Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1931-06-11
North End Dock
Nearing Completion

Work Ii progressing rapidly, ana
probably by the July Fourth, vashon
Island residents. and the large num-
Der Of tourists who vacation here VIII
be using the new North End dock,
conceded to be the finest on Puget
Sound.
When the building OF the dock was
proposed II was planned to have It
completed by June first, but unexpect-
ed difficulties In securing the right
of-way were encountered, with unlock
cd for additional expense, and the
work was delayed.
Only those who have watched the
development of the boat service in the
past decade can fully appreciate what
stride forward this fine modern dock
represents.
The precarious condition OF the old
dock is evident to all who drive over
It, and to those who go under It In a
small boat Il Is q wonder that It has
stood up at all under the strain Of the
many cars passing over 1t daily. hot
only are the pilings badly rotted, but
the flooring and timbers Of the span
itself are In bad condition, It seems
remarkable that parts have not given
way ere now
Only an inspection of the new dock
can make one realize what sturdy
! structure 1t is The eight massive
steel reinforced concrete piers look as
though they would withstand the bat
tering for generations of the wind
driven logs that in former times broke
wooden pilings sucfs as support the old
dock Every phase, apparently, that
contributes to the safety and comfort
of pedestrians and drivers has been
considered. At the west end of the
approach the outer edge Of the cir
cular section is higher than the In
side, and the unfinished side of the
planking has been laid uppermost so
that cars can get good start in
negotiating the hill. The roadway for
cars is 26 feet wide The path for
pedestrians, raised several inches
higher than the roadway is five feet
wide. The work of filling in the space
between the present pavement and the
retaining wall is practically completed
and in few days this portion Of the
approach will be paved.
The dock proper is eighty feet
square, with plenty Of room for watt
ing room, parking space for buses, etc.
Instead of the antiquated pom
toon supporting the outer end Of the
span there will be concrete piers. sunk
ten feet into the bed Of the sound,
with nine anchor pilings driven
twenty-five feet deep in each of the
piers. The work will start the last of
this week, or first of next of pouring
the concrete for the base Of these
piers. Decidedly technical was the
work Of making and placing the forms
for the piers; with much of the work
being done under water; with rough
lumber, and heavy machinery; all of
which contributed to the possibility Of
error. Notwithstanding the chance Of
error, the forms, to all practical pur-
pose, are absolutely true. The top Of
the foundation pier will reach to the
top of the water at low tide Above
this will be laid a pyramid shaped
superstructure, the top of which will
be the steel towers on which the span
is raised and lowered.
An electric motor will operate the
chains which raise and lower the span
on steel bars. With this arrangement
the span will be practically rigid from
the deck of the ferry to the dock
proper, and with much less grade than
on a span supported by pontoons.
Where the span joins the dock, double
movable plates cover the variable
space, doing away with bump at this
point.
The span is entirely of steel with
the exception of the flooring which is
plank like the deck of the wharf. In
fact the entire construction of the
dock is of the best and barring acct
dent will require nothing for upkeer
for years to come.
Plans for the dock, and the actual
supervision of the work, to insure first
class results in every respect have
been made and executed by the coun-
ty bridge engineer, Tom Blum, with
the assistance Of Victor Hayner, who
has been living on the Island since
the work began. The Island can moi
do otherwise than acknowledge ant
appreciate the zeal that has been dis
played by these two members of thu
force Of the county engineers office.
r,,,o,oinr ttot lic wife cnid oh,