Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-02-02
LARGEST OF SHIP DOCKS.
THE "DEWEY'' NOW PLOWING
THE ATLANTIC AND BOUND
= FOR THE PHILIPPINES.
Will Require Four Months to Make
Trip. Capable of Lifting Biggest
War Ship.-Superior to Stationary
Docks.

War Ship.-Superior to Stationary
Docks.
The huge storm waves of the Allan
tic in midwinter seem to roll onward
in resistless torrent of destruction to
all in their pathway. But this year
| they are beating against an indom-
liable structure, for the United States
Government is shipping to its far-off
naval station at Cavite something that
| floats but is yet not a war vessel, a
fortress or merchant ship. Capable
Of use in either peace or war, it is a
very necessary adjunct to Uncle Sans
Navy. This structure which has been
breasting the waves Of the Atlantic is
the gigantic new floating dry dock,
Dewey" but recently built by the
Maryland Steel Company of Sparrows
Point, near Baltimore.
While there are numerous dry docks
| in the far East which are available for
| Uncle Sans Navy in times Of peace.
the gates Of these would be barred to
his fighting ships were he to get into
an embroglio with any foreign power.
This fact determined the Navy Depart.
ment to build a great dry dock which
could be tov'eo from one port to an
other. or used in the open seas. The
recent success attained by the Govern
ment floating dry dock at New Orleans
induced the naval officials to decide
that this new factor in ship-repair
should not be stationary, but rather
one OF the floating variety. In order
that 1t might be capable of docking the
largest battle ships, not only Of the
present day, but Of such possible ex
pansion as the future might bring
forth, the Government specifications
required that the dewey" should be
able to dock a 10000 ton ship in foul
hours from the time the warrior en-
tered the trough to the moment the
keel was out of water.
The Largest in the World.
| Such specifications meant that upor
completion of the Dewey" the Govern
ment would possess the largest float
ing dry dock in the world. The
contractors went further than the Gov
eminent specifications and gave the
new dock a capacity Of 10000 tons.
The question might be asked, what
sort OF monster Is this which floats and
yet can bodily lift the huge fighting
terrors of the sea? 1t is nothing more
than a large steel floating box, with q
bottom and two long sides but with
the top and ends missing, the bottom
resting upon great square tanks, 1877
feet deep. With an opening of certain
valves, enough water is allowed to
rush into sink the great trough until
the floor is sufficiently below water
level for the largest warship to enter
between the two protruding sides. AT.
ter the vessel is within the enclosure
the water is pumped out of the tanks
and the great trough rises until the
floor is well above the wash of the sea-
Any surplus water remaining on the
floor Of the tank drains of and the ship
on becoming dry may be painted,
lcleaned or repaired. The giant leviathan
of war IS handled as though it were q
toy. The dewey" has q total length
Of about 500 feet, and height of 81
feet from the bottom, yet in order to
dock vessel demanding q depth Of 80
feet in the trough, the bottom Of the
tank sinks to depth of So feet. Float.
ing by itself. it draws but e1s feet OF
water.
The United States Government was
very strict in all requirements Of its
contract with the constructing com.
pany and insisted that the dock should
be carefully tested before being &C.
lcepted.
Last spring the battleship Iowa was