The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-05-25
A. 10 DRxDOCKs.

The Army aud Navy Register says:
Tho comparatively new drydock at
Port Royal viii probably have To be re-
built. The reports received Of its con-
dition Indicate that II Ia practically I'M
servicsabie. Aside from the inconven-
isuces which have been connected with
the dock. Il is not In condition To JUS
tify its use. The approach to the dock
has been drecged and there Is now a
hasjn large enough to accommodate a
vessel. But there Is still not enough
depth at water over the sill to allow the
largest vessels OF the navy to enter the
dock without awaiting the highest tide.
This defec, csnpat be remedisd even in
the rebuilding Of the structure. which Is
now contemplated. The cost viii be
fully $500. Coz"
OF the three drydocks owned by the
United etatss. which were intended to
be used In docking the hattleships OF
The navy. but one. that at Port Orchard.
Wash. was In at condition for the serv-
Ice required of 1t. when II was accepted
from the contractors hands. The
Brooklyn dock proved structurally
weak, and several hundred thousand
dollars have been spent in endeavoring
TO strengthen 1t. The narrow. tortuous
channel by which II is approached
makes I. \ most delicate Job to safely
dock = hattieship.
The dock at Fort Royal has been a
failure from the start. Its location was
such that deep-water channel had TO
be dredgsd to II. and dredges will al
ways have 10 be used 10 keep the chan
mel open. II also Is s'ructuraily weak:
and already. ~ announced above. It
will require nearly as much money 20
repair II as IL cost originally 10 build the
Port Orchard drydock. and even then II
Will no; be fit to accommodate q battle
ship.
These two defective and badly located
docks were built under the saperv ls.on
OF naval civil engineers members ~ a
little corps appointed from civil life.
from the renks Of which was selected
Chief Endieott. OF the bureau OF docks
and yards. The supervising engineer
at Brooklyn was tried by court-gnartlal
"a xrE4 "a H.,
played In experimenting the work
The drydoek at Por. Orchard was
built well within the lssnit Of appropria.
ton. No defects. latent or patent, have
ever appeared. tss construction was
supervised by line officers 81 the navy
ana naval tine officers also selected the
site as an Ideal one The largest BAT.
tleship In the navy win so Oh this sioch
within 4 short time. and In view ~ ~
experience os the Monterey and Oregon
II may safely b. predicted that the dock
Ing vii! be without noteworthy incident
and that when the Iowa leaves the aees
II win hs found that her enorrnou,
weight has wrought no appreelahl,
damage
Yet this. the largest ard hes, sryfocl
which the government owns. TIE eni,
ore In which 4; IS absolutely safe an
easy 10 place a esttieshsp. seems 90 p
the one particular Institution axains
which Ctvi, Engineer Eas.sco;f Is rrcts.
diced. = prejudice which extends - "a
that ne hss Aevesofore failed 70 oAe,
the plain. direct mandate - a ccnwres
ssonai act. ard exrena there The raone,
appropriated for the eeste.ren. 90 TIA
naval STATEN at which I, ss located. ard
the providing % necessary raacainsrs
fer executing repairs. although /, Is ne~
announced that the expenditures order.
ca win be made.
With this dTydoek ALREADY IN exist
enee on this Cast. the experiences a
Fort Royal are aesas 20 be durlscase'