Evening star., 1905-10-28
A TREMENDOUS TASK
Towing Floating Dry Docks
to the Philippines.
TO GO VIA SUEZ CANAL
UNDERTAKING THAT WILL BE
WATCHED BY THE WORLD.
Experience Of Sea Captain, Who Had
Similar, but Less Ardu-
GUS Job.
TO GO VIA SUEZ CANAL

After thorough consideration of the sub
ject 1t has been decided that the Navy De-
partment shall undertake to transport the
big steel floating dry dock at Solomon $
Island near Baltimore. to the naval sta
tion at Olongapo in the Philippines, in
stead of letting out that task to con-
tractors 1t has also been practically set
tied that the long trip shall be made by
way of the Mediterranean and the Suez
canal instead of by way of the Cape OF
Good Hope. Owing to its great size 1t was
at first feared that the dock could not be
taken through the Suez canal without in
terfering with general traffic through
that waterway, but investigation has
shown that the plan is entirely feasible.
Notwithstanding the heavy canal tolls.
that route is deemed preferable all things
considered, to the all-sea route around
the continent of Africa.
Selected to Tow the Dock.
The big colliers Brutus, Glacier and
Caesar have been selected for the task Of
towing the dock. and each will be pro-
yided with powerful towing machinery
and apparatus. 1t is probable that two of
the GOLFERS will be used in actual towing
at a time. while the third will serve as a
convoy for use in case of an accident dis
abling one of the towing vessels. The
colIiers will be laden with sufficient rueI
to enable them to reach their destination
without stopping for coal anywhere on
the route. The bureau OF construction ana
repair will select a crew to serve on the
dock during the long trip to the Aslatic
station.
There are special problems attending
this task, and the risk is one which con-
Germs itself with the avoidance or the
oceanic elements, the hurricanes OF tine
- of hn n
dian ocean Naval officials are confident,
however, that the task can be accom-
plished with entire safety.
According to present plans the dock and
its towing fleet will start from Solomon
Island about the middle Of December and
will cover the distance to the philippines
in about four months. Their movements
will be watched with unusual interest In
naval circles.
At Work in Boston.
In Boston work Is progressing on the m
stallation of the gigantic steam towing ma
chine on the Glacier. a contrivance that
takes up and gives out slack on the hawser
to meet the heave of the sea, and thus made
possible such towing feats as undertaken
last summer by the Standard OIL Company
in sending barges to San Francisco and to
steam towing ships.
Details for the towing of the dock are so
much in embryo that it Is unknown whether
the Glacier will be alone in the pulling or
whether she will have assistance.
When the Maryland Steel Company un-
dertook to deliver the Algiers dock at New
Orleans four tugboats took the dock down
the PatapSco, yet the headway was just
perceptible. The dock put to sea in tow of
a steamship and two sea tugs, making but
four knots an hour. 1t was said that the
tow boat bill was $25.00O and that $4,000 In
surance on the dock was paid for the yoy-
age The distance the dock will have to be
towed is across the Atlantic ocean, through
the Mediterranean sea, down the Suez canal
and Red sea. across the Indian ocean and
up the China sea to Manila. If she makes
four knots an hour she will travel eighty
six miles day. and it will require Isl days
for the voyage If she made the passage
without stopping, which will be impossible,
owing to the towing ships having to recoai
or wait for good weather.
Capt Smiths idea.
Capt Charles F. Smith, who was in COM
mand of the feet Of the Boston Towboat
Companys steamers and tugs that took the
Algiers dock, to New Orleans, was not anx-
ious for a second job of the kind. He said:
IT got through one such job successfully,
but would not care for another. The fac
tor Of success in such an undertaking is
highly problematical. 1 had good towing
vessels. and was fortunate enough to en-
though 1t was in the stormy season.
1.-The distance to the Philippines is eight
or ten times as great as that taken by the
Algiers dock. II those in command ever
strike the heavy gales off the Cape of Good
Hope without plenty of sea room. or If they
attempt to tow the dock or keep II In its
course in storm. they will make a big
mistake"
An idea of the plan follows: Between the
NIL md ha4 41ref OF fhE vaey 90 hln
will be 23O fathoms long. consisting of
thirty fathoms length of heavy blight and
200 yards of trebled Manila hawser. This
steamer may in turn be towed by another
steamer with a steel towing cable 200 faith
oms in length Each steamer would be
provided with a steam towing machine,
which will pay off and regulate the slack of
the cables as required.
Two Routes Considered.
Two routes have been under consideratio
One Is from Chesapeake bay to Bermuda,
thence to ST. Helena. thence around the
Cape of Good Hope to Mauritius, thence 10
Singapore and thence to Manila and Olon-
gapo. This route is 1880 miles long.
The other route is from Chesapeake bay
to Madeira. through Gibraltar and the Med
iterranean. through the Suez canal. across
the Indian ocean to Singapore and thence
to Manila and Olongapo. This route Is
1880 miles long. 1t Is much the same
course followed by the first torpedo fotilla.
which cruised from the United States to the
Philippines. except that the little craft went
first to the West Indies and thence to Glib
raltar via the Canaries
The Cape of Good Hope route is deemed
superior by those who have considered 1t.
including Mr.. Swan Anderson. who built the
dock because II is cheaper. The tonnage
dues for this great dock while pa ssing the
Suez canal would be very heavy, and 1t
would be subjected to some delay. The
extra expense would be avoided IL the Cape
of Good Hope route were made 1t Is not
intended that the dock shall enter any port.
because II would then have to pay tonnage