New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-05
DRyDOCKS FOR THE NAVY.

A now and authoritative contribution has been
made 10 the drydock controversy. Commodore
Fndicott the Chief of the Bureau Of Yards and
Docks has made formal report on the subject
to the Secretary of the Navy. This was pub
Nshed in full in our special washington as
ratches of Yesterday. and is to be commended
for careful perusal 10 all who are interested III
the welfare of the naval establishment. me
Tribune has for years been urging the desirable
itv of increasing the docking facilities common
surately with the increase If the fleet. Al first
its voice seemed 10 be lost in all unsympathenc
wilderness But stern experience al times cost
". AZ times humliating and al times narrowly
escaping being disastrous. has vindicated 10 the
Navy Department and 10 the Nation the ahSo-
lutte sonndness Of our views. There is no longer
any question on that score. All are agreed that
more docks are needed. and are needed az the
earliest possible date. The question now Is
whether they shall be built Of wood or of stone
The Tribune we need scarcely remind our
readers has regarded this n fairly debataple
question on each side of which much was 10 he
said and many authorities were arrayed. Al me
same time II hns believed that the question
would best be answered. and ultimately would
be answered. in favor of stone. II is 10 be OBJ
served that Commodore EndiCott shares That be
lief. and expresses il in the most unqualified
and emphatic manner. That IS the whole pur
port Of his communication 10 The Secretary Of
the Navy Last year Congress provided for the
construction Of four docks. Of which three were
TO be OF wood and the fourth Of wood or mason
~. in the discretion of the Secretary. That dis
erection was exercised 10y the Secretary. as we
believe most wisely. in ordering the dock at
Boston 10 be built Of masonry. Commodore En-
dicott. whose attanmentS, experience aud Off
cial place cntltle his words t. the most serious
consideration. urges that Congress he requested
10 modify IT'S action 50 IA 10 permit all four
docks to be Constructed Of stone or concrete.
The arguments used 10y Commodore Endicott
nre certainly If great weight. The chief ohjec-
ton TO stone docks has been their alleged great
cost Men have pointed TO tho old stone dock IN
the Brooklyn yard proof Of this That dock
cost 81 100000 and is only 800 feet long. while
q timber dock near It, 800 feet long. was built
for less than SGOOOC0 Wen. there are others.
AT BIrkenhcad five stone docks. with an aegrc-
cate length of 1850 feet. were constructed for
only $40 600 or only $4,000 apiece. The Brook
ln dock was built In about the worst place thar
could have been selected, and those al Birk"n-
head i'm the best Tha' Is one explanation ~
The difference IN cost. But see what Commodore
Endlcott SAYS. He reports that masonry docks
will cost not more than - per cent more ihan
timber docks AZ the outset while the difference
In durability and in the cost Of repairs VIII
make the masonry docks decidedly the cheaper
In the end Thus the stone dock in the Brook
Nn ward. which cost S2OOO,O0O 10 build. needed
only 100000 for repairs in forty five years
while one Of the timber docks has called for
Sl71 900 and the other now requires 100000. all
within ten years.
Commodore Endicott also urges the superior
strength and safety Of masonry docks, and calls
attention 70 various accidents. more or less seri-
Gus, which have occurred in timber docks Ger
tainly a battleship costing several million dol
lars. and perhaps carrying the security of the
Nation as its freight, should not be intrusted TO