunglcl
when the, one at Port Royal was designed to
conditions. Tho Indiana. he says. Is now ab-
normally light. and few battle shlps OF her class
can reduce ,heir, weight so as 10 bring their
draught to that she now has.
Another trouble Is the Lack OF water IN the
channel Leading 70 the dock. The House Com
appropriation bill an item Of 100000 to
drrdge the bar. This money will he expended
ment proposes to have n channel through which
any shin can PASS at all stages of the tides. the
and ii some Of the new battle ships should be
found 10 draw more water Than the Indiana
they could no; get in the dock.
just ut present the Indiana is drawing n few
inches over - feet, and the constructors claim
,h hs a at H. iii. liz 1 RI. 'E 5rnus bee" w Us' sc - f%St S Ht
removing nearly all her coal, tightening her boil
ers. and reducing the quantity or ammunition
and stores, 30 that with cy"ryth'ng aboard
and the vessel ready for II cruise she would GER
tainly be- down to the .,i-;oOt mark. Cummo-
dOre Matthews says that II should not I've nccrS-
sary to take all, these precautions in dock
ing vessels, and that every naval dock
should be deep enough to take in tho
biggest battle ships when ready for battle.
The time when these docks Will he most
needed. he said, is when some hattleship i in.
jured in action and requires immediate attcn-
lion. and when there would be no chance to
wait for tides or east winds or To remove any
part OF her equipment. y dock with plenty Of
water to It's entrance and having At least thirty
feet over the sill, he saws, would make IL certain
that the largest war ship Cnuld he taken in
without removing IA pound of her equipment.