St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-06-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Secretary Long on Dry Docks for
New England.
Boston's to Come Flrst-Duty on Fish-Oftce
Seekers Haunt Hanna BattlesIip Massa-
chusetts, Etc.
Especial to the cALEDoNrAN.)

Secretary Long has taken up the mat
ter OF dry docks for New England, and
In recent communication to congress
OIL the subject said:
Referring to the bill making an ap-
preparation toward the construction Of a
dry dock at the Portsmouth navy yard"
concerning which the committee on
naval affairs, under date Of March rs
last, requested my views, and to an
other bn, providing for the construc-
ton of wooden dry dock at the United
States navy yard, Boston," l have the
honor, inasmuch 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
times been said that large sum of
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 unobtainable 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 a
dock sufficiently large for their &C.
commodation.
| OF the two places the department is of
the opinion that 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 battleships 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 adj
jacent to the navy yard, there is popu-
lation peculiarly fitted for the construc-
ton and repair of vessels and of all
the machinery connected Herewith.
Artisans 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 mum
beers. The workmen who built some of
the most famous clipper ships Of 40 years
ago were residents of that neighborhood
The bill for the construction of a
wooden dry dock at the United States
navy yard at Boston, having been re-
ferred to the chief Of the bureau Of yards
and docks for report, has been returned
by that officer with the following en-
dorsement:
The bureau considers the construction
of a first-claSs dry dock at the navy
yard at Boston of very great import.
ance. New England which has bold
coast, lined with large towns or cities
would be the first to attract the attention
Of any naval power with which we
might be at war, but the nearest dock
available for our battleships is at New
York. Boston, being the largest city
and within range of ships from the oper
sea, would probably be the first to in.
vite attack. The channel has depth
of 81 feet at mean low water, which the
demands of a rapidly increasing com
merce will undoubtedly cause to be made
so feet in the near future.
The bureau would, therefore, recon-
mend that large dock for naval an6
commercial purposes be constructed OF
concrete, faced with granite or vitrifie6
brick.
The dimensions to be about as follows
Length on floor, $50 feet; width at en-.
trance, 95 feet depth over sill at NEAR
low water 80 feet.
Our experience with wooden docks Is
not such as to encourage us to build any
more of them.
The estimated cost of concrete docl
Of these dimensions is $1,150000. Thu
cost of wooden dock of this depth ant
concerted to a sufficient height to pre-
vent accidents, such as we are now hav
. ing would not be much less.
An excavation has already been made
, at Boston which would lessen the cos
of the construction of dry dock there
It is unnecessary to dwell upon the large
, population of Boston, with its surbur'
ban towns constituting one community
{ of about 1000, 900 people, or upon It's very
great commercial interests. Nothing
could seem to be more evident than
l first the imperative necessity Of another
large dry dock north Of New York, 81
e that this portion of our north Atlantic
! coast line, exposed is 1t would be in cas-
of war, should have at least one ad
ditional provision of this kind; and sec
ond to meet emergencies in which tn,
e dock at New York might not be avail
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