The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1912-01-26
EXPERTS
ON DRYD0CKS
Question of Importance 10 U. S.
to Be Discussed at
Convention.

PHILADELPHIA, January I'm.
Of drydrOck facilities as com
pared with the rapid increase in size
of ocean liners and warships is one of
the modern problems of navigation
that will he discussed at the great In
ternational congress of navigation con-
vening in Philadelphia, May 23, next.
1t is questions like these that the
most eminent engineers and navigation
authorities of the world win gather in
this congress to consider. The i'm
portanee of building new and larger
drydocks to meet the requirements of
monster vessels now afoat and build
ing is indicated by the fact that seven
of the foremost authorities Of Europe
and America will present papers on
this subject. These will include M.
Guiffart Of France and Edward Egan
of Hungary who are recognized as two
of the greatest authorities of the day.
Although tho greatest merchant ships
of the world ply to and from the port
of New York and the largest war
vessels are building in American ship
yards, this country is particularly lack
ing in docking facilities. In this
respect America is behind several other
maritime nations which are struggling
bravely to provide adequate means for
docking and repairing vessels.
Aaanrdinu tn information
by James Donald, prominent consult
there are, at the present time, eighteen
transatlantic steamers calling at New
York which cannot be docked anywhere
in the United States. There are thirty
five steamers trading to New York that
cannot be docked in any drydock in
that port, not even in the government
dock at the Brooklyn navy yard, and
eighty-seven steamers that are too large
for any commercial drydock.
Naval Pililia.
The question Of docking war vessels
is even more serious to the United
States. At the present time the battle
ships Texas, Wyoming, Arkansas and
Florida cannot be drydocked, and new
battleships to be constructed will be
much larger. One of the United States
naval drydocks at Norfolk is being en-
larged to accommodate these vessels,
but even after this extension is COM
pleted the United States government
will have only one adequate dock
available on the Atlantic, serious
condition in time of war.
Al Il.
on the Atlantic coast large enough to
dock the two great Argentine battle
ships in course of construction by
American shipbuilders. There is not
dock of any kind that viii hold them
until the government dock at Norfolk
is enlarged.
Suggests Public Docks.
Mr.. Donald, who has been selected
by the permanent international com
mission to report at this congress on
American progress in providing means
for docking and repairing vessels, will
give these and other reasons why facili-
ties of this character should be i'm
mediately increased in ports of the
United States.
He suggests that three drydocks of
The largest type should be built on the
Atlantic coast and the Gulf Of Mexico,
one each at Boston, New York and New
Orleans. He will mention the move
nent by Philadelphia business inter
ests to have drydock of the largest
JiZe constructed also at the United
States navy yard at League Island.
Mr.. Donald believes that these should
De commercial docks, preferably owned
by shipbuilding or repair companies
md they could be impressed for use
BY the Government in case of war.
To meet the size of ocean liners now
n use or building and others still |
arger that viii undoubtedly be built |
within the next twenty years, these
locks must be of enormous size and |
capable of being still further en-
arged.
1t is suggested that such docks should |
De built by these cities if private COM
'anies are prevented from building |
hem by the immense cost and the
difficulties of making them paying
'entures. Reference is made to the |
'lans now in operation on the River
hyde in Scotland and the River Mersey
n England by which the wharves, dry
locks, warehouses and harbor are con-
Iucted by and for the benefit of the
of Glasgow and Liver
'ool. If American ports should adopt
uch plans, it wonld be possible to
perate the entire port facilities at a
'rofit and build up industry and com
nerce to benefit the city although a
ostly drydock such as now required
night not alone pay profit.
Great Havre Dock.
England, France, Germany and even
argentina are ahead of the United
states in building docks of sufficient
ize. M. Guiffart, a leading naval
rchitect and public Official of France,
n his paper to be presented at the
avigation congress, win describe in
etail the great docks which France is
uilding to care for the monster modern
essels. These include several naval
ocks of the largest size at Brest, Cher
ourg and Toulon and the largest docks
,et begun anywhere to accommodate