St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-07-31
GENERAL NEWS.
Navy Acquires spanish Dock.

Navy Acquires Spanish Dock.
The navy department has purchased
the big floating steel dry dock, which lies
in Havana harbor, from the govern
ment of Spain for $185,000. This dry
dock, now bought by the United States
navy, was built in England in 1887, at
a cost of $455, 900, exclusive OF the
mornings and the expense OF dredging
the basin in which it is operated. 1t is
$50 feet long, 160 feet wide and has
lifting capacity of 10000 tons and a
draught over the keel block OF 81 feet,
6 inches. 1t was towed from England
to Havana for the use of the Spanish
navy. This was perhaps the greatest
feat of ocean towing ever attempted,
and it was accomplished only after some
exciting mishaps. This dock was not
included in the naval material surrend-
cred by Spain in Cuba. In 1899 agents
of the Spanish government offered it tor
sale at 100000, refusing an offer OF
$3.50, 900 made by our navy department.
That their own commission was great
part of this price was shown when Spain,
dealt with directly, put price of $780,
900 gold on the dock in 1900. In the ma
val appropriation bill OF 1900 an item OF
$225,OO0 for the purchase was included.
In recommending the purchase Charles
H. Allen, then assistant secretary OF the
navy, said:
"The purchase of this dock would be
very advantageous because of it's low
cost, and because of the need of one of
its capacity in Southern waters, the gov
eminent having no docking facilities in
its new possessions in the West Indies
and none upon the Gulf coast or the
Atlantic coast south of Port Royal, S. c..
except small wooden floating dock at
the navy yard, Pensacola, with a ca
pacity of 1000 tons. The steel dock at
Havana could be transferred from one
place to another as occasion might re-
quire, for use either in the Southern
waters of the United States or in those
OF the West Indies, and it's acquisition
would be very valuable. 1t is not proba-
Bic that it would be desired to retain
and operate it in the harbor of Havana"
The construction of the great new
floating dock tor the Alger navy yard,
near New Orleans, now nearly ready to
be towed to its station, has somewhat
lessened the need of the Havana dock,
but it is a decided acquisition to the
navy at the price paid.
6 The interstate commerce commission
, has Just issued an abstract summarizing
, the reports of the railroads of the coun-
+ try for the year ending June 80, 1900.
The striking feature of the abstract is
the immense gains that were made
J by the railroads in a general way during
: theyear. The commissions figures show
that from June 80, 1899, to June 80
1900, the number of passengers carried
j. bv all the railroads of the country was
! ! SIG, 1865 ,230, an increase over the pre-
ceding year of 53,698, 1872. The number
OF passengers carried one mie-passenger
600, mileage proper-was 16 900, 600, an
increase OF about 1900, 100000. The
d number of tons of freight carried one
r mile was 141 500, 100000, an increase
s. of nearly ,00O0OOOOO. The average
revenue per mile for both passenger and
d freight traffic, showed a material ad
}. vance, and the gross earnings for the
e railway system as whole made an in
e crease of $173, 100000. For each mile
of line operated the commission has fig
u ured out gross earnings of $7722, OF
e SIT more than for the year ending June
!. 80, 1899. Operating expenses did not
q increase comparatively SO the tnancia
II standing OF the railroads was materially
4 increased. The percentage of fatal acct
4 dents was lowered somewhat, the tota
number killed being 1865 of whom
$50 were railroad employees. Abou
Il 10000 passengers were injured during
y the year which, is somewhat highe
/ percentage than during the preceding
+ year.
f. A Burns Library.
William r. Smith, superintendent o
r the National Botanic Garden, Washing
&c ton, D. c., will soon visit Andrew
q Carnegie at Skibo Castle. While he i
# abroad he will seek to acquire some ad
,e ditional works of Burns tor his collec
" ton, which is already the most complet
4 in the United States.
Y Mr.. Carnegie is assisting in periectinj
If Mr.. Smiths Burns library, and it vii
# pass into the hands of the great million
!. aire by will on the death OF its owner
. Mr.. Carnegie and Mr.. Smith enterta
Y. a deep affection for each other. The
have many traits in common beside
. their admiration for Robert Burns
!, When asked regarding his coming visi
~ to Mr.. Carnegie at Skibo Castle, Nj
q Smith said: I'VE met - years ago GU
le there in the gardens and brought hir
" y. here to see my collection. Of course h
A. was interested, and since then we hav
become intimate, and we are workin
O. together to make my collection the fines
at in the world. 1t is already the best i
IL America, but there is one in Glasgow
It. that surpasses it. have 260 differen
ID editions, of which 11S are American
us | have not as many manuscripts as
would like. They are very precious, bu
of a number may be obtained"
e- Third Rail Injuries Eyes.
~ The advent of the third rail system
9 c Boston has brought with it dangers t
u, not only motormen, but also passenger
IN on both surface and elevated cars, say
"a the New York Sun. According to do,
y tors and electricians, more than
motormen are being treated for ey
NJ trouble, the result of the minute iro
n particles rubbed off the third rail by tt
is "shoe' connecting it with the trai,
It's Those treated at the Emergency and tt
OF | Nox,y E,,OIood Eve ood For uncp;toI \ n