The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1897-06-18
FIR I'M Our Corresnondent.

FT m Our COffeSnOndent.
Secretary Long has taken up the mat
ter of dry docks for New England and
In a recent communication to congress
OH the subject said:
Referring to the bill making an APP
preparation toward the construction of a
dry dock at the Portsmouth navy yard"
concerning which the committee on
naval affairs under date of March 25
last, requested my views, and to an
other bill, providing "fOr the cOnstruc-
ton of wooden dry dock at the United
States navy yard, Boston" l have the
honor, fnasmuch as it seems desirable
that these bills should be considered to-
gether, to ask the attention of the COM
mittee to the following consideration.
The growing commercial interests of
the country, as well as the very large
increase of the navy, render it evident
that additional provision should be
made in their behalf. There appears to
be no reason why the navy yards at
Portsmouth and Boston should not be
utilized to much larger extent than of
late years, and every reason why, with
the growth of the country, they should
not be dispensed with 1t has some
money might be realized from the sale of
such property, for instance, as the navy
yard at Boston, but experience has
shown that when government lands
have been parted with in the immediate
vicinity of great cities they have often
been again required for public uses, but
have been usobtainable except at most
eXtravagant prices.
1t seems to be the universal opinion
of the various bureaus of this depart
ment, so far as the head of it has been
informed, that there should be one or
more large dry docks in New England.
That portion of our country is more eX-
posed than any other to foreign invas-
ion. In case of war the naval and COM
mercial interests of that region should .
not be dependent upon one great dock .
at New York; indeed, just at this time .
of peace the accident which has recently .
befallen the New York dock shows how
very valuable another would be, mas
much as one or two of our large battle
ships are now waiting and important
work upon them is delayed for want of
dock sufficiently large for their ac-
COmmOdatiOn.
OF the two places the department is of
the opinion that a dock should first be
built at Boston, especially in view of the
advantage that would accrue at once
to commerce from the construction
there of a modern dock and to the gov
eminent in remuneration for it's COM
mercial as well as naval use. The large
steamers Of A. few years ago have been
supplanted by those of a much larger
size. Three new steamers of 10000
tons weight of cargo, and about 500 feet
in length, are now running from the
port of Boston, and these are to be re-
enforced soon by two additional vessels
of slightly greater dimensions The
number of first-class battIeships is to be
increased during the coming year or two
by the completion of five more now under
construction. 1t is also true that in
Boston especially in East Boston and
CharlestoWn, which are Immediately ad-
Jacent to the navy yard there is a popu-
lation peculiarly fitted for the construc-
ton and repair of vessels and of all
the machinery connected Herewith.
and mechanics of high skill and
great experience in every branch of iron
and steel work and electrical and steam
engineering live there in great num-
Ders. The WOrkmen who built some of {
the most famous clipper ships of 40 years
ago were residents of that neighborhood,
,roodo,, a., "a me 'loI Oh
navy yard at Boston, having been re-
md dool,s Co.. - - II ca - VI aus
NV +bo+ enc, lii, 49, sS11L.-' Vi iieu
dorsanan+. MS Gil ,
The bnraau consi5ors +t,,, r,e+,,,,..,..-
,f = first-cIaee DIV, doc1l ~ ~ ,,
ward at BOSTON of very sroo+ - G
7nce. New ENGLAND y,,bicb ~, T
coast lined with LARGO town, -, $3.50 Z
would he tbe first +o q tract tho ot+o,,tia., :
If anv naval noy,ar y,i+t, 49, p
MIGHT he at war bn+ +ba ,oo,1,t z.S,-
available for. our bat+Iesti,,s - - M =
yor1, Ros+or baino ~ -. Wv. r
md within, ,,o,ga of sI,i,,, frl,,, ,I,. +
,sa would nrnIo1,I,, ha +l,o a, ,4'I
ito a++aoI, M obar,oI ~ - +
20 o. 900 - 800, " p ~,
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