The DeLand weekly news. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1887-190?, 1906-02-02
LARGEST OF SHIP DOCKS.
THE "DEWEY'' NOW FLOWING
the ATLANTIC AND BOUND
FOX TIE PHILIPPINES.

viii Require -Four Months Co Make
TRIO. -Capabls Of Lifting Biggest
mar Ships-SuperiOr 60 Stationary
Docks.
The huge storm waves Of the Allan
dc IN midwinter seem 20 roll onward
IN q resistless torrent Of destruction 10
all In their pathway. But this year
they are beaIiag against an IndOm-
liable structure, for the United States
Government n shipping 70 liz farOd
naval station AZ CavitO something that
noats but - yet not a war vessel. .
fortress or q merchant ship. Capable
% use IN either peace or var. u Is q
very necess adjunct TO Uncle Sans
Navy. This Tucture which has been
breasting tho waves Of the Atlantic Il
the gigantic new floating dry dock.
Dewey" but recently built By the
Maryland Steel Company % 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 b barred %
his fighting ships were he % get into
an ernhroglio with any foreign power
This fact determined the Navy Depart
ment 20 build a great dry dock. which
could b towed from one port 10 an
other. or used IN the open seas. The
recent success attained by the Govern
ment floating dry dock AZ New Orleans
induced tho naval oficiaiS 10 derids
that this new factor On ship-repaiI
should not be stationary. but rathe'
one Of the floating variety. In ordei
that u might be capable Of docking th'
largest battle ships. not only OF tn
present day. but Of such possible ex
panslon as the future might brinI
forth, the Government specification
required that the Dewey" should b
able 20 dock a 10000 ton ship IN fou
hours from the time the warrior en-
tered the trough % the moment thl
keel Vas out Of water.
The Largess IN the Morad.
Such specifications meant that upoI
completion Of the Dewey" the Govern
ment would possess the largest 1oai
Ing dry dock In the world. tn
contractors went further than the Co,
eminent specifications and gave Oh
new dock q capacity Of 10000 tons.
The question might be asked. Wha
sort Of monster Is this which floats an
yet can bodily lift the huge nshtini
terrors Of the sea- II Is nothing NOR
than q large steel floating boz. with
bottom and two long sides but viii
the top and ends missing. the bottom
resting upon great square tanks. Isl.
feet deer. With an opening % certain
valves, enough water Is allowed q
rush into sink the great trough until
the floor IL sufficiently below waite
level for the largest warship 10 entet
between the two protrudlng stiles. Al
ter the vessel is within the enclosure
the water Is pumped cut Of the tank
and the great trough rises until tn
floor 70 well above the wash % the sea
Any su-ulus water remaining on tn
floor Of the tank drains OF and the shiI
on becoming dry may b painted
cleaned or repaired. The giant leyiathaI
% war IL handled a. though q were |
toy. The Dewey" has a total lengti
20 about 900 feet. and q height Of g
feet from the bottom. yet In order Il
tOck q vessel demanding a depth 81 3
'cet In the trough. the bottom of en-
'srk sinfs 20 n depth OF 60 feet Floai
Ing ~ itself. Il draws but 81 feet o
water.
The United States Government va
very strict IN all reqalrements Of %
eontract with the constructing CON
pany and insisted that the dock shout
be carefully tested before being q
cepted.
Lsst spring the batsiesAip Iowa ~