Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-06-25

ferdam: when a depth of about 20 feet
had been obtained it was observe
that there was a disturbance in the
bottom strata, whereupon pumpin,
was discontinued; after making Ger.
tain examinations, including the orlv-
ing of test piles, ii Tas arranged BY
supplemental agreement, executed
August 5. 1911. that the dock should
be supported upon piling aud that a
certain amount of concrete in the bot
tom of the dOcck should be placed by
the underwater method. Work was
continued, and in January. 1912. the
contractor again began pumping out a
section of the work; after UNIV Iter-
ing and exposing the concrete in the
bottom it was found that On account
of unusual physical conditions, in
combination with difficulties involved
in the placing of concrete under wa
ter, the concrete was not of satisfac-
tory quality. Further elaborate inves-
legations and experiments were then
made, and in August, 1912, work vas
proceeded with, using q much richer
mixture for the underwater concrete.
On February 6, 1918, the contractor
began unwatering the second section,
and on February II, following, while
still unwatering, an upheaval Of the
bottom took place, which wrecked the
cofferdam and the construction of this
section.
After this failure, on receiving ad-
vice as to the seriousness Of it, the
department directed the chief of the
bureau of yards and docks and Civil
Engineer F., R. Harris to go out there
and examine the work and advise as
to the steps necessary to carry 1t out
to a successful completion, and at a
later date arranged with Mr.. Alfred
Noble, an eminent consulting civil en-
gineer of New York, to visit Pearl
Harbor and report on conditions and
suggest remedies The gist of all of
these reports was that the depart
ment's plans for this dry dock could
probably be carried out, but would
involve great delay and serious hazard
and gave no great assurance of the
successful completion of the work or
of its entire satisfaction after COM
pletion.
Following this the department
learned from the Encouragement that
the contractors were required to
bring the dry dock contracted for to
completion if it were physically pos
sible to do so, but that they were not
required to guarantee that the dock
would endure and discharge its duty
successfully after completion. In view
Of this opinion and of the failure to
I'D he IN n
negotiations looking to a change OF
plan or method of construction, the
department, in January, 1914, direct
ed them to proceed wit hthe work un-
der the old plan and specifications.
Later, however, in February, 1914, the
contractors communicated their will
lingness to the department to take up
the question of changes in their con-,
tract to secure a dock that would be
perfectly satisfactory and, durable.
Pursuantly a conference was held at
the department between Mr.. Noble.
the chief of the bureau of yards and
docks, and Civil Engineer Harris,
which was attended by the chairman
Of the House committee on naval af-
fairs, when all expressed the opinion
der the old plans and specifications
was not alone fraught, with the great
est hazard and probable delay in even
tual completion, if completed at all,
but was inadvisable as an engineering
work and was not based on satisfac-
tory assurance and factors of safety,
which are usually required in good
engineering practice In short, that
it was impracticable.
These three engineers agreed that
a different design, depending upon the
use of floating eaissons or boats, gave
every assurance Of the successful and
early completion tof this work, but
that it would involve an increase in
the authorization for this work of ap-
proximately, but not over, $1,500,000.
The contract obligation for the dry
dock now stands at $3,16S, 461.61, of
which the sum Of $1,036, 330.01 has
been paid the contractor on monthly
vouchers on account of work done.
There are sufficient funds remain
ing under the appropriation to defray
the cost of proceeding with this dry
dock on the new plans indicated dur
ing the next fiscal year. but to enable
the department to enter into an agree
ment with the contractors to proceed
on the new plans it will be necessary
to increase the limit of authorized cost
for this structure.
Very sincerely,
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT,
Acting Secretary of the Navy
HON. B. r. TILLMAN,
Chairman Committee on Naval AT