Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-28
FIVE NEW DRY DOCKS
Urgent Need Of the Naval Establish
ment.
Report by the Special Board Appoint-
ed to Investigate the
Subject.

The special board appointed by the Navy
Department to consider the need of new
dry docks submitted it's report to Acting
Secretary Roosevelt today. The board is
composed of Commodore Bunce, Command
er Chadwick, Constructor Dashiell and
Civil Engineer Parks. recorder.
The board finds that five new docks are
urgently necessary, while one, the Port
Royal dock, should be Immediately en-
larged. The cost Of these docks, with the
Port Royal improvement, is estimated at
S., 1850 Four of the docks should be Cf
concrete, namely. at Boston, 100 feet long.
cost, 81 700; at New York, 800 feet long;
cost, 81. 100000; at Norfolk, 500 feet long;
cost, s11OO,OOO Qengthening stone dock,
$250,OOW; at Mare Island. 800 feet long,
81, 100000. Each of these concrete docks Is
to be completed in two years. At Algiers
near New Orleans with Galveston or Pen
sacoa as alternatives), 1t is proposed to
place a steel floating dock and wharf.
This would cost $I50,009. and could be COM
pleted in ten months.
The board also recommends docks at the
following named points, to place the dock
ing facilities of the country on an adequate
footing: New London, fresh water basin
and dock connecting with river. S1,oD,Ho
in two years time; Newport News, steel
Norfolk concrete docl), s65o,GG0, in zen
months; Tortugas, steel floating dock and
moorings, $6IOOOO, In ten months, making
total cost of estimated supplementary
work, $53O0.OO0.
Strategic Consfdc e ra tfons.
In support of it's recommendations the
board speaks as follows of the stratcgical
considerations which have influenced it:
We are, from a naval. point of view, weak
in comparison with the great naval powers
of Europe, ard the naval strength of ia
pan is growing SO rapidly that within a
year two she will also overmatch us
i'll available strength in tAe Pacific. Every
EFFORT is then necessary on our part to at
least retain command of the sea on our
own coasts and TO supplement our naval
strength by providing accessible places for
repair and docking and by fortfications SO
located that when our squadrons press
ed by 4 superior force they may use them
as supports in holding the approaches 10
our coasts. So long as ar enemy is COM
PEELED to draw all of his supplies from mis-
home stations his operations must be linn
tied by the necessity OF holding his COM
munications clear and the quantity of sup
plies he can transport IN his ships under
the protection of his fleets If he must be
prepared to meet Upon arrival On our
coasts even much weaker naval force
Feld compactly in hand, with repair and
supply facilities near. We can retain the
render impossible its occupation near our
commercial centers.'
Cost of COHatrucfiOn.
In regard to the cost yof construction
the board says that it would appear that
the cost of a steel floating dock and a
timber craving dock of equal capacities
would be nearly equal, but that the time
OF construction is IN favor of the steel dock
IN the ratio Of about seven to twelve. The
concrete dock, under the same conditions
as the timber dock. would cost from fifty
10 seFenty-HVe per cent more and the time
OF construction would be fifty per cent
greater. In the opinion of the board the
cost or granite dock would be about dou-
Die that OF concrete dock. For all the
docks depth of thirty feet is suggested
over the sill as being in all probability
the maximum draft of any vessel even in
the out-of-trim condition produced by col
iisicn, accident explosion or gunpowder.
In conclusion, the board expresses the
conviction that all government docks
thelr readiness for use at all times be as
sured at any cost.
Respecting the recommendations of the
BOARD as to another dock at Mare Island
1t Is known to be the intention of the Nayy
department to reject the suggestion unless
IL can be assured that some more battle
Sn1pS are to be built on the Pacjlc coast
The board will be kept together for more
work In the same line. Capt Chadwick is
going to Europe, so he has been relieved
ana his place on the board will be taken bv
civil Engineer A. G. Menocal The board
will then at once, under the instructions
OF Acting Secretary Roosevelt, proceed to
Der docks of the navy and will also look
into the condition of the timber dock at
New York, with a view to STRENGTHENING il
py addlng an entrance of concrete.