New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-21

permit the final floating being for the purpose OF
taking her over the sill and into the channel Inc
hattleship Massachusetts. 1t Is expected VIII pe
the next vessel to go into the dock ana AFTER her'
as rapidly possible. the big ships or the Nor'h
Atlantic Squadron will take their turn az a season
of rest for repairs
In addition to the ships of the Navy, the steam
ers Of the American Line are allowed by the
terms of their contract with the Government to
use the dock for cleaning and repairing when 1t Is
not occupied by National vessels
The simple statement that the dock is the largest
in the country conveys little Idea of its size but
when 1t remembered that there is no vessel atloat
to-day which cannot find room and a resting place
within its walls. just what 1t amounts 10 may
better be understood Its construction was au-
thorized by an act OF Congress which was APP
nroved on July 2 1890 and on November II. 49,
cortract was entered into with John Ges. of
Rrooklvn for its construction. For more than two
years work dragged along, delays peing ca"seu
bv a number and variety OF dihcultles ehcouh'e''u
nv the contractor. and after LOT OF argument am
many attempts at settlement of the trouple 'he
contract with Mr. Giies was declared forfeited on
,nru - 1875 on May OF the same year the
firm of r & A. Walsh took up the work under d
modification Of the original contract under WHch
the size OF the dock materially increased anu
that firm has carried it through to a successful
ending The total cost of the structure has been
ohou, Sm00 including $4,000 allowed to cillles
nv the board appointed to appraise the Value Vi
the work he had completed wnen his contract was
taken away. ,
The extreme length of the dock, from inside hean
% ouer end of table Is 695 feet. ana from lhslue
had ~ outer gate sill go feet; the length on the
eor from inside head to outer gate sill IL 90 teet;
IFS width on the coping at the head OF the dock Is
o. feet which IS increased to 5l feet az me bodS o.
| gmidships of the dock. and the floor Is - ite'
| 1iide ~ the head 81 feet 1 inches at the angle
maintaining that width 10 the inner IT.
| which is 10 feet wide, Inc extreme wiz" 1,h he
! tn, outer end Of the table being llG feet i Ike
depth from ne b TOP doGk jH ' 81 feet inches.
ana to the inner abutment floor 50 iees uvnvS,
there ben mye feet to 1a adds and the top Of the
| walls The least draught over the sls at mean h9i
water is q feet Ihe sa' Vr our Of the dock IS
shaped like a small schooner with sizes ING
g9t" is los feet long on top and slightly NOR than
Il feet long the keel the keel beng b aeye
the keel within that distance the gate }a ae
bulge which makes It's extreme bre e ~ d fo,,r
| This gate is provided with eish. @-ihch ana lout
2,-lnch valves for filing the dock. and 80 tons OF
| ballast part Of which Is water ptovt" py W.
lS-inch valves IT., the cA wno.e 'e"'s '''"''
INC m,eLi I 81 The enormous amount work done
| ond The great quantities OF materials handed III
the construction OF the dock may be obtained l ron
cmhic Yards Of excavation, 1900 cubic yards OF
Wearlv 90 90 feet Of yellow pine timber was
used in the side walls and flooring; together
with 1919 spruce pl es ~ OAK pileS, z"u,
1000 cubic yards OF sand. 500 cubic yards OF broken
| stone l2s GEO feet of oak timber, DVN spikes ana
nails $50 700 pounds OF blunt bolts and BLOOD pounds
| of screw bolts 10000 cast-irOn shapes 10000 bricks
! tons of oakum and q barrels of tar, Nine cap
STAINS for warping vessels into the dock form part
of the equipment 49,,
rhe great body OF water contained In the dock
when II IL full Is pumped out through drainage
| hole by 10 feet In the west side OF the moor ana
| wall and it be- pumped out at rate not
! e1ualled by any other dock In the country. the
| disoharging OUTFIT consisting OF two 42-nch pumps
| with "A capacity OF 200 0p0 gallons minute, and one
| 2p-inch pump. throwing 10000 gallons Il minute.
These suction pumps raise the water to "A height OF
| Il feet and discharge II through steel pipes into
the Walabout Channel about go feet from the
point OF suction
| With the completion OF this great work all fear
Of damage the big vessels Of the Navy from
lack Of docking facilities is ended, and the fleet
can Ice put I'm order I'm short time in case OF need
rs the old dock. No. 3 Is still IN condition to receive
all OF the smaller ships, there being plenty OF
room for vessels up the size OF the New York.