THE DRY-DocK QUESTION.
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THE DRY-D0CK QUESTION.
THE idea is entertained by some persons thai
Il perhaps another commission may be expe.
dent TO determine the dry.doek question. This I'M
preston will cease to exist when the facts in the
case come to be duly considered,


Commissions haUs already acted.


Commissions have heretofore been appointed
and have reported TO the Navy Department The
department has carefully weighed these reports and
in report from the secretary sent to Congress in
February, l6i4 has formally adopted the sectional
dock, basin, and railways, and recommended il as
preferable TO all other plans At the head Of one Of
The commissions the chief engineer Of the bu-
reau Of yards and docks, whose report says; "The
construction Of dock upon this plan, capable OF
raising the largest ships-oE he-lne would be prae-
ticAbe,n and that at affords more extensive ia
eliues than any other plan"


Thus IL appears that the question has already gone
tpopyh hs ordeal cf commissions in due form, and
that the decision Of the department upon their re-
ports has been in favor Of this plan.


a broader eOlamissiOn-thai Of practical Bltn.


10 addition to forn,a commissions on this subject,
the government has the benefit Of the opinions Of
nearly all the scientific and practical men in the
eountry-lhe best and most extensive commission
IN the vorld-in favor of the sectional plan over
all others. They may be briefly summed up, as
OoVs-viz:


Opinion Of he .NsO York ship-buiLisrs,


Who ALL, without exception, say, speaking of
the sectional dock, after giving their reasons that
"these advantages, among others, in our opinion
render it much superior to the balance dock" and
again, in another certificate, they say, I'VE have no
hesitation IN declaring It, IN our opinion, the best
plan Of drydoek knoVn 10 u.s."


Opinion ofaA the principal .Nslo York ship otontrs,
Who, in their memorial to Congress- after giving
their reasons in favor Of the sectional dock, say:
"0n these accounts and Others zoe pr,tsr IL 10 any
other plan Of hydOek that has come to our knowl.
edge"


Opinion Of all The slsambOat-Oontrs Of .NsV York,
Who say, 1--WE unhesitatingIy pronounce it (the
sectional dockJ the best plan Of dry-dock that we
know Of for taking up steamboats, for repairs"


Opinion Of Capt Gregory, U s NJ


This distinguished officer says OF this plan, it is
"the most safe, economical an expeditions mode Of
constructing dry dock, and that 1t can be construct
ed as to answer all h. purposes required in a
naval establishment"


Opinion Of Com. Jacob Jones, q. S..N


This distinguished officer, in a report TO the Sec
retAry Of the Navy, (of which there is no copy a
hind,) speaks Of the sectional dock greatly pref
erable to the balance dock, and in co rnexon With
the basin and railways, as an improvement Of i'm
mense value to a naval establishment.


Opinion Of Com L. Ksarney, q. S. "


This distinguished naval officer, in a letter to
member Of Cong 'ess, says; The sectional docks
Irouid prefer at Phiadelph and any other ports
where the difficulties recited certain supposed diff
sulties at the Pensacola navy-yard) do not exist"


Opinion Of the american Institute.


A committee Of this scientific body was appoint
ed to examine this and other floating docks and re-
ported that they felt assured Of its extensive adop
don, and cheerfully expressed their opinion Of It's
superiority any other floating dry-dock or work
Of this description which had come to their knowl-
edge"


Opinion Of The president Of the Franklin Institute.
J. V. Merick, esq, Of Phiadelp pha, president of
this valuable institution, was appointed as chairman
Of committee of citizens TO examine this and the
balance dock, and reported that he decidedly pre-
ferred this plan, and added "that its connexon with
permanent stone basin and system of railways,
by which il may, with little COST and entire facility
enable the government to lay up their ships in or
dinary, and hence very much add to their durabili-
y, give decided advantage epen oper the stone Dock
which has hitherto been deemed the best appliance
for the purpose"


Opinion Of Foster Rhodes, ESQ.,, United States naval


constructor.


This eminent naval architect, the constructor of
the feet and drydock Of the Grand Seignor at Con-
u,
late member of Congress, says Of this plan 'if the
sectional floating dry-dook, with basin and three
railways, were constructed in the best manner, il
uould be Of equal uain to- and afford more facilities,
than tpo ercapatel stone docks"


Opinion Of DR.. Mott, president Of Union College.
This illustrious man, in letter to member of
Congress, speaking of this plan, says: "H ,oiH su-
prsede the use Of all other docks hitherto known to
the public" and he recommends it, he says, ''under
the full belief OF lis claim to superiority every in
strument of the kind hitherto in USE"
Opinion Of Professor S. F. B. Morse, inuentor of the


Telegraph


This distinguished man, in letter to the Hon.
M. g, Leonard, says: 81 have made myself ac-
quained with the principles of this floating dock,
and 1t appears to me to possess decided Advantages
oter all that have seen particularly in the m ode
devised for laying up ships in ordinary and repair.
ing them. cannot but concur in the opinion Of The
most eminent practical men, that such dock must be
OF immense advantage introduced into the navy
yards of the United States"


Opinion Of H. M shreere, esq, inuentor Of The snag-


boat.


This ingenious man, speaking of this plan in a
letter to the Hon L. j. Black, late member of Con-
gress says: al have hesitation in giving my opin-
ion decidedly in favor Of the sectional floating dock ba-
sin, and railsoays all others | have examined"
Vp'"'oh @ me secretary Of the JNdpy, Nh Henshdp.
This able and sound practical man sent two re-
ports to Congress in favor of this plan, giving his
reasons for the adoption of it by the department at
length. In his report in its favor for Pensacola,
(senate document 1874, lst session 2Sh Congress-
he says; "The department has recently, in another
report submitted to Congress, expressed an opinion
IN favor of Dakin's plan of dock connected with rail-
tracks. This plan is believed to be eminently well
adapted to the locality of Pensacola and will un.
doubtedly afford facilities greatly superior 10 any err
cdpded stone dock that can be constructed"


OPINIONS OF EMINENT CIVIL ENGINEERS


Opinion Of John B. Jerpis, esq.


This distinguished engineer, the constructor of
the Croton aqueduct and its chief engineer, speak
ing OF the sectional dock in a letter to Mr. Allen,
says: MY opinion is that il toH superssds all other
methods heretofore known and used for putting yes
ses IN condition for repair" and "let the thing be
once put IN fair operation, and there be doubt
all others ioiH soon cease 10 be used"


Opinion Of Horatio Allen, ssq


This gentleman was Mr.. Jerviss principal assist
ant in that great work, and has submitted to Con-
gross an able pamphlet in favor Of this PLAN detail
ing It's superior advantages over all others at large.


Opinion Of Gen. Nm Gibbs McJNtiA.


This able and distinguished engineer, in letter to
Mr. Allen, speaking Of this plan saws "The con.