The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-23
Docks For the Navy.

In our Washington correspondence a few
days ago the announcement was made that
the navy department, resolved to free it.
self from the responsibility of sending
American war vessels 10 foreign dry docks
in future, had determined to ask congress
at its next session to make appropriations
for the construction of at least four new
dry docks. Al present there is only one
dry dock in the country of sufficient size
to accommodate ships of the Indiana class.
and that one is at Port Royal. For various
reasons. however, the navy department
recently found the Port Royal dock I'M
available when il was desired to dock the
Indiana, and that ship was sent to Hall
fax.
Until the real and imaginary deficiencies,
at the Port Royal dock can be removed,
or new docks built, this government will
remain under the necessity of asking ia
vors from foreign governments when it is
found necessary to dock one of the battle
ships. 1t is humiliating to national pride
to have this condition of affairs prolong-
ed, hence it is to be hoped that congress
will speedily make provisions for remedy
ing it. One thing which congress should
do is to make the use of the Port Royal
dock as nearly peremptory as may be
possible. The prejudice of naval officers
against the dock, because of the fact that
there is no fashionable watering place or
resort near by, should no longer be permit
ted to initiate against the station. Having
made the investment there, it should be
employed to the best advantage practical
bic.
IL has been calculated by experts, how
ever, that if the Port Royal dry dock were
worked to its fullest capacity it would
not supply the needs of the navy; and it is
contemplated that the navy shall be con-
stantly increased. If the fleet of the near
future averages sixty to seventy war yes
sells, with auxiliary transports, tenders,
tugs and golfers, the government will
have 20 dock in the neighborhood of 300
vessels every six months which is far be-
ycnd the present facilities of the naval es-
adjustment and hence the necessity for
providing speedily for increased docking
facilities The naval board of which Adj
miral Bunce is chairman, in session in
Brooklyn, is studying the docking prob
lem with a view to making recommended
tions TO the department The board recent
ly sent one of it's experts to Europe and
he was at Walls-End-on-T when the
new steel floating dock, built for the Span
ish government, was launched. He brought
back interesting details with regard 10 the
new dock. which are receiving the careful
study of the naval board. 1t may be that
the board viii recommend the construction
OF steel floating docks Tor the United
States. in the place OF the more expensive
timber or stone dry docks
The steel dock refqFred to was built for
| the Spanish government to be used in the
| harbor of Havana and is being lowed TO
| that port 1t is $50 by 110 feet in size, and
| is capable of raising 1900 tons. The first
plate in the construction Of it was laid on
March q, last, and it was launched week
or two ago in "A practically completed con-
dition The cost on the dock. complete, is
placed At a figure closely approximating
$500 600, or about one-half to one-third the
| cost Of a dock like that at Port Royal.
| There is a depth of q feet 6 inches upon it's
stills, which would admit a ship of the
draught Of the Indiana. While the dock is
! intended for use at Havana. it can be tow
ed elsewhere if the occasion or necessity
for doing so should arise.