The Savannah morning news., 1902-08-09
PLANS FOR DRY DOCK
INQUIRIES BEING MADE AS TO
COST OF MATERIAL.
LOCATION OF THE DOCK.
WILL PROBABLY BE ABOUT OPPO-
SITE BARNARD STREET.

Such a Plant the Forerunner of a
COaling Station, the View of n
Man Interested in Shipping-Ships
Would Prefer to Coal Here Even
ut Additional Cost of Fuel Rather
Than Hound Hatteras in Winter.
Suggestion That Pilots Make Com
cessiOns as Did the Norfolk Pilots.
The plans for the big dry dock to
be built on Hutchinson's Island are
already taking shape. The dock will
probably be built opposite the block
between Barnard and Whitaker streets.
Besides the Savannahians interested
in the enterprise, considerable North
ern capital is invested, and the dock
will be built by parties interested in
some of the largest dry docks in the
country. Inquiries are already being
made as to timber for the dock.
The announcement in the Morn
ing News. that Savannah is to
have big dry dock and ship building
company, was received with a great
deal of interest, and the project is
meeting with the heartiest indorse-
ment.
Il am glad to see the project for
dry dock and ship building yards
launched" said Acting Mayor Dix
on. 1.-THE city has long need
ed such an enterprise, and think that
the men who have taken the matter
up and are prepared to push it for
ward are entitled to the best wishes
and sincere appreciation of the COM
munity. Such an establishment would
be a great benefit to the city, and 1
trust that 1t will soon be a material
evidence of the progress of Savannah.
Paying Enterprise.
II believe, too, that those interested
will make money out of the enterprise.
There is a need for such a plant.
There can be no doubt about that.
Many ships will go into the dry dock,
and there will be many that will want
such repairs as the yards will afford"
A well known Bay street man who
is largely interested in ships and ship
ping was enthusiastic over the out
look for such an industry There
ought to be plenty of work for such
a concern, he said, even in the general
run of the ports trade, and when it
becomes known that general repairs
and on large scale can be made, the
dock will receive work from all along
the coast, especially the Florida coast,
where the numerous keys are prolific
a6QidanfC ~ 1z 80 oil
classes.
Plenty of Work.
AS showing the amount of work that
might be received from this port alone
he cited the case of the British Steam
ship Nyassa, which went ashore on
Warsaw Island and had to be taken
to New York for repairs. and that at
the expense of being towed the whole
way and again, the fact that there is
at present in the harbor, vessel that
would be put on the ways, if there
were facilities here for a vessel of her
size. He is convinced that it will be
the forerunner of a coaling station
which means gain to the importance
and business of the port. He is con-
WINGED that vessels foreign bound from
South Atlantic and Gulf ports, would
much prefer to coal at Savannah
| even, though at a slight additional cost
OF fuel rather than risk the dangers
of Hatteras to reach Norfolk This
is particularly true of the winter sea-
! son.
By getting a supply of coal at this
city ships could take the Southern
route to the other side of the Atlantic
and thus save on their cargoes the
higher rate of insurance that is
charged when shipments are made by
| the Northern route. AS an added in
| ducement for vessels to coal here it
| is believed that should the station be
| secured the members of the Pilots As
sociation might follow the example of
the Norfolk and Newport News pilots
and charge but half fees to vessels
that put in for bunker coal.