Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-02-07
Submarine Co.
Makes Proposition to Navy

Every vessel in the L. S. Navy
will soon carry its drydock with it, II
the Navy department accepts an in
vcntion which will shortly be offered
10 it. sail representative of the
Williamson Submarine Company. OF
ilis city. yesterday. Not that the
invention will altogether suppressed
dry-docks but it will enable the crew
to clean in a fairly thorough man.
ner the foul Bottom Of ship in seas
where dry-I -cks are nct available. II
will permit OF the replacing of lost
propeller while at sea. or the repair
ing of moderate injuries below the
water line. and. what is most im-or-
tant. will en2b BILE the commander or
another officer to descend at will to
inspect The submerged portion CT The
hull
Had the navy been equipped with
the device on its trip around the
worlC," ne went on to say, the jack
les could have gone over the hulls
at almost every stopping place and
kept the bottoms al least reasonably
clean. whereas all the ships will be
or Iered to dry dock so2n after their
arrival at Hampton Reads and thous'
ands Of dollars will be srent-in scrap
ing their hulls. Had the navy posses
sed one Of the Williamson Submarine
Tube Caissons. as they are called.
when the Maine went down. inS, cad
Of relying on the reports of divers.
as the curt in inquiry was compelled
10 do. the members Of the court could
have descended at their leisure and
made thorough examination TO!
themselves Even now this is pos-
sible unless the Maine has sunk so
far in the mud in Havana Aarbor as
to prevent the inspection
The cai.scn. which is in operation
in Hamptc1 Roads has been inspect
ed BY several officers Ct the navy de-
paItment under ord5r Of the secre-
taTy CT the navy and their reports
are said TO be OF such a nat.ering
character that the Williamson COM
pary is preparing an elaborate set
Of blue rints for ceisscns Of various
sizes equipped in a variety OF ways
with glass bulls~yes. stuff ng-bcxes
through which tools can be manipuia'-
ed, flexible rubber arms. electric
lights and other appliances to aid in
under water works
A rrac ical demonstration o. the
working OF the caisson will be given
in Hampton Roads On the return or
the fleet when It is said. commanding
officers will be invited TO descend
and leisurely inspect the hu!ls AID
propellers Ct their vessels white
smoking ciga-s and conversiEe with
o7rh other and even with men on the
deck.
The Williamson Gals son is a flexible
steel-ritbed tube. which when en-
ended. makes Z well in The water.
At the bottom is a work-chambsr HI
ted with bull-eyes and rubber arms.
so that tie man or men in the cham
Der can look oIt, see what they
want 10 10. and do !; by means Of
the rubber sleeves. t. Hose not
Acquainted with the crushing power
OF water the thought naturally occurs
that this could be accompiis neG By
means OF section Of rigid iron pipes
screwed together 10 give a tube OF
the desired Icing h. But as the pres
sure grows greater every foot Of the
descent. IL follows fl'at pi7e which
would have sufficient resisting power
a; ten feet might be weak al fftv
ard he crushed completely at one
FUNDED feet. To overcome this
power o. resistance Captain Charles