New-York tribune., 1906-04-29
DRYD0CK TESTS SUEZ.
The Deacey Likely to Haze Trouble
IN Getting Through the Canal.
EFrom n. Trrhun. nur.aul ]

Washington April 2s-The most exciting
stretch OF the long voyage Of the drydock Dewey
began with its departure yesterday from Port
said, and the apprehension OF the naval authori-
ties viii be intense until the great floating
structure passes safely through the Suez Canal
and emerges into the Red Sea. The passage
through the canal. though unattended by serious
difficulty for narrow. deep draft steamers de-
signed especially for navigation. is altogether
another matter for the wide shallow draft,
unmanageable drydock. which is actually wider
than the main channel for part OF the canals
length. Fortunately the banks OF the Suez water
way. on account Of the shifting character OF the
sand forming them. slope slowly TO the central
deep channel which is available for loaded ships.
and this provides on each edge OF the deep chan
mel wide borders Of comparatively shallow water,
which viii be used by the dock
The proposed Panama Canal. with its deep.
steep banks. would be utterly impossible by
such structure as the Dewey. and if that great
oceanic waterway completed according 70
any Of the plans so far considered such dock
as the Dewey, if required to go from the Atlantic
10 the Pacific. would he compelled to follow the
Suez route or else pass around Cape Horn.
With the big dock now started through Suez.
naval officers are specializing with much anira-
tion on the news that may be received from the
lotla in the next four or five days. While the
channel Of the canal affords ample width for the
dock 10 pass through with safety under ordinary
conditions there is much danger of the structure
being driven ashore in a high wind. This con
dition prevails generally along the canal. the
country being low for many miles. and q strong
breeze is usually blowing from the Arabian
shore. The popularity Of the drydock afoat is
the immense surface which it offers 10 the wind.
and this has made the task of towing il espe~
cislly difficult. in the open sea-
The dock. from the moment il starts through
the canal is entirely in charge of the canal
thorities, who preferred to use their own tugs
and towing craft All the buoys marking the
channel Of the canal have had 20 be taken up,
and most Of the shipping held up at both termi-
nails or else forced into the "turn-outs," or res
ervoirs along the side of the canal. some Of
which have been especially dredged in the last
few weeks. The actual cost of towing the dock
through the canal TO be paid to the Suez Canal
Company is estimated at S20OOO but it will be
necessary for the government TO pay for the ex-
pense of taking up the buoys and replacing them.
and other incidental expenses. and the complete
bill. it is believed will be about $4,000.
Realizing the difficulty Of getting the dock
through in the comparatively narrow channel,
naval officers here devoted some time TO study
ing out the problems connected with the passage
and the expedients TO be resorted 10 in case the
dock should be driven ashore. The pumps would
then force toward the bank a powerful stream
Of water from a 24-inch pipe, which is calcu-
lated 10 exert a tremendous power 10 keep the
dock from the shore.
The dock towers into the air three times
higher than a battleship, and offers a flat sur
face 500 by 80 feet to the wind. Naval officers
fear this will create the most serious problem
in keeping the dock in a straight course through
the canal The total width of the dock AT the
waterline is 15S feet, the width of the canal av
erages about three hundred feet along the sur
face. The dock viii have a good safe margin
under ordinary conditions, but the slightest
variation in her course is likely TO put her
ashore.
One plan agreed on by the naval authorities is
that the dock shall proceed through the canal
with draft Of eight feet The normal draft of
the structure when at sea is six feet. Thus it
would be easy, by pumping. 10 lift the dock two
feet and thus get her off the shore