New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-13
BOTH DOCKS DISABLED.
MORE TROUBLE WITH LEAKS AT THE
NAVY YARD.
TWELVE FEET IN DEPTH LET INTO DOCK NJ. .
AS PREVENTIVE MEAsURE-LEAKs AT
THE EASTERN END or THE srRucT-

AS PREVENTIVE MEAsuRE-LEAKs AT
THE EASTERN END or THE srRucr-
URp CAUsD ANXIETY.
Both tho timber drydocks at the navy 'a'N
are now disabled. for late yesterday ai'er"Uo"
the valves In the gate OF Dock NO. = the sna'e,
and older of the docks, were opened and about
twelve feet Of water allowed to How IN A''e"
ton has been called In The Tribune 10 the iac'
that the leaks which had endangered the SAFETY
OF the new dock had spread to the ola one anu
Yesterday Naval Constructor Bowles maze al III
spection Of the structure. Leaks were uisoo'-
cred at the eastern end of the docK' WHICH,
while not in themselves dangerous, sho"eo the
characteristics OF the older leaks, ana ai'er
report had been made to Commodore buhce
commandant of the yard, orders were isSueu "
meet the trouble more than halfway anu 'e'
enough water into the dock to prevent an! uan
ger of a washout The fact that the water Leak
ing in Is salt shows that the tides OF the rNei
have found their way into the basins
A new board consisting OF CIVIL Engineers
Asserson Menocal and Endicott, has been ap-
no,nted 10 look after the big dock. and 1t Is ex-
pected to meet to-day. The dock is to be pumped
out thorough examination made ana oil eA'
haustive report submitted to the Department..
II &c noU believed that the plan first submitted
for stopping the leaks-that is, driving row vi
sheet spiling along the eastern edge OF the DOCK
will prove entirely inadequate, and that soia
concrete wall will be needed not only along the
eastern edge Of the dock, but along the whole
,enpth Of the Wallabout channel. between the
abutments OF the dock and the brick boundary
wall running parallel with Washngton-ave.
The first OF the spiles for the new trench were
driven yesterday, and the manner In which they
wont into the ground was sufficient PROOF OF
the statement that the earth is not OF quality
which would repel water. After long ree
trunk had gone down about fifteen feet the fall
ing hammer would rebound when II struck the
end Of the spile and the earth Tor twenty lees
around would tremble and shake as II the emo
of the spile had landed on bed of hard rubber.
II was explained that this was caused by TIM
bers and other loose material used TO fill In the
basin having formed a mass underneath the
earth which, while il afforded no barrier 10
water was difficult to penetrate with a SUCK
foot In diameter.
II was pointed out ominous that the leaks
in the old dock had appeared at the eastern end
instead OF the western. where they showed IN the
new dock giving the inference that the whoIe
territory was undermined by the " ater from the
old timber basin. II will still be possible to use
the old dock In OF necessity. 1t is believed
that the leaks will not gain more headway than
can be held In check by the pumps. This Will
admit the docking Of the Maine although the
Indiana. which has been IN the water more than
year, and is in need of bilge keels will have to
wait her chances, or go to Port Royal.
Just what will be shown by the pumping out
Of the big dock to-day Is something the yard
officials anxously waiting 10 find out, and
every effort will be made TO stop the leaks as
quickly as possible. that the Indiana may be
taken out and cleaned.