Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-03-23
A STRANGE CRAFT.
The Floating Dry Dock Dewey on the
Way to Manila.


Perhaps the strongest and most
picturesque craft that ever sailed the
seas since the beginning OF navigation is
now breasting the pillows of the Atlantic
on its long voyage from the United States
nearly halfway round the globe TO
Manila. II is the gigantic floating dry
dock Dewey, which started on its voyage
of 10000 miles a fortnight ago to
Americas possessions in the Orient, and
will make. If II meets the expectations
Of its builders. only about 100 miles day
week or more ago 1t had reached the
Bermudas and is now slowly making its
way across the Atlantic to the Straits Of
Gibraltar, going by way Of the Mediter-
ranean and the Suez canal. IL is ex-
pected to reach the Philippines in about
three and a half months from the time Of
starting, II everything goes as planned.
A few facts and figures about this strange
craft will reveal its magnitude and give
an idea about the greatest towing enter
prise ever undertaken.
The Dewey Is an immense box OF steel
500 feet long. 1874 feet wide, and 40 feet
above the sea. Its bottom rests upon
great square tanks is feet deep, and its
side walls. including the parts above and
below water. are 81 feet high. When its
tanks are pumped out. the great machine,
the most stupendous ever constructed for
any navy not only raises itself above the
waves, but is capable OF lifting high and
dry above the waters not only the heaviest
of our great war-ships, but also the
heaviest yet planned for any navy in the
world. for 1t has lifting capacity OF 20.
/ 900 tons. BY means OF it's construction
IL Is not only able to lower its floor "a
scoop up the mightiest battle-ship and
4 lift IL above the sea, but II also is able %
dock itself. Here, however. its powers
end. 1t has not been possible to devise a
rudder vast enough to steer such a craft
| and hence IL has to be towed. Three
great naval Golfers. the Glacier. Brutus
and Cesar, each equipped with a wire
less telegraph plant by means OF which
they can communicate with each othei
and the crew OF the Dewey itself, have II
in tow, and the tow-line is a mile and G
| half long. being made Of manila hawser,
twisted together and terminating in stee
cables. The great length Of the tow
line was made. necessary to meet the
heave OF the sea. especially during
West Indian hurricane or an East IndiaI
monsoon, while the pneumatic cushions
by which the cables are attached to tn,
conveys break the force OF sudden strains
The enterprise OF constructing such
vnst machine and towing II to the Philip
pines is a great one, and involves a larg
expense. the dock itself costing a million
and a quarter dollars. while the expens
OF towing II win add greatly TO its Ilti
mate cost. When Il arrives safely a
Manila, however. the United States Wi
be placed upon an equality with JapaI
and Great Britain as respects docking
facilities. In times OF peace the dry
docks at Shanghai and Hongkong are
OF course, open to American ships; d
time OF war these would be neutralizec
and thus, In case OF a war between tn
United States and any other power. II
navy in the Orient would be placed at
great disadvantage.