Evening star., 1901-10-16
A HAZARDOUS VENTURE
IMMENSE STEEL DRY DOCK REINC
TOWED TO ALGIERs, LA.
Arrangements Made for Insuring the
Safety of the Bulky Structure
and Its Crew.

The Navy Department is informed that
the big steel dry dock built by the Mary
land Steel Company for the United States
navy left Baltimore yesterday for ,Algiers
La. where 1t Is to be permanently in
stalled. Rear Admiral Endicott, chief of the
bureau of yards and, decks and several
other naval officers witnessed the depar-
ture of the dock ana accompanied 1t part
Of the way to Chesapeake bay. This struc-
ture is the largest floating mass of steel
ever placed together, and 1t is making an
ocean voyage under considerable risk TO
thu builders and those who go along to take
care OF 1t. The hulk, started in tow Of three
powerful ocean-going tugs. which conveyed
ii as far as Sandy Point, where the steam
ship Orion, of Boston towing company
took 1t In tow with the big tug Taurus. also
OF Boston. as a tender From the Chesa-
peake the great tow will go into the At
lantic, down the coast into the gulf OF
Mexico and up the mississippi river to Its
destination opposite New Orleans. At sea
the Taurus will tow ahead OF the Orion,
which is a powerful steamer of 1887 tons.
IL II becomes necessary for the Taurus to
seek safety from the strain put upon her
she will take care of herself until change
arises to again make fast.
The Crew on the Dock.
According to the Baltimore Sun, eighteen
living accommoda tions being tmprovised in
the sides, which will be taken up with
machinery when the dock is in working
order. Provisions for thirty days, includ-
ing ten tons OF potatoes, have been placed
on board and fresh water has been running
into the cellular bottom since last Tues
day, to be used as ballast. Many barrels
Of fish oil were taken on board and dis
tributed at vantage spots to be ready for
smooth Nc G
about the dock
The Navy Department has been advised
of the arrangements and is confident that
unless some West Indian hurricane comes
whirling along the big dock will safely buf-
fet the seas off Hatteras and make the trip
without accident. The entire risk of the
tow is assumed by the builders, who have
placed heavy insurance on the dock Stand
ing fully fifty feet above the water, the
dock will look like an immense house
crawling over the seas, but should the
winds prove heavy there is an arrangement
by which she can be sunk until nearly
awash. Towing that way, the dock will
draw a great deal of water and must give
wide berth to the treacherous shoals of
1atteras, where so many vessels have
foundered. But she will be kept off shore.
perhaps outside the gulf stream
The Greatest Danger.
The greatest danger is believed to lie In
the dock getting beyond the control of the
Io"iis fessele anu uilAliIB silOFeW1fd. In
the event of grounding there would be lit
tie hope Of saving it.
1t is expected about three weeks will be
required to land the dock at Alsiers.
Weather conditions along the south At
lantic are reported favorable for the move
ment. .,.--
There Is no previous case where 80 i'm
mense dock has been fioated over such G.
distance at sea, and the only expedition
of the kind approaching 1t was that of 1896
when the British fioated a much smaller
dock from England to Bermuda The SPAN
ish floated still smaller dock in sections
from England to Havana, and it is proposed
now to move the same basin to the new ma
val station at Iloilo, Philippine islands