Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-12-12
NAVY ISEAGER
FOR DRYDOCk TO
RECONSTRUCTED
Annual Report Of Secretary
Shows Importance of Pearl
Harbor Project

In the annual report Of the navy de-
rartment for 1914 the following ref
erence is made to Pearl Harbor and
the drydock contract:
Years ago, perceiving the military
value OF naval station at Hawaii, Con-
gress made liberal appropriations for a
large naval station at Pearl Harbor and
the construction OF a modern drydock
to talts the large Warships, and large
commercial vessels as well. The build
ings upon comprehensive plans, with
workshops, hospitals, marine barracks,
and all the accessories for well-equip-
ped naval station at that strategic
point are nearing completion, but a
series of misfortunes, necessitating
changes and adjustments, has prevent
ed the construction OF the drydock
which was authorized on May 13, 1908.
That act authorized the construction
Of 'one craving drydock capable of
receiving the largest war vessels of
the navy, at a cost of not exceeding
81, noe. 000.' The contract was awarded.
to the San Francisco Bridge Company
to construct q drydock $50 feet long.
A change TO 500 feet, the limit OF
cost being increased to 81, ZOO 600. and
a subsequent change to 1908 feet,
with a limit Of cost still further in
creased to $3,486,500, were made and
the work continued until February,
1913, when a serious accident COM
pletely destroyed most Of the work
that had been done. In 1918 report
the following statement was made of
the naval tragedy of the year: This |
disaster swept away a naval project |
and introduced a problem Of immeas- |
urable difficulty
Problem Of the Year.
AT that time the enormity even OF |
this immeasurable difficulty was not |
fully realized. 1t had been the over |
and, brain-racking problem |
Of the year, absorbing more time in |
It's imperative Investigations and con-
siderations than any other matter to
be settled by the department A civil
sngineer OF international reputation
was engaged to visit Pearl Harbor and
make report; the chief Of the bureau
Of yards and docks and the civil en-
yineer IN charge OF the work at the
line of the disaster, together with
lalf dozen of the expert engineers in
he service, have devoted major por-
ion of the year to the effort to devise
j plan and secure an agreement with
he contractors by which the drydock
would be safely completed. Recog-
lizing the universally admitted import
nee OF the gigantic project, and the
liffcuity OF the construction, or re-
with its cali for engi.
leering genius OF the highest order,
congress granted an authorization of
n additional million and half dol
ars for Its completion; and. yet the
between the department
nd the contractor seemed so appar-
ntly irreconcilable that at times re-
of work upon plans and
erms that were wise and satisfactory |
Tere almost despaired OF. 1t is graft
wing, therefore, to report that an
greement has been reached with the
by which 1t Is expected
be work of construction will be car
led to completion upon a plan APP
roved by the ablest engineers. 1t is
hoped that the end has come
{ the series of troubles and disasters
hitch have too long delayed this great
and that within reason
BILE time II viii be completed"