Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1906-02-03
LARGEST OF SHIP DOCKS.
TIE "DEHEF' NOW PLOHIYG
THE ATLANTIC AND BOUND
FOX TIE PHILIPPINES.

N ~ Require our Months 20 Make
Trip- - Capable OF Lifting Biggest
Mar Ship--SUceriOr to Stationary
Docks
he huge storm waves OF the Allan
tic In midwinter seem 20 roll onward
~ resistless torrent OF destruction 70
al IN their pathway. But this year
they are beating against an indon-
table structure, for the United states
Government IS shipping 20 its far-of
naval station at Cavite something that
-oatS but Is yet not a war vessel.
fortress or a merchant ship. Capabls
Of use IL either peace or war. IL Is a
very necessary adjunct 20 Uncle sam s
NaFy- 4h4s structure watch has been
oreastns the waves Of the Atlantic Is
ne gisanuc new floating dry dock
Dewey. but recently built BY tie
AaTy land steel Company OF Sparrows
Point near Baltimore.
nae there are numerous dry docks
~ TIE Tar East Which are available FOR
enc4e sam 5 Navy in times OF peace
.-e gAtes or these would be barred 70
as hshting ships were ne 70 get into
an enoro-liO Nth any foreign power
This fact determined the NAVY HeDa-f
ment 20 Build a Creat dry dock which
could be towed from one port 70 an
otaer. or used IN the open seas. The
recent success attained ly the Govern
ment Heating dry dock az New Orleans
Induced the naval officials 20 decide
that this new factor in shfD-rcUafr
should not be stationary. but rather
one or the floating variety. In order
mat Il miEht be capable OF docking the
largest battle ships. not only ~ tie
present day. but OF such possible ov-
1ansion as the future might bring
forth. the Government specifications
required that fha Dewey should 10
able % dock 1900 ton ship ia four
hours from the time the warrior en-
tered the trough % the moment the
heel was out Of water.
The Largest In the World.
Such specifications meant that mon
completion OK the Dewey" The Govern
c'ent would possess the largest aoat-
Ing dry dock IN tie world. The
contractors went further than the Gov.
eminent specifications and gave The
new dock a capacity OF 10000 tons.
he question might be asked. what
sort or monster is this which floats and
yet can bodily lit the huge frhting
terrors OF the sea2 IL Is nothing more
than large steel floating box. with q
bottom and two long sides but with
TIE top and ends missing. the bottom
resting upon great square tanks. ISis
ieet deep. With an opening Of certain
valves. enough water IS allowed 10
rush into sink the great trough until
me Eoor IS suddenly below vat,-
level for the largest warship to enter
petween the two protruding sides. A.
ter the vessel Is within the enclosure
me water IS pumped out OF the tanks
AID the great trough rises until the
ioor is well above the wash OF the sea.
Any surplus water remaining on the
noor OF the tank drains Of and the shin
on becoming dry may be painted
cleaned or repaired. The giant leviathan
~ war Is handled as though 10 were a
10Y. The Dewey" has q total length
~ about 500 feet. and = height OF 81
Feet from the bottom. vet IN order %
lock vessel demanding a de1th OF 50
'eet IN TIE trough. the bottom OF the
sink sinks 20 a depth OF 63 feet Float
ing by itself. 1t draws but ca feet OF
water.
The United States Government was
very strict IN al requirements Of It's
contract with the constructing com
pany and insisted that the dock should
be carefully tested before being ac-
cepted.
Last spring the battleship Iowa was