The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-08
BRACING UP THE DRY DOCK.
New PilinE Has Been Pur In Around tho OLD
Defective PIinE.

y" IN AAAH ueSH u IN shFOuhu y yin
Defective PliinE.
None of the officials at the Brooklyn Navy
Yard yesterday would discuss the question that
has been raised as to whether there might not
have been fraud in the construction and accep-
lance of Dry Dock No. 8, the big new structure
in which q leak was discovered last May. John
Gillies of this city took the contract to build the
dock for $412, 900 In November. 1892. In May,
1895, the contract was transferred to t. A.
Walsh of 100 Pearl street, who were to receive
$4,000 to complete the work. During the prog
ress of the Washes work Civil Engineer A. G.
Menocal made monthly inspections and esti-
mates of tho work done, and the contractors re-
ceived 90 per cent. of the price in installments.
The final acceptance of the dock took place last
March. and the total cost, including extras. was
about $500. 900.
On May 8 a leak developed on the east side of
the dock, about 200 feet from the gate. Tho
work g of fitting bilRe keels to the Massachusetts
had just been completed and the battleship was
removed hastily. At this time no blame at
tached to the Washes. and it was thought that
the completion of stone wings at either side of
the entrance to the dock would remedy the evil.
The Department OF Yards and Docks undertook
the repairs necessary. There was dissatisfac-
s s%9 at at The as0 slG 9U BESgESS sSs Of d 16s truck; hoSE o e
was placed in charge, and he has worked night
and day since then. On Dec. 8 a coferdam
across the entrance to the dock was completed.
and for the last month men have been ut work
at the aprons. sheath piling and foundations Of
Two rows of sheath piling surround the entire
dock, the inner row at q distance of about thirty
feet and the outer row at a distance of forty-fve
feet. They were supposed to be sunk to a depth
OF thirty feet, but it Is reported from Washington
that they h We been found to be driven barely
three feet deep In places, and also to have been
sunk carelessly. Two new rows have been sunk
by Constructor Bowles across the front OF the
dock, the inner TO a depth of thirty-1ve feet and
the outer forty feet below the bottom Of the
where driven on the banks. Tho piles arc OF
Georgia pine, 12x12 inches, with connecting
strips 3x4 inches rabbeted between them. They
are sunk Just outside Of the old piling, which
has not been removed.
There are gaps in the old ,piling, however.
some of the old piles were so short as to have
foated out of place. The lining of the side OF
the dock has been torn out where II was sprung
by the leak. This will be replaced as II was.
Whether or not any further Investigations or
changes are made depends on the action taken
A communication was received at the navy
yard two days ago ordering that a civil engineer
look into the matter, but IL was referred back
with the explanation that the civil engineer was
not there. 1t is possible that u court OF inquiry
may be ordered.
The SlOO,O 900 appropriated for repairing the
original leak has already been expended. and
more has been requested to complete IL; and IL
the dock Is to be. thoroughly examined q still
further appropriation will be necessary.
1t was said at the office of the Washes yes.
terdsy that as the work had been inspected
every month and had been accepted II must Ger.
tainly conform TO the plans on which 1t was
built.