The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-12-17
STONE DOCK IS
NECESSARY FOR
NAVAL VESSELS
Official Opinion Is
Supported.
COMMERCIAL BODIES ACTING
MARE ISLAND NEEDS BEST OF
MATERIALS.
Chamber of Commerce and the Board
Of Trade Support the Protest
Against the Use of Timber
for Construction.
COMMERCIAL BODIES ACTING
MARE ISLAND NEEDS BEST OF
MATERIALS.

The Board OF Trade Of Fan Francisco
and the San Francisco Chamber OF Com
merce have adopted resolutions asking
the California delegation in Congress 10
aid the Secretary OF the Navy and the
Chief Of the Bureau OF Yards and Docks
TO change the construction of the new
dock at Mare Island from timber to con-
crete and stone. These two bodies en-
brace large number OF merchants and
owners Of ships and generally represent
the entire commercial community Some
very striking facts have come to their
knowledge that have led them TO act.
4hese are found in part in a recent re-
port OF Admiral Endicott. Chief Of the
Bureau OF Yards and Docks. That report
mas made II clear that the timber docks
are not only very expensive TO maintain.
but also that they are unsafe: and that
the repairs upon structures OF that kind
take much time and their disablement in
tline OF need, would amount 10 a disaster.
Admiral Endicott wrote as follows in
MS report: Timber craving docks Of the
capacity required by the navy are really
expensive temporary structures, unrelia-
docks at Boston and Norfolk are in serv-
ice In the navy after a period of sixty
hVe years and are in a good, substantial
condition. with almost an insignificant
cost for repairs upon the dry dock struct-
ure proper since their completion, in con-
sideration Of the long time they have been
in service.
ION, the other hand the timber docks
nave peen making very poor records and
this has made II apparent that the tim
Der dock is not the best, cheapest or
safest for use at Mare Island. For in
stance dry dock No. at the Brooklyn
navy yard, had only just been accepted
from the contractor when leaks developed
in the entrance works undermining a
portion OF the abutment and threatening
the collapse Of the dock. A battleship
. ~ no
but was fortunately about ready 10 come
out. The sum OF at least So 900 900 was
thus hazarded. The cost of the repairs
upon the dock amounted 10 $40 600 In a
period Of eighteen months"
Very similar was the case OF timber
dock No. at the same navy yard last
July. During heavy rainstorm an abut-
ment angle gave way and bulged in for
nally. A number OF the braces and altar
tmoers were broken and a break also
took place In the west side OF the dock
in the main body, the altar system buIg-
ing inward and forward. This made the
dock absolutely unsafe until Il could be
rebuilt. The repairs cost $500 900. In his
report Admiral Endicott had the follow
ing concerning the last mentioned case:
Here is an instance where a timber
dock that cost, originally, half a million
dollars. failed so signally in nine years
from the time OF. its completion that as
TO require rebuilding almost co per cent
Of it's first cost. II had been concluded
TO entirely renew the side structure I'm
concrete and $500 600 are asked for adj
diIional IN TINS report for this purpose"
The admiral recommended, therefore.
that the Mare Island dock and also the
dock TO be constructed at League Island
should be constructed OF stone and con-
crete instead Of timber. raising the cost
TO 81 100 900 in each instance the law IN
be amended TO make this possible Sena-
tor Perkins has introduced the bill neces
sary in the matter recently.