New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-12
ON OTHERS

valuable vessels Of the Navy at the principal
station on the Atlantic Coast are entirely made
ouate TO the demands made upon them, are
facts we'll known TO every one acquainted Win
naval affairs The realization Of these facts has
brought out many plans for improvements all
of which have some points Of merit. but none oi
which seem to be entirely free from Objection
The urgent need for radical change and bel
terment OF existing conditions has caused d
good deal Of worry 10 the Department oticlas'
for the reason that delays are dangerous ana
expensive, and the two leading authorities on
such matters at the yard hold such widely IL
vergent views Captain Peter c. Asserson, chief
civil engineer has submitted one set OF plans,
and bis views are supported by number or line
officers who have studied the case. Francis l.
BowIes. chief naval constructor has submitted
another set and his views also are supported
by a number of line officers. Both plans are be-
fore the authorities in Washington and there -
much interest in the outcome of the discussion
Both agree that change should be made
quickly, that the present system or moorlhs
ships at the Cob Dock and transporting work
men to and from the shops across the WaHabout
Channel by way of the chain ferry is cumber-
some expensive and wasteful OF time, which,
as in number OF cases, has been shown to be
drydocks are wofuy lacking in number and
availability. and that the great naval station
and repair shop is way behind what II should
be AS to the way out Of the difficulties under
which the yard labors they differ. Captain AS
serson holds that It will be better to utilize the
greater portion OF mainland waterfront for n
system Of drydocks, building a series Of piers
Of varying length the East River front Of
the Cob Dock removing the historic receiving
ship Vermont and erecting on the Cob Dock
ground barracks suitable for the sailors now
accommodated on the big yellow hulk. The
slowness and incapacity Of the ferry and the
time and trouble occasioned by the mile OF
travel around the Horn" the causeway road
TO the Vermont is called he would obviate by
building bascule bridge across the channel
near the present location Of the ferry. thus af-
fording a straight road from the shops TO the
ships and little subject 70 delays. The
piers he would have slope down stream TO force
the current on the ebb tide away from the SEMI
circle which the channel makes around the
southern end OF the Cob Dock. This would pre-
vent the filling up Of the channel with silt and
mud which now deposited in such quanti-
ties that a dredging machine is practically con-
slant in its operations somewhere around the
waterfront, and would also throw off the flow
charges into the river near the eastern point OF
the dock where the ordnance sheds now are.
On tho need OF big stone dock and ways on
which small vessels may be hauled out he
agrees with Naval Constructor Bowles.
PIERS ON THE MAINLAND SHORE.
Tho Naval Constructor. in his plans submit
ted TO the Department In his recent report. adj
vocates the building OF set OF piers projecting
from the mainland waterfront into the Walla-
bout Channel. providing room for them and the
necessary channel beyond their ends by cutting
away sufficient land from the southern end of
the Cob Dock This plan would bring the ships
into direct communication with the shops by
means OF the railroad system with which the
yard is being equipped. leave the present cause
The ..,@..:. -onte to what Is left OF the Cob
Dock, avoid the necessity OF building bridge
and make more easily available the entrance to
the Whitney Basin. where hauling out ways
with covered sheds could be provided for tor
pedo boats. tugs and other small vessels.
Just how the building OF six large piers and
one small one reaching out from the sea wall