J CR E SE NA'T.I. E Jx Rb T Jlt &esism.' No._' 44..T.F. I ETA'RY F' ('IO THE NAiT "Y,: Cle(iMIrTW OATiTAMR, i:ps. of contrcs/s fijobr e construct ion ofd~-goc$, b. sY r andi rowapTyg, t Kittery, PAiladelphia, aand,.,ca, r & mfi.Noh.. ad - f, w meA t atek Say" Fr.ancis'co.; o:,.:1185'2O.-, ReadL. MARCH 8, 18522. Opdered to be, pIlutf >._ NA y 4 ET. March 4, 18'.. SiRt:a coxiapiance with a resolution of the Senate, adopted the Oth rdltimo, I transmiL herewith, copies of the contracts ibr the construction of dry-docks, basins, and railways at Kittery, Philadelphia, and Pensacola, respectively, numbered 1, 2, and 3; also, a copy of the contract for the construction of a floating sectional dock on the bay of San Franncisco, nmUabered 4. In farther reply to said resolution, I isave the honor to state, that no ladvertisement was made inviting proposals for the work last named, and that in the view of this department none was required. The orignal law upon this subject, approved September. 28, 1850, was as follows: For commencing the construction of a iloating dry-dock on the coast of California, one hundred thousand dollars; and the Secretary of the Navy -is authorized to enter into a contract for the.construction, with all reasonable despatch, of a sectional or balance floating dry-dock,, basin and railway, at such harbor on the coast of the Pacific ocean as he may select, of a capacity and dimensions n no respect inferior to those of the dry-dock in progress of constrction at Pensacola: Provided, that by granting the said cona. tractors permission, if required, to prepare the materials chiefly at some harbor on the Atlantic sea-board, and advancin-g moneys thereon as the'works progressed, the said works can be completed at a sum not exceeding by more than twelve per cent. the total amtount contracted to be paid for the floating-dock, basin and railway at the Pensacola navy yard, with the addi-,fon thereto of what would be the cost of transportation to said coast of the said materials thus prepared, and -wih th te reservation ti the works are done, of ten per cent., and the usual surety for the faithful performance of the contract an md the Secreta of Nay,e hall also be authorized to eater 44 ]' -into an agretement with the c ontractorsl if they will k.eep the said works i: repair and take proper care of the same for any given period of years, free of charge to the government, to permit them to use the said works during such period, on their owI account, for repairing mnerchant vessels, when not occupied by -vessels of the navy, to which precedenc shall at all tines bc' given, on such terms as he shall deem reasonable." Under this law the department determined that a sectional dock should he established in preference to a balance dock, and that some situation on the bay of San. Francisco was the most eligible position for the contemplated work on the coast of the Pacific ocean. The law itself did not require any advertisement, but described two structures, viz: the dock, and basi. arid railway, both of which were claimed as patented ilventions'under regular letters from the Patent Office of the United States. Referring the:S claims to the proper bureau for inquiries, the department became satisfied,, from the report made, that patents existed; and althoughi counter clairnas were set up, by two other distinct parties, to the patent for the do'ckn that Messrs. Dakin & Moody, who had been for four years engaged in bilding a similar dock for the government, and h)ad during that period receiewed large sums of' money in part payfhent therefor, without hindrance by j'di* ca1 process from any quarter, were entitled to he respected as the ow-.ner of the patent. A. copy of the report of the Chief of the bureau on this point is appended hereto, (No. 5.) It determined, however, to allow no unreasonable exaction for the use of the patent, but to permit to the claimants the refusal of the contract, bebfre taking any further step iu thn e premises. With the consent of the department, they accordingly submitted proposals for the dock, basin and railway, which were referred to the Bureau of Yards, ami Docks for consideration, and the bureau xwas also called upon for a. ininute estimate of the proper cost of the works desired. The estimate made in obedience to the order fell ceonsiderabiy below thf proposals, and amounted in the aggregate to the sum of $1,530,000. Bat the department nrot- being satisfied, direcited a. estimate of the actual cost of such. works at the port of Pensacola, with a view to determine wh. t should be added. for the cost of the same in California, in expectation ofir ai reduction in the amount. And upon this were based experimental calculations, to test the correctness of the estimates of the bureau, but with no result which received.the approbation of the department. During the preparation of the estimates for Pensacola, Congress assemibled on the 2d of December, 1850, and in the annual report from this department, which accompanied the President's message, the progress of the negotiation for these works was stated, and the intention expressed to enter into a contract and hasten their completion, as soon as the department became satisfied in regard to the estimates for the same. After inquiries from all sources which were believed to be capable of' at Tfrding informnation, and full consideration of the subject, an offer was nmade to Messrs. Dakin & Moody to contract wtith them for the whole of the structures required, at the sum of $1.,450,0)0, which tihey agreed to accept. But before the terms of the contractt were reduced to wvriting, the Hious of Repr esentatives adopted a resolution kasking whether any contract had been concluded under this law, and whetiher, in the opinion of the head of this department, a dock without a basin and ra.ilway wo.uld not be su ciemnit fYr riaV!R pluroses, and requesting ai: i' su;: o:ilc' o: urther r oceed^f irn 3 [44] regtard thierco, cnt.( t.rilhe teIarther acon of the li-ouse. A reIply') to the reso.lution was priomnptly made, a copy of which is annexedl, (No. 6.) The forego.ing recital is necessary to a clear comprehensionr of the act ot the last session of Congress on the samte sutbject-matter; the report aforesid having expressed the opinion that a dock witl' out tle basin and rai — wyay. but provided with a pier, foir workingl the.sam,,e, wou.te ld. answer the public necessity. The act approved March. 83, t8I5l, dteclared f hat: " The Secretary of the Navy is hereby requ.ired so to mlodiflt the contra. c: alleged to ha've been imade on the seventeenth January last, as to confine tlie sum to the construction of the floating do ck alone, without the 1basin and railway: Provided the contractors will agree to do the work at tht estimates made by the department in Novenmbr and Decemler last::./ind,'rovided the Secretary considers the said estimates fair and reasonable; axnd'so much of said law as authorizes the construction of the b;si1 and railwa) is hereby repealed: P'.rovided, that before rnmating said contrac: t the Secretary of the Navy shall give a't least six y days' lotie by advertise8ment in the usual way." Assurances were subsequently given by emiien-t aembers, iad certificate^ fror high oficers of both houses of Congress were presented to the departe,nent, declaring that the proviso last mention;ie im relation to advertisemaent, had not received the approbation of Congress, but was iound ini tthe law, through a misiake in its enrolment, in tihe hlaste incident to the last hours of the session. I did not feel at liberty, however, to reject this claue, even upon such high testimony of the' actual ifct, but was constrained to regard the enrolled and approved bill as tthe only evidence of the law. But perceiving that the clause referred to was repugnant to the preceding pa;rt of the einactmlent, which required the contract already agreed upon to be.odi'iie&. su; bjc onIuly to certain conditio ns therci:, set forth, I referred tihe rlaw to Ithe A tt-orney General for a conlstruc-ctiton. Htis opinion wvas, that this clause was only intended to operate in the event that the department -was not satisfied with the' reasonableness a.n fairness" of the former estimuates; but that if the Secretary were satisfied. witth these ese timates, it was uis duty to modify the contract accordingly, with the parties already named. Thus was again, brought up, for review, the estimates in question; and to test them again the subject was now referred, so far as regards the dock, to t;he engineer-in-chief of the navy, with instructions to consider it carefully, and make a report in detail..In the first report of the bureau, already nmentioned, the dock required was estimated to cost in California $728,801. Il the second report it was estimated to cost at Pensacoht, n 3$54,000; upon which were based calculations as to the additions to be inade fbr transportatidn of materials, and the highe1r ra. teq if wa-es for labor in California, with various results. Ian the proposition. of the department i, hih was accepted as above stited, ty Dakin & Moody, the proportional price for the dock -was $610,000. In1 the report o:f the engineer-in-chie, it wlas estimated at S668,8-44 (01. T5he question arose, in the interpretation of the law, what was the estimate actually meant, upon the.fairness and reasonableness of which, in the estmation of the Secretary, was to depend tthe set:ting up of the contract to the lowest bidder'? TiLe first es'ttat oi the iureali was madI e mtin \vi emberlj, btut ne'ei-r re 1.. ]. 4 Peived t'-he approbatiioni of the departmen.e The tsec- o nd:, ptertating to,cst of a ulike work in Pensacola, was in December but the only estirnate of the department proper was that contaniing the proposition whch was aceopted by'Dakin & Moody, ant in which, the proportional part f or the cot of the dock was 16O610000. This, then, is the only sum0 answering to the description of an estimate of the department. To suppose that Ctongtes^ re.. quired tihe'Secretary to disregard his, and go back into an xqb.quilry tas o to he -fairness and reasonableness if the first estimate of the bu.reau, afr t.he. parties had once agreed on a sum so 1much more favorable to the governmient, is contrary to reason; and to suppose that they had refrence to tilhe estimates made for like work at Pensacola, is an absurdity'The obvious mreanmng olf the act, thertfore, was, that the former contract was to ibe hmodmef li so as to provide for building a doclI only, provided the Scretary should be of onpin on that the price of the d!ock, in that con'tract. was fair and reasonab le Congress the-refire, had not only directed tlhe coitr act, bet fixui thlt price to be pa.id, by adopting the formert est;imate of the departmentat subject oanly to be annulled, provided the Secretary believed the armo unt of price he bad once approved to be not "T'a.ir and nreasonaable," on re-irves.tiga raon. 11Beiving, from tthe best lights I could obtain, that this estimate was fa ir and reasonable, I entered into'the contract numbered fouir wiich agrees to pay for tdhe whole work, when completed and delivered the sum of t0 61 )00. I;n t is, n. i, of course^ il nluded all co0 pensation otr the use of tlhe paten t-rightl Pending the refIrennce of the law to tIhe Attorney Genenra, a leitter was rec,:eived fromi Mr. WAi1iam 1Ballare d of the fian of dBallard & Mason, urging that tAe contract. Should be let, by advertisement, to the lo-west bidder, a copy of waihich is supjoined, (No. 7.) In a personal intervie-w, the constructioa given to t:t. Attorw by the trney G eral was explained to this individuaI,;and tW, he det er:-;-ai..:t eioi.:i -,,dps Ts,:ss ito modify the former contract aceordinglyi, p'ro'v..:._ided C the r: -r; estimae f gier,-i-chef drid n ot; i _l bel-ow tIhe amont fo rm er ly acr^Ed oi'n wv''ith r. Bn &..Moody,:I, N-..,. akn C:"f'ih ISht...."y ihe-.a.:.:-.-.. pape,,2 t: i ent to thle departme nt';:r2t by tjhis.iirm,.t. ed' ^Oil: anZ estimi - ate fr te dry dTic:A:k at Gai"c beang d at Api.,!..!.'i5,. h'b io'.y i, c l h aprelcd R copy N a, ) ead di hict prop)o als re?Ia1d; et O, (4,'00, bst', without details of the kind, quairtity and dc::;,rti' of to' ma'terials, or other particulars, which -awould laT.e beent r'equi re, bei.or cet ni ra ibhil S b,?. i t had been determined tto oiein the - ont ct to 0 the - es t bi dd e r. The asae parties had subnmitted whB at th ey Astd a bid, rf the' former contract, after being irf ormed. that it wit eov-;lifde: o pyI oif' which i s he reto annexed, (No. 9.) The letoters-patent for this dock were issued is the name of Johln it hnOies, t Ohe original inventor. Mason & Co. professed to be the owners- of this patent by assignment. Dalin & Moody claimed fromti. tl he same sol.ire, but by a prior assignmenet, rnd had been in the undisturbed enjoyment of it it. a contract with the government, for four years preceding. Subsequently to this, bat before the contract was signed, Mr.'WII i.am. Thiomaas, of St.'Louis, a son of the original inventor, and who claimed tit dat. the letterspatent were still in hMm, assured the department t1hat if the contrast should be set up to the lowest bidder, he, with responsible associates, vwoiad make'All Offer at a - im nt o CFexcod 3in $375,(00, a.nd grPi. saecurity fGr th (.ie lfil5. 5 [44]. rimeint thereofe'.11e eXp,-ectedl, however, to, m ak rT e if diftereni I aterial.s frrom those required by the department, and in a subsequent interview adintted that for such a dock as was re.quired, the price agreed to be paid was not too great. It is not1 r eccleted whether, in the v-arious coanversationis heli with other persons o the subject, during th long time lt was under investigation, other proposals were not mnade; butt i s not doubted that if the iwork had been advertised fori bids might have been submitted at a lower amount than even the lowest sua above mentioned. Whether the government would have been a gainer thereby, is more doubtful..But the question presented by these offers was, how far they should induce the head of the departinent to abandon the duty imposed on him by the law, of determining whether the former estimate for this work was' fair and reasonable." For, until that xwas determined in the negotiation, there was no power to entertain them. Considered with reifrence to this question, these offers afforded. no oth.er Iiglt than tl he opinions of the persons submitting them. Relying rather upon the estimates of the responsible officers of the goverrnment —-and making such abatement frotm these as I t t just —than'upon the proposals of individuals, based on their ownE calcu!ations of proit to themselves or dee.at to an adversary, I waos constrained to sgay that the former estimate of the department, for this work, wa-x fi-i and ~.9ao.abl.aad entered into the contract as above set forth. I s.bjoibl hereunto, a copy of a. letter from the aforesaid. Wilii am Jtlal-!ard, to the department, (No. 10,) dated May 23, 1851, onf thlis sujetei, an d thie rep ly thereto, dated June 3 1851, (No. 11.) In fuirtheP answer to said riesol.sution, i have to state, that a joint board of ofiece.rs of'the armr and navy -'were or- riere t t the examinationt of th e oast f he Pacific oceaM NVith refer enii cf. to defeines anid illiar and nava- statioBls, in the yeari 1548; that a report was made by said bo ard, w -hich. was reteive rd in t;Ie latteri part of thile yea r 1800, an extra.ct fro1m which, centalnirn so Amuch. as ielate3s to a naval: stati on, is sent herewith (No 12.)'.he'epa rtme. Ihoweve7 de3siring more'. n.ute int formation in relation to the exact position:frbr the d-, m n qiestion,. and a navy —yard o t;he bay of St ranico i Con:.gress shall a'ithorize the sa me —information whi6 ch, friCom tihe general aid e xtnsivel natur e tof the duties required of the firmaer boardi, could not be ex'palected Aion ti:.em-. —has directed a new cormmn.ission consistinug of three' -'av,alo:%ers an@ thle engineer of the Bureau of NaTvy-yards andt Doc -ks, to I;ro- ced to thos;e';:aters' andX make tahet examinat oi,. re quired. These o.icer. eec.tc: to ail. om New York by —e l t en o-f te present W'IL.. A.: G'AI.,AM. W, i. of.'.:,tiT, Papers uir'Capny.iM~ g bh rs.y eof'lt Secretiary Q the. tV^vy e'! tsai,'t lit on /. 1 h Se, 1;tpi.d Fe,bra, r, y 20 18i 2.:Dn.Y~'.-OC)tKI, BSV.S INS.D RN AN',AILWAY3'S, No. I. Co.ot acL d. J'.r..ctI) at i ittery. 2,'" r at Philadeflpei:a. >. " t at Pe nsacola..4. "' in CaSlifornia, 7. fepor, t of fChitf':'f t1he Bur-;eau of Nvi y-v ards a -.d Docks, re'tiv to patent. 4. epiv of the Scctar'' of th Navy o a res- outio 0o tth' e of tRepresenftat.ives of the 20th Janary, 1851., 7..Letter of'Wi.lYia:m Ballard to Secrelar, V of the Nav'v, urIg ai a dv ertismen1 t 3 lr.......... r p,sal. Offer alnd:st;r.);,te of B'allard and afsor. I -orm-lcr I id of Bailar..d,-and ftMason. 1.0. Letter of Williarm'B allard of M y "..t..18.5.. No, I, Sta., bv. Sec"re... _,y of tJe Nav teo t p of' the second. art]'w.::i':sret': rThat-e0 by a act of. t;he (o,'.es: of' ths FUhied S ates t.ppro d Augut 3dco in the year one.toua'nd emigt ina se!vie p^rt.. ts,'i - isUs. i nrtjesh d-.a,. -.i,. t.e y e trhten. i''.i th t s n teof, the Secretary o fit i-ti'..'Na V is "i.i ji torth ii j ti' t nf"te t1o a 1 fr;', it. SO,eacil oi I)aiand RuE ther Mci fody for the complete CO7t4iV 4- ol of ait s ietioal sonable'' time fr'om0 the elate (o the contract at the a -i- ado it C idie -C a liatm, d.y.. cl... c, WId ra.lws0,.i cor.. to' fln a'speciicati { 1 i. ttii by 4h v 44i d4N l proprictors of docks to the Navy Depr e,u niite f iis a'v-. id e lsan t. l e o said Sc t.' r J. r f, tso'-''slt a ter it a id.l. n'y ard, the said works o e 0ll of h. gest conrac c:an be. o at A price tht shal not.....exe o nor than ten p~71eir cent, p_. h.as.i.4t3.o-4 l e t....A b.......' p opri'.:etors e t-........'i1r to'th'e, Navy rte;a i n, f,, i thir go n iv o. f ffaid. a.Sit t 4 el'1 i 4e'1 11 5' ti.eltr, that iT 1 e Sbyt to 1 r the See".a...... e. a:e:S'.., h.ay t here o i' o t. ae pa'ty t., fin. t fo)r n(i J4-ohlan^i(; q 3 ilb anm S eco:a:,f- of the. largest class'Ye?, oaes t phee,:r t a f..z.. I_,e,.o tesecond floating dity. cse::; ~t.- C',11,-i"' t t u i..Lvi.tiil i. of,,soi;. i-, b y;:In acti of tex~ Coroi o the ck: tha'res t0ilt''[ia { T.. S itas, apt'y-A.' li' ~'A " ~ii * in Sh;e'ta c rX oAAne t l:o.sa nds a'"d".bundTItaltrl' lt-; f e "'l. tv-i'l't,it''t) i t", "!.al-n.:ptio.,:.,s fof dr l s the N te I- ra; lt~~B (.t.;..t(; fi ne Sr~-~ ~i-~t..~:...~;:ro9e lo S. v' i,"(, Jln, n the ) b ea o f - t Y-.,4:e N I c t(.re <;. 4 i*;,': i deot; f{:di e 1 t;~ Sea; t i (.t1. t i nt. R-> 1 p t't (i f;Sti. upi-s dir -`_ Jntel,' n c iat —eLm a k,, v ed uc;3,-h a:Dakin, awl s: Ii..... {t di.,.''1 rb.n..' e sonab-e tvin:.,.e:'-re the date o t he,'-,':~*"......:' ~' te a ~ - vard::,. Kittory, (. _,. N,: t o plans andfr [ C'::C.ro.q'-',t-::.,d J:t' 1l:" I.;. "-: }f''$ (f d(,)caI:o':i:aawvS-u, v D.:-".....* J.~plit.::.:.'tan:i:, ti::setoofaiac i':: [44 ] f~ity. in lartzb,:if the dimensions should not be i'bund adequate for that ipTpoe; and tne Secretary of -the Navy in the execution of the aforesaid law, after mature deliberation thereon, and in consideration that the said parties of the seco:nd part -will copper-fasten said dock at Kittery, accordxng to the specifications for the Pensacola dock, hereto annexed, has determained to select, and does hereby select and adopt, the balance dock, basim and railways of GUibert and Secor, parties of the second part, as best. adapted for the navy-y'ard at KIittery: Arnd whereas the proposals and specifications of' the said Gilbert -a'd Secor, parties of the second part, referred to in the act aforesaid, specify a dock basin and railway at said navy-yard, capable of receiving and raising a shp-of-the-ine of ti2 first class, of fivet housand three hundred tons displacement, and a steam-vessel of three hundred feet long and seventy feet over the guards: and whereas the last proviso in the third section of the act aforesaid, makes it the, duty of the Secretary of the Navy, by further contract with the said parties of the second part, to cause the said dock, basin and railway to be enlarged, should the plan and specifications before referred to not be found adequate for that purpose, to a. capacity sufficient:for docking and haulinm on and off' the ways war steamers of the largest (cla's, uaFt least three hundred and fifty feet in length, and, it is understood, of breadrth in proportio,: and whereas the dimensions described in the said plan and specification. submitted by said Gilbert and Secor, parties of the second part, and referred to iia said act, are not sufficientt, and do not fiurnish such a dock, and basin and railway, as would be adequate to receive and ~raise, and to haul on and offl the ways, war steamers of the largest class, above umentioned: and whlereas the Secretary of the Navy has therefore caled~ upon the said Gilbert and Secor, parties of the second part, to sub"nit a plan and specifications of' a;n enlarged dock, basin tand railway, of a Iapacity sufficient to dock war ste'amers of the class aforesaid, at least three hirmdred and fifty feet in length and of breadth in proportion; and the said Gilbert and Secor, parties of the second part, have accordingly submitted. to.him such a plan and specifications, which hayve been duly considered by t;"e'ad Secreta?.ry, and ha're been signed by the parties heareto, and have been hereto arnnexed'-marite(d A,., C,and D), foriming part of this contract: Now, therefore, it is nmuttinally understood and agreed by and betwen the parties t:o these presents, that the price to be paid for the Aen'ar-:gement of the said dock, basin and railway shall be in proporti on to their incrieased size in a rea, as compared with the price submitted by tie said Gilbert and Secor i or sai oks, in c orit exion with said first men-:! ione pa ad specifiatio, and that ten per cent. on that tea Iaci ccit on that amount beig allrowed by said act., and required by said h'ilert and Secor parties of the second part, shall be added to the said price, that is to say: the price sub.mitted by th'e in' crnnexio wit:h said first mentioned plan and sperci'fiea. tioans referred to in said act, beingr the suma of two hund red and seventyfive thousand dollars for the doci aind the saum of txwo hundred thousand d Jlars for the bas' and aiw ay and in case a floatiincr gate is matde to the isaid, basin, the r u-su of t- thI aousaald olla.r; the price of a dockr, ibash and railwavys of thie eniarged dimensions embnredl he plan ad sciations herei on eto onexed iiof a capac ity sruf'ient to dock and haul on an. oil the ways 7a war steamer of the iargest (:la'ss at leas t three a.mdred id fity feet in len.gt aInd cf a br ea dth i n proportion, the aforesaid price beitrig 1incrBeased in. propor.titon, t the!i:rer-eased area atd ntby b the addition of ten per ceint. to 1thI e am itount shal ia be, t ir th. e baance dock fbur hundrledi and thirtysevven thousand three hundred and twenty-five dollars, and fbr the basi and railway, two hundr ed nd eighy-two thousand ve hundre and eighty dollars; and for the l1oating rgate to the basin, the sum of thirteen thousarand dollars in all for said dock basin and railway, and floating gate, complete in all respects, according to the plan anrd specifications hereto atnexed, the sum of sevenr hundred andl thirty-two thousand nine hundred ansI fiwve dollars. And the said (.Gilberti and Seco: parti;es of the second part, fr therselves, their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, covenant and agree wit}lI the said parties of the first part, to construct and complete the said floatiing dock, basin and railway, a d floating gate, together with al the machinery., fixtures and apparatus necessary for successfully working the same, and foG' shoring and securing vessels of each class aforesaid on the ways, according to the plan and specification hereto annexed, and with the materials specifed the:rein of the best quality, within two years and a half fromn the first dsa of November, 1848, to th e r satisfaction of the Secretary of the Navythe basin to be constructed at such place in the said. navy yard as he msa select, and the said floating dock to be constructed at or near the said navy yard, and w hen completed to be delivered and put in said basin. And the said governmient of the United States, by the Secretary of t;he Navy aforesaid, hereby covenanits and agrees, to and with the said GilbeK; and Secor, the said parties of the second part, their heirs: executors, ardmanixstrators and assigns, in consideration of the premises, and of the covenants and agreements herein contained, on their part to be performed, fto pay to t. he aid Gilbrt and Secor, parties of the second part, their heirs, excctors, administrators and assigns, the said just and full sura of seve:n hundred and thirty-two thousand nine hundred and five dollars, in the manner f~ollowing; namely - When bills certified byr the superintending agent on'. the part of the said party of the first part, approved by the commandamn of the said navy yard, shall be presented, showing that one-half of tbe lowest layer of the plattform i laid ant d fastened., the smn of tiwenty-thvre thousansd dollars; Tihat when the lowiest a1yer of i the platfo rmn is entirely laid anid fastert.ed., the further sum of twenty-three thousand dollars; iThat when- tihe second or middle layer of the platform is hzali-down;;rii fastened the further sur of twen lty-three thousand dollars That when the second or minddle layer of the platforr is en,'ireiy 1 id. anRd fastened, the further sumn of twenty-three thousand dollars; Tahat when one-half of the third or upper layer is: fastened, the Airttie-i s8'am of twenty-three thousancl dollars; That when the thhd oird or upper laye eantir lai a:nd f astlened.b.i. fi.ilrter sum of twenty-three tho.hisard dollars; That when one-KIal f of the whole under siurfaice and four and a ih; 4 iethigh of the sides and en'ds8 are copered, tIe far. ther ssm ofu i t.wentyf-t h.tre thousand dollars; That wbhen that portion of tre Edock is eDtirel v cop-.ipeirei,.,, fu -the of twenty-fihree thousand dollars; That when half of the traus-hbe as are o n Ii a -d iS..e..t' f irtx.',sm of twenty-three thousand dollars; That when all the truss-bears aire deowi and fat.;tenied thie ik7,frt..''.her: mt o. t'enty - hr,. th oulsa nd dol.]iar s 9C) [44 TJ'rat whe Fn haEf of the f ames and trusses are up) anid itaste!ed the furthe.?lm of twenty-three thousand dollars; That when all the frames and trusses are up and f steed, the farther sulrl o)f wexnty-three thousand dollars; That when the dock is Tlaunchbed, the further t sur of' twerwnt y-three thoutsaond dollars; That when half of the plalnking inside and out: is on and:astened, the'fi:Irther suma of twentty-three thousand dollars; That when the plank:ing is entirely) oxn and fastened, the fu'rther se. t of twv.enty-three thousand dollars; That when the caulking and coppering is finished up. to tw'3elv'.e ifet., t;e,' ifrther sXum of twentty-three thousand dollars Tlatm when the caulking and painting is entirely finishedi. tibe frtnher smimr of twenlty-three thousannd dollars; That when the enclosiing gates, engines an.d p.ermpss, are. and iints.heeti, the f rther sum of twenty thousand dollars; That Nwhen the workmen's platform, bilge chocks, centring beanis aiotd wall shores are' in. the further sum of twenty-three thousand dollars. The payments on the basin and railway to be made on surveys as xre. X, the first day of eachi month as practicable, but nio certificate to be given bcs the officer of the government for a less amount of work done than twenty:I -thousand dollars. The said payments to be miade by the navy agent at New York, exceptd:i:rg and reserving from each of said payments twenty per cent. on the billi SO approvedI as security tor the faithful performance of the work; and if iafter the completion and satisfactory trial as herein provided of said work, ~-whtih said Gilbert and Secor w\arrant shall successfully dock and haull ol rind off the wsays vessels of either class before named, the said twenty per eit. above rese rved and retained, together with tthe bala-nce remaiplnmtg impiclat shall be paid over to them in full. A.rid it is tfrther mluttually understood and agreed, by and betwe ensaid -parties, that no payment be Tmade on this contract, beyond the appropriat ons now made for said work, until Congress shall have -l made further ap —'ropriations for the same. A.nd it is firther *.agreed, that all suct; mraterial s as may have been pu;- cihased Iby order of thie Secretary of the Navy, and delivered or to be de-i ijve:red at said navy yard for said worlk, shall be received by said Gilbert: ai Se.Ior, and paid for at the bills of cost thereof, and to be dedunctced froe tre paiments' to be made withint the first; yea of the tire h. erein specifiecI fir thie completiol). of the work. A c i it is further agreedt that the said works sIall be co'istr:uced undle thie supetrvision of a competent person or civil engineer appointed by tieR said par'ty of the first part, who shall have power to reject and exclude any.materials frotm said work I which are not in accordance with said specifications herpeto annexedt, either in kind or quality, aid who shall see that theb sait.d works are constructed in conformity to said plaan an d specificationP ^r h.ereto annexed. A.nd it is furt her- agreed, that the said works shall progress in their se ertaes-tages in the proper. ratio of time in proportion to the time specified for the C3Dimpetion thereof and shall! not depart from the said plan sad specificat'ionrs hereto annexed, without authority from the Secr.etary of the Navy; but if, i Bn'th e course th OAt nn ofa. o. wire.l, it l shnall be evi. tknt to( ~.......................,,cf-lon'. of szaic west'in-, On.' t [ 44 t 10 L i^ I t4 the said Gilbert and Srcor that advantageous changes imd idraproovemenaLS n a be mader upon the said plVan and specifications, m consequene of the enlargement of the structure or nature of the soil, the said Gilbert aad Senor, on submitting said changes and improvements to the Secretary of the N-avy, and receiving his sanction thereof, will be authorized to adopt the said changes and improvements, providec that each and every such change and! huprovement shall be wholly at their cost and expense. And it is further agreed, that the said party of the first part shall pro-'vide the vessel or v lsses necessary for the purpose of testing the capacity of sid works to dock' essels of the class aforesaid, to the entire satisfaction of the Secretary of the Navy, within three months after the completion of sa^id dock, certified by the superintendent on the part of the United States. And the said Gilbert and Secor further agree, that in case they shall faail to execate the work herein aireed to be done on their part, and especially if the said dock, basirn anid rail ay, after completion, shall prove insufficient to dock successfully Yvessels of the navy, according to their warranty aforesalRd, then thei said Gilbert and Secor shall refund to the treasury of the Urnited States the sums of money which may have been paid to them undenc this contract; and they are to have the privilege of remonving the materitab Iwhteh they may hvave used in the construction of the said dock, basil an raialway, but the said materials are not to be removed in such case utintil -te moneys so adv'anced shall have been refunded; and the said materials are to remain as an additional security for thc performance of the contract, an.t to refund the said money so advanced, in case of failure as aforesaid. And the said Gilbert and Secor, parties of' the second part, do further enrg age and contract, that no nmember of Congress, officer of the navy, nor aau:y person holding any oilice or appointment under the Navy Department,'ci.all have any intetfrest or be in anywise concerned, either directly or indirectly in any of the issues, profits, or receipts of this contract. It is further agreed, that the said Gilbert and Secor, parties of the sec'ond part; shall, on demand, give the said party of the first part their bond,'with sufficient sureties, in the penalty of one hundrred thousand dollars, condin - tioned for the faithful performance, on their part, of this contract. In testimony of all wnhich agreeme:nts and stipulations, the parties taboX3e warmed. ha hereunto si'gned their narnes and affixed their seals this elevenib day of _Nor'ember, ra.o )loml.ni one thousand emight hundredd aad forty, eight J Y V MIASON, [. r1 Secretary jof the.av:'.. Signed, sealed, anad delive;:red ti thie presenece.s * o"'. -. WKmLLXAM G.o RmDGET..Y. Wiitness to signatures of J.i.. Y MjaS i J,:,, S,.... G. it..P M... W TMORE, VY'itne ss tio s i t r..'af....r. It L 44.A., k4';.tti ^ tti,;' r. ( b,'~.:;:i& dry do k, i,,/ /b,,n. f{ qi'?/..1j-o,, 1;Ye.:/i'.d,fi.'~.i', if ['J as "m.Gy he p'r, -'.io::.e'e W e propose to im,;creai.' th. outside dime.nsions t t hree hundred 2a2.:d ifty feet (30) inr length., and to one hundred and five fiet ibur. inches i. breadth, the deptth bein tdurtv-eight Ifet three inches. The foundation. w-il be composed of thre+ 3 ayers of timbers; the two lower oneis w1lI be each one foot Saprt.', a'nd each made tight independent of the other. The cours': s of timber w.ich, iorr_ a tohe first or lowest layer of the platform wi b'!e made in three!- m lengths; the first begins -with a piece of 45 f'eet, theni one ofd 40 fet t incle a.n then one of 30) eet. Thle second colurse begins th a piece of 35, rt.e, - i the:n, iinot'her of o 3 feet, and then one of 4t5 feet t'.'. e,'m The third cou erse b ins with a piece of 60 feet, antd thlen one of. et.4 m i.le;l Uh..se i:sios are repeated "hroughlout "he lenoh of the dtlock. T y hav' ii iet vertical'fscarfs, each scarfi' hav' ng.4 licit cer-v bu.i. bot...s..e...t loiai..iach course is treenailed laterally it' tl ich!eust s the tree nlts bteing two fIcet apart, fox-wed gd, ared reaeching n t'wo.feet. Evw-ery se ia i this platform is made ab0out of an inch outgage ad then c- a f" orn u'ika a:t boTe., wkith wedlges of s.oft wood extendin donw., a 4 Irche:, into ve a, ma'i pna i t a i water-tight platfonrm. The tonl of tbs layer is covered wxith ie]t laid in tar. This platiform i. s.een in s.!heet A,?7s-. 9 and;. letter,r t As'rEtN ING,'Te letter. 7, thrug.hiout the plans and specifications, stands Jfo treerails; the lettenr 8 stands for blunt iron bolts; the letter C in black imik, 4tands for iron clinch and iron screw-bolts; the letter C in red ink, sta.n,ds afr copper bolts. IIThe net or.nmiddle layer ruis not transversely as before, but longitudi-.atil; it is composed of scarf-pieces of from thirty to forty-five feet in length, the scarfs in this layer being keyed. Each course is treenailed.faterally every twio fee, andt down through and tihrough with 1- -inch Iocust, two fete apart like 1 the first layer; it is the- caulked woith wedges of s.oft w ood. T'i:s course, as well as the one below, is of 12-inch square tilmber, except ten of the courses, which are 1.2 L'ches broad and 18 inches dceep, and the middle course, which is 16 inches broad and 24 inches deep; they.- may be termed keelsons. They jog down inl the lower layer three inches alotg tie w;ho'e length of the platform, and also project above three inche.ses, (see sh.eet A, figs. 1 and 5, letter b, and sheet C, figs. 17 aId 1., leter e.) T. he third or upper layer of timbers are 16 inches deep by -8:inches broad they are composed of two courses of timber, side by side,,each 14 incheks broa nd 16 inches deep, lockedc scabred. keyed with live,oak, 10 keys in ~ eaech beam. 8 inches square, reaching down tlrough. They are s xcrew-bolted together -with nch -iron, one bolt every four feet, ad'logged over the'sa;d projections of the longitudinal courses they are.ptaced four f eet apart. ro centres, and bolted down throughl anld through with e copp e bolts $ two fee apart and clinched they form ri.e lower parts of the truss-beam1,'eig -Gila r's paten. hea'p-lbottom: (see heei Ay igs. 2 and "5, 2.letter,-. ) [ 44....1;Tr'!,'::?,'iil'~iyiC'!' W'ORK.N "."he 8s-id.s c ( emins are bupilt np as r as 8s eet hi, it t1 ick str...;, the Iot we: oeuro;'s,1r el1 aro und beiing 18 inches deep by 12'ince:es ithick, t.'i is copper"-bolted with 1 —ir:t}nlh bolts one foot apart, down thl0rug am'l th ro ugh the low er c uri ses of' t?.e platfo rm, and clinched, (see tigs. I, and 5, etterTf) TIhe next two cor.ses all aroun d of this thicl work will be 12x.12. t th l inext course will be 12 15,, and jogged three inches into the out-er ri"; ~ then, again, two courses of 12>: 122 and one 12 x 1t5 jogged in as bif re.. Each of these courses will be bolted down to those below it,,' witih iI'1lJ iron bots, three feet a.part etending down three Feet, (see sheet A,' ir. 5:, g, m,.; arld figse 6 and 13;) tlhe sides anId end I thus far ip wla t. caulked iside and out with wedges of soft wood. e whole undle sumface and the sides and ex)ds, 4: feet Ig i -is ne.t covered with ielt taid itn t.ar, and sheathed with 39-oettie copper, fastenIedC on with 11-itnch (coimposition, ails. The structure mnav themr i. be.n'l.. -d aid bruit.r' in in the water, "iTHE'T.I,:m)'SSED FLOOR-TI'mBSR.. They are madeI, in, that fiorm which nmay bet ermed double solid t.. ssbeass, the_ lower truss (see sheet A, figs. 4 and ~5, letter kI) being 16 i:-ces square, the inner ends laying on a chock (,n) 14 inches d.eep; this t'ass: rises above the tight platform four feet at the middle line of the dock; lthe: upp er e (,s ee sheet A. figs. 4 and 5, letter h ) is 16(' iS d ep, akl mr thii depth of dock bottom 7: feelt. They are placed fotr feet apart fronm cet - tres, making 87 in the whole length of the dock. Between each Ltrussbeam, and along the middle of the dock, there will be an iron cla.mp fiv c, inches wide by three-fourths of an inch thick, passin g over a keel so n formed of four piec s, extendinc fiomn the platform up too the line of t.i.upper truss, running the whsole length of the dock, and halved into thlle said trusses (see shee fg., letter'.) se s see sheet A, fig. 1.0 and 11., letter ) pass d(own to the tight platform n and re bolted throughf.l the said keels ons mewibt o thr inco ughl each course.. gach of the coiurses which form the keelsons is separately fastened, mne upon anothler., with ilch-iron bolts reaching dovwni thl ee fit e, except tle: lower piec.-e (see sheet A. fil-.17, letter /k ) whi(c;. f.ste:,ed with coppie, bolts dow n 3 0 inches into the tight platfor m, there be.ing o t I iolt throu-gh each truss-bea.r1 anll. i one between. The sev-ral parts of e:t'C:h truiss k' and', and the chocks below them, (see sheet A, figs. 3, 4, 5, m) will be se paratel.y bolted. down through the parts below w nith inch-rio bolts, three -fet aplart dia-goially, the bolts passing through all the?ar i s dowmn to the tight platf rm.. Two of the beams each. of thea. 10 fl:froem the end of thle doli:, wvl be caulkedn, making a.,ank of 150 ) lee o ac o iss th idle middle of tbhei dock, (see sketch sheet fI re,.c IO UTER e RIB. Th( ~te outeir ribs of ith ski.es and- ends of the adock (:tiamb, ers a"re 1 x, - cUh' timber, except the cornTer posts, whichl are 24xl.> 4-m c, placed o('me foot apart int the cicea- (sec Aieet _ figs. 5 1and 6 lLtt a Ind sheet B, tf gt 16 ~ -,att es'r'.a) They are hook-teaoe ed: F, t e e i,:e r tLt~,,..".'~ C! T,,.:.;.o 13 L[ 44 ] pieces of the t ras-ltbeamus, (see sheet A', fig. 9 letter c) and fastened w. ith two one-inch iron screwi-bolts, passing through the beam and tenos, and are also fastened through the thick work of the sides and ends with li-intc locust treenails, two in each rib. The thick work is also butt-bolted through and clix.ched with — inch copper, four bolts in eachi scar. The ribs are also supported at their heels by stringers, (see sheet A. fig. 5 a and B3 fli. 16, l.etter i) 16 inches square, jogged two inches into each rib, and fastened by vtwo one-inch copper bolts in eachl trus-beamr, reaching down 21. inches into the tig t platform. This outer wall is also supported by a series of five parailel arches, made in -two thicknesses of 8 x 16 inch plank, and jogged into the outer ribs three inches (see sheet A, fig. 5, letter,', and sheet B, fig. 16, letter m";) the lower ends of the arches being jogged into the stringer 1, and ftatened ith one iron screw-bolt and two blunt bolts at each end. The arches are also fastened through the outer ribs with 1- locust treenails, one in every alternate rib. Each of the outer ribs, wich are'.-cut of by the windows and fastened to thick strakes 12 x 12, (see sheet A, fig', 5 letterp, and sheet B, fig. 16, letter p) runnng along the outside of the dlock, with — inch iron screw-bolt: and that part of the arch which crosses the windows is fastened with screw-bolts of the same size, at distances of three feet apart. One-half of the side outer ribs pass down betwee tlhe truss-beams to the tight platform, and are dovetailed into the fore and aft stringer 1, to which they are fastened with one-inch iron bolt, (see sheet A, ri-. 9, letter q.) SLOPING iBS. The inner ribs that form the frames of the sloping sides of the chalmbers are likewise 12 x 12-inch timber; they start from the tight platform. a.t a distance of 25), feet from the middle of the dock, and pass up on an angle of forty-five degrees, the upper ends passing between the outer ribs, to which they are fastened with an inch-iron screw-bolt (see sheet A, figso 5, 8, and 14, letter'r;) like the latter, they are one foot apart; they are secured at their lower ends to the truss-beams by a hook dovetail, jogged 16 inches into the lower part of the truss-beam (see sheet A., fig. 5, letter s;) they have a shoulder of two inches that rests upon the top of the truss — beams, clamping the several parts together; four screw-bolts of inch-iron pass through the dovetails, one through each part of the truss-be ms; they are backed at their heels by a stringer (see sheet A. fi. 5, letter ) 16 inches square, running along on the top of the truss-beam.s, within the chambers, fastened with two iron inch-bolts in each truss-beam, reaching down to the platform, They are also supported in front by stringers (see sheet.A, figs. 5 and 14, letter U,) 16x24, bolted along the middle compartment of the dock, fastened'the same as the other. They are also backed and supported by a sloping stanchion, 12 16, (see sheet A, fig. 5, letter v, and sheet D, fig. 19, v,) tenoned into the top of the truss-beam and passing up e.tween two of them, supporting them on shoulders of two inches, and fast ened by an inch iron screw-bolt reaching through and through two ribs. On each side of the heels and shoulders of these stanchions there are $x 16 inch clamps (see sheet, A, figs. 5 and 8, letter lv and sheet D, fig. 19., etter w) bolted upon the top of the tm.ss -beams, with an mch'-iron bolt A 4_4; 14 (;ni ach beams'al.d with th e salme abovI into th.e slopinr g —ibs, These la.i, ps are: lengths of 30; to 54) feet and k ey-scarfed, the scarf being screw- o3ted; they are also fastened to the stanchions by screw-bolts of -; ir, arnd passig through and thlroutgh each of them. There Is a system of tr uss-work cowiec-hea with these stanchions and stringers, rnnig the whoi 1e length othe dock; it is co posed of scantling, 6 x 16, jogged into the, stanchions 2 inches, and bolted together with iron screw-bolts - inch, xraminog passing through andi through the trusses and stanchions where they ceross. Th'e tr uces are keyed'up with vw-ite-o-ak wdredges upon an oak chock. (See- shee I fig. 19l, let.ter r.) ULPPE.r. Ci.HAMB T',he u:ppe.r c -atlabers (see sheet A, figs. 5 and t, letter ^ ) are 7 cet 4 Uinches wide at the top; their frames consist of the outer:ribs of the: dock, as already described; the inner frame is formed of upright starchions, 122x1'2, (see sheet A, fig. 5, letter::, a;d sheet C, fig. 17. letter z;) these stanchions pass up between every alternate sloping rib of the lower chamber; they are tenoned into the tru. sseid beauXs the tenorn'bing 8 x'. 1, 1 land fastened by a screw-bolt of itncl-i.rosn aclhin through the beam. (See sheet A, fig. 5, letter a.) They are also supported on both sides where tihey pas between the itoping ribs, by clamps 9 16, (see sheet A, fig. 5, letter a", and sheet C, _~g. 17, letter a",) and also by clamps at their hee1ls of 12.x 1<6, (see sibeei A g. 1i5, letter b, and sheet C, fio. 17, letter 6';) the clamps a2e ~ t lengths of 320 to 60, and key-scarfed; the scaris bcing fastened with ichivorx scraew-bolts.'these clamps are jogged intoc the stanchions Iwo inches, iad fastened bv inich-iron screw-bolts pass ing thro4teh each stanchion~ The'lo ter larmps, b, are fastened to the truss-beaxm b two one-I.ich iroX n a.i -t.s in each Iam reaching down to the platformBetwceen these upper and lower clalimps, and dctnnec ed with the stax; iions, there is a. system. of truss-work of 8 11 6 scantig, jo6gged into 1to. stanchions two inches, and, fastened by ch-iron sc rew-bolts, paisi. tI roisgh where the trusses coss the stanchio ns; i is keyed up at the aeds against oak chocks, (see sheet Al fig. 5, letter d'( and sheet C, fir 17, letter d';) there is a 12 12 p;lte teoed tlong he toe ends of atog stanchions, (see sheet A, fig. 12, letter e',c ) f:t;iteuted t by tw'o 1.-in-ch loc nie treenlails passino' throuogh eacil tenon. There is also a. claimp 10 x> 16 on the bac(k of1 tlhese st.acichios, r arlig along under the sloping ribs; it is screw-bolted tihroLiogh thle stanchions aid` bolted to the sloping ribs witlh inch-iron, one olt mI eacht stanchion asd rib. (See sheet A, fig..5/.) Beitween each of these 12 1xl 1 stalnchions, there i1 a stan chion 6 >.2, (see sheet C, fig. 17, letter ",) extending froin between the clae nps (e",) up to the plate (e,) of the chambers; it is fastened at its ]heel with i screwbolts, and is tenoned. into the under size of the plate and ifastened with a treeenail. Each cross fiame of the side chbambers being th-us comiposed of tahe outer ribs (xn,) the slopirn ribs (r, ) and the stanchions of the -up-.r chambers (z,) is supported by a:12 12 m in: xted stanchion, (see sheet.,,s., fi;o 5 letter g',) halved ol the side of tIhe i:'uss-beam -,ear its end ad pas ing xup under the sloping rib inmway bet ween the t:o ti es ofi tri7ossn^v is Iis-tened with tweo bolts of inch-iron -at botlE'.'Tlher'e;,r'e t:;wo 12x 1: r f, h orta' -.,i l h1.(..e "1 A.-/,'D I5 lette fI)",~ ;dcross each kframr, arid fas;ternG to'the outer ribs anid to uthe stanchu.ions o.f tb e upper chamtbers with iron inch-bolts, and extending across the chas — bers to the inclined stanchions (g',) bracing the lower chambers n *two' plqaces every four feet along its whole liength, as equally distant ar t4be arhebs and truss work will permit. There will be a 12x 12 beam across the upper chambers, five feet below the deck, fastened with -— inc.h iroLil screw-bolts. (See sheet A, fig. 5, letter i'.) There will be eighty-set v er of thes.e frames in each of the side chambers, TR A.NSVERSE BULKHEADS (i. C E. i Across eachl of the side chambers there are ten tight bulkheiads; three:i o-f tbhem at each end are 38 feet apart. The main pump-well in the mriddce of the charmber is 46 feet, and the two sinaller pump-wells in each chamlber about six feet; these bulkheads are made of 6-inch plank as far up as te. lower chambers, and above that height, reaching tup to the tops of the cha;mbers, (see sketch sheet X,) 13 of 4-inch plank, fastened to the frames of. the lower chambers wit mch — inch iron bolts, and above with 10-inch iron spikes. The level of the dock longitudinally is secured by rmans of tbhe, bulkheads, by pumping more or less water fi'om one end of the dock the from the other while the dock is being raised or lowered. No use is mandi of them generally after it is pumped out. There are openings at the bottoms of the bulkheads, fuirnished with gates or valves for the passage of water to and from the pump-well. The general arrangernent of the bihkheadi yalves and pumps in the chambers, and the: number of' gates in each 8Kie chamber, are shown in the slketch sheet X. All the valves that open outside to admit water into the dock wil bwe of composition; those for t:he passage of water thtroutgh the bulkheads to the plrlip-well will be of mahogany. There will be eioght windows throllugh the uppert chambers, 12 fiet a.b;ot: the under side of the dock bottom. The plank on the bottom of the windows will be six: inches, fastent:ed with -,-inch iron bolts to beams 8 -12, tenonied into tihe outside ribs aind into the stanchions of t;he upper cha.mb)er, anl fastened with inch-iro-.n sc.rew-bolts. The tops of the windows will be planked with 4-inch plank, fastenedi o. to 6 x8 bheanss, tenoned into outside ribs and stanchions of the upper cha..mer. The sides will be planked with the same thickness and fastened wi 9-iniC spikes. (See sheet C. fig. 16, letter h", arnd sketch sheet X, 8.) )EiCK ov C.IAMXEt:.s. ~The tops of the clhavbers are (lecked over with 3-inch plank, the decl beams being )'5 8 scantling, halved together and laid so as to cross diag,-. taly, forming lattice bracing; the deck beams are fastened with;-incmd bolts, and the deck writh 8-inch iron spikes. (See sheet A, fige. 1..,,'etLA..NHING OF HIE DOCK Ii re outside ribs are planked up above the thiick: work wi. th 4-ich pliak, ri fastened with treenaies through each rib i; the treenails are cauked or...^....d- on "otsde Th icre,w:ill bet' three''; ick stIakes^-. ~2 i.' 1.2, ru'{)7 W~e"G~'?..;: t?'-~ *}''~.LIS*'?-,..........,..,.. ung the whtoe.leitngth of tihe dock, one a t the bottom and oan e ta h p o the windows, and ono along the uppE er eds of the ribs, fastented with -1ech iron screw-bolts t1hrough the ribs, one in each rib, (see sheet A, fig~. 5 and 13, iletter p;) every butt in the planking will have tiwo Io copper bolts as har up as 12 feet fi'ro the bottom of the dock, to which height the whofle to be coppered with 32 oz. copper, as before. Above that height the bultt bolts will be of iroal. (See planking on sheet A, figs. 5 and 13, letter p9) The outsides of the upper chambers will be phanked with iour-irnch pIankL,;.antld fastened in the same mEanner as above. (See sheet A, figy 5, letter r".) The ends of chambers will be planked up with six-inch plank, and Ifast;e(ned with treenails the same on the sides; copper butt, bolted up t te twle e fiteet. (S ee sht A, fig. 6, and sheet B, fig. 16, letter v.) The slopingr ribs are planked up with six-inch plank, alternately wifth. a,;trake of 12 x 12 timber, of such form as to afford a step or altar to place the heels of tie shores lupon. (See sheet A, figs. 5 and 14, letteirs a'nd b"o) This planking and the thick strake will be fastened with 1' treenails pmassing throu1h tb ribs and iroun butt-bolts, two treenails in each si.Img rib; i~n the p.lankin~. the thick strakes will bhav' o ine 1ir. olt (ad one treenail in each rib. All the planking above the thick work will be cautlked with new oakuma n the ordinary'way of caulkir new ships of the largest class. The pLatfbrm for the workmen to stand upon will be of 2 —in ch plank, laid on the fore-and-aft beams. (See sheet A, fig. 4, letter b'") The ipatform fin.. ished is seen.t figure 15, letter P"; it will e fasten4ed d mownv with 5-imnch spikeso The dock will be furnished with a floating gate. It may Ibe necessary to shorten the dock with such a gate twhen a ship-o:fthe- lne with alli her armiamexnt on board., is to be taken up. It will be placed forward of the ship, in grooves across the bottom and up the sides of the chambers. It will be eight feet deep from the keel to the deck and will be of te saime:obrm and proporetons as that described bor the basin The fastemnni.^ f:o0 this gate will be of iron. The time'ich w;ould be required for as to make and present in proper1 form a detailed estimate f t of tof the various materials to be ued il the cotr t he ostrthe balance-dock, would be very great-.immore, perhaps, than. can b- allowed us.'We therefore give the result of our calcuai.ations, without the details. The dock, when ready for nse, -will wmeighll five thousand tos net, of two thousand pounds. As we do not raderstand it to be the aitention of the departn)ment to hIaal s3hips ashore wi.h their armarments on board we k th, te de. pth of thei basin, as now prL:"se'nted by us, will be ample..;AT.S, Tfere is to be t gate at each end of th e dock miade of wod, Ca'id s(o;i.rranged as to open and shut on a hinge exterding acros thatie len ength of the gate. (Se h s1 eet F, figs. 21, 22, and 25, letter a.) This bottom timber of tihe gate iPs 18x24 inches; tie lower edge is half round, with the ends entirely roundaed so as to pass through a btt two feet oin ts fa ce (See same sheet,, 21, letter b, and figs 2to and 27 figure 6 ltetter o'.) "the sili-mece upon Mh;..the gate rests s X 18 mc.he[e the upper edge Icg hollowedr so,,, aTs to r cei ve te bt the o t irmer ofe tre g ate..i' sane sthee ig., g 4 and 26.) Both this sill-pict u a.ni the bitts are fastened to the end of the dock by one-inch copper screw-bolts eleven bolts in each bitt. and three feet apart in the sill-pce. The firame of the ga-e watil b of stanchions:: (,see s( ame sheet cs., figs, 2,2, ai)t 25, etter d,) placed fifteen inclhes apart, reaching np to a lirne wilt tlhe j-ower line of the side windows, 22'tet above the bottom- of the d}.oc.k. The ends of the,a(tes will be on an gntgle otf 45 degrees, the end pieces (see same sheet, gs. 20 ancd 2, letter e) 18:<-4 inchs. The stan hior:s a:re. mortised into t.e lowerT piXet of the gate, and into tite sla.inting' end-pieces, t}he tenons beincg 8 x< S squiare, and each ftastened witih coppelt-clenched bolts, of' - inch. (Sec bot;tomn o figure 25,) fe aThe "e Is suppor ted by two trusses, on'e at the top and one at midway dowvn. (See same'sheet, figs, 20, 21, and 25, letter g') Eauch truss is supported by five iron key-banrds, i inches e a. i isc 1 ih t.t-ick, passing alrould thle cord and arch of the truIss. (See same sheet, fig. 2)0, letter i.) The:-r' cnils':; of i t rches and cords are screw-bolted together, (see same sheet, flig. h2(, letter /I;,) with three iron Ibots, one itnc thick. These tru;sses are suF'pported in their horizontal posltion. by ilro bracecs 1I inch thick. (See sam: sheet, fig. 2, letter k'.) The gates are planked up vith' 4x- 12 plank, a-td Cistened as fa utp as twelve Ieet f':nir t the bottom of tlhe doetci, w'ith 9-ii.ch composition spikes, two t!itrough each plank in every rib, anird a thove witl iron spikes, thie lkee numaiber of spikes in& each rib. Trih-: g-ate at the flnorward end of 1;he ship is made to uns-hip bixv means of a sloat in the bitt. (:ee samne sheeti fg. 27, letter 1.) There will be two xwicketi-gates in e.c 8 in, chi 1S inches square. (See same siheet, figs. 21 at. 2'2,' let ter m.)'The timber which forms the fra.mes of thee cdd of'.i te d(!Oi' Oaiti,;:t:hici the o'-tl ates close is two feet square, the coner posts (se: s t,. fi, 6, letter n) are rebated to receive the end planking (?,') of' the d oclk. The slanting post is also 2 itet square, (see:i ee A fig. tg, lttelr r';) it is tenoned into the post p", the tenon being; 8 in ches and reacht-inoi in 6 inches. This post (" ) exstends (own to the truss-beam, half of its thickness being cut away, leaving a shoulder of one loot resting on theb top of the thick work (q',) to which it is fastened with 1-inch treenails, two through each thick strake, and one-inch copper bolt is also driven in throug'h each thick strake two feet long, as it passes down to the truss-beam below. The corners are fastened by oak knees-side 12 inches, 12 inchi.es on the face at the ends, and twenty through the throat, each arm being 5- feet long, and bolted with t- iron bolts, twelve in each knee, reachig into thie posts and thick work 22 inches. (The knees are seen on sheet A fig. 6, letter r"".) The thick. workl is dovetailed at the cornters of the dock, and each dovetail has a 1-inch copper bolt reaclhing- tjhrough the post, and clenched. (Scec sheer 4. (ie6, letter ( ".) JY. M'ASON, Secretary of the Xia.?.. JOHN S. G-ILBEIR'. ZENO SECOR. W T. GC. RIPII'iELT, Witness to the signatures of J. Y. MAason and IJoi S. (Gilbert. P. M. W'.ETMOiRE, AWitness to the sig:natuire of Zeno Secor. Rx.~ 2 4 ] IS GPLOXPIciATIOeH VO1 BASTiN',. Th 0_nr' I V ~' —r -st'ne s-nas w'ill be ISO.... I avi- 3a ec sides, walls of granite masonry:3 f::t high. feet thi.k at tbe boftoi an:, d 3 at top^ battemng ^ feet in the woeti~bik~ Th. waltis will be built unp to lw,:te:i::r with split tr'a: 1; 3ove that height -with granite well cate lie depith of water in. t bi.s hk high "wtr ii bet 10'.... ove the projecting courses of stone on'hich.e doek i's'to res;..The ouni''ailon of the basin will be formed of':round 12-inch'il,4 fet a.art -1 ~ ~~~.-~-i~~~~~~l Q:, ~s, ~C~ c.appe(d with 1.2X1. tirimber a:nd'o h. p.Ia~n. kig ( sheeC G,,i-s 40 and, 1, tletter:) scured to the.:i in. the i:.est.a':mier; the said ils w.ll 1e driven until a ram weighing 20n) poei.ds:fcllimg 30 feet will 3rsot. mo've them more than half an inch.'_ere: li be dtou ble this numrber of p. ile 1'os unader the courses of granite pro0ieio' S. (ee sh:4e' (1 -,i' 41, letter b.) But if in the construcition of the b un o c:;e foond a0rd pi liobe ir -''pra.ctjcabi. }e9 such othei: mea:s- olkf':.rm. th inunai on - lil - adoptedci a t stie stipeleritendent onil te r o the'Uite Ld S taes and te parties of the second pairt, shall deem the bet:,l, which shl l be approved by the Secretalry of he Navy, The'latlo!'w ili be c-aulked wkith /wedg'"es sof sot wood; fou1tr coiurses of hewn gcr11..i.. t. i- 1" "wii be li d in cenmenet u1on 1the plat i.ormalong the nmi dd'i l,-~e b-,o n,d'a:s -Lthe Cirection tof iits l"et'ISee sheet G, 39I 1.: letter d) Two e 4 t'er e...'t12 38 wi.de (hsee -l', same sheet anr.d. fig., lt r" -)'wil bela'd in the same,diretion on. each de., SO 1eet from the centra.l coursesi forrme.l'?evel i rc (tio4.0 or gra nite sri:g' el's on which to Ires i the dock.'he spaces betwee n's"' of crani 1~ t4h1e o eces o.u. t to the side.-'walls are filled with. concre-t1e 6 inches deep. Thebre will be three eou.r'se~s,of stoe a'cross the bottomn of the outer end of the Lb:si; the u.nder course (see same sleet and fig', letter d') will be 15 ihes thbick and frm a shoulle " fr ~r the.i. to bear bers. a.e to }have a mortise 20 V.a'hes log anI d 4 inches wide, to receive the key;' t'e keys are to be 3 and. 6 feet from the ends of the centre timbers. Lugs, to connect the hydraulic cylinder with the'bedway's liags of suitable size, are to be cast on the hydraulic cylinder (K;) and mortises,'8 feet apartt are to be mortised through the bedways, (LL.) The rmortises are to be 24 inches long and 61 incles wide. Cast- ron keys 24 inches, wide9 6 Iches t ai cL l an_ L d i4 11 in-e - li.1tises. Wrought-iroi rod s, 6 6 inches, and suitably formed to connect with the lug's on the cylinder andi the cast-iron keys of the bedwayss are to.ake the connexion hbetween the (ylinder and the bedways, (MM[. ) The power of the hydraulic press, and the strengbth of the'machinery above.described, would be adequate to draw a ship of 5,300 tons. fIn case it should not be required to m0ove a ship of that weight, the power ad strength aforesaid are to be diminished.in proportion. One turn-table is to be constructed near the end of the centre bedway, for the purpose of turning the cylinder arou nd oi the ways, (see plan'No -;) to be built in the following manner, viz piles 1 in hes in diameter are to be driven for the forneiation, (see plan at'F N which are cut off 3 feet below mean high tide, and capped with timiber inches in thickness, (CT;) and a wall of stone is built up thereon to the samine eight as the,v-'all of the ways, (G..) The circ.le of the table (111) is to be 110 tfiet in dialmeter, and an. irona bar, 1- 3 inches, is to be laid in a circle on the stone wvall, 6 inches from tLhe edges and crossi ng the centre-way wall. A cast-iron plate is let in the centre of the tabl ole inch thick and -en inches in diameter, and a joal. two inhebes in'.. dianmeter inserted throoghlO the plate into the stone. The i:.ai ways are not lail over the space occupied by the t able. Two pieces of oak timber, (0orrespiSonding in size to the ways, axre bolted together, and a:'t -ion plfate let in and secured. iin the centre and at each end, at the crossn of the cirele. T ins timber, or short way, is plac.ed on the table, and the journals' on t iable pa.ss up through the centre of' the plate and conline it to its positio, and.l allows it to move around the j'urnal on the iron, bar and) centre plateI When it is.reoqeir,ed to t the cylinder around, to shift its ends, to push a vesse o'ff friom tIhe t.)edV.wa3 upon the floating dock, it is slid on the table and turned a roun-..-, as sihownr in, the plan. A _house is to be built for the protectfion of the cylider a:d engines, over the centre bed.way, 30 feet w ide., 461 l'-et oi ngI and 1.2 feet high, (see grround pla,", LL.) The foundat1o'A s is to be 01of cross:Sfoaunta1i.on timber, 4 feet long and mu inc'!.'s thickn laid in a t.rench diug 3'fet below the surface of the yard. On he cross foundatio'n timber ran.ing tiibe)r, 12 by 20, is laid, and a stone 0 wafl is built -1p.Lhereon one fo-ot above the level of the ground. A brick waIll eight inches thick is thet built up ttwelve feet in height. The roof is laid to pitc}h both ways, planked and covered with XX tin. Two windows ar e t placed on each side, and a door in front and one on t_,fe sid.e of s-5.ifei.ent si-ze to admit of the passage of the engines an d ioilers. Rods of a suditable size will be attached to the cradle-ways, at the upper t-d.L (b) so arran.g~ed as to receive keys thi.'roug}h the mortiser in the bed ~'.v'ay to ipreivei1t thhe ~5i. frl:'iipi b.. i:,;-iwen - lie hyi 4d r...u. [cs p!.s is eJ Y. MASON Secretary of thr e Ja ivy. JOIN S. GIL3BEPIRT. Z E)NO SEC0RJ, \V'it.is:j to ste Lsignatures of J, Y. iMasl aned Ji oltn S. Giill.t-~-. — Witness to the Si Scor — P. AM. WETMOx tKnow ail men..io.!v thesl prese.nti, th1at'we., Jo,,n S, &I ilblt ai.d Zc, 1no Secor, as princinpals, broth of l-te citi anid Stale o- Nei. ork, anI, d.Rti,ht - ifrd Moody and Jame. s'. Seeor, as sureties, of the cit'y arnd. State of Newt York, are held- and. firmly bourn0d aunto the JUnit-ted Stalte s of AmiXerica, in thejust and flil sumn of one flhundrl(ed thousand dollars, lawafu l tm oney of the Joilted States, t;-) ie patid.to to te saihd lnited Stas os tA) any perwsor nl or persons; agent 0or ae-xts, hi:at ay be - duly a)utorized ib th e Compt:roler of the Treasu-ry of thie Tnitled States, for the tint be ing.- to rece' ve the samile; to'hicht pi-metl, Al e nd truly t)o be m1rtade a01-id. done. we bind ourselves antd ever o us)y o0ur Us an ever-i -.. of ur h 5eirs, executors art d administrators, in tihe w1hole andl j e nwhole, jointl' Vr d severaIf, firm'I. by these presents. Seailed i ith outr seals, a.td idated the fifteenth day of Novemiber, arnno Domili one thousan e ight hultl(td tndd ad rty-eight. T'he condition of thlis oblig'ation. is sucht, tha it if the ablove boulnd J olu S. Gilbert, Zeno Secor, Rultherford Moody,; a:nl Jat es F. Secor, o l eithe r of them, their or either of thleir heirs, executors or adlmnistrtors, do an shall well and truly execute and fulfil, in all its stipul,ationi.s, a contract awlich the said John S Gilbert andi Zeno Secor have e:ntered into vwitl John Y. Mason, Secreltary of I the Nav y, for and in el i of the Unitte States, for the complete c ostruction oi a bioa.ane floating f dry-dock wt basin, railway and floating gatea, ait the:na-vy-ya rd Kittery, agreeabi'y, to their contract, dated the eleventh (l11th) day of Novemb er, one thousanl4 eight hundred and forty-eight, (1848) for the us e of':e:i ted St tes,'[enavy,' then the above obligation to be void and of' none eff1 ct, ot herwi se to bI, and remain in full force and. virtue in law, JOH _N, G3-ILBT-FT:,h, [L s. ZENO SECOR, 13. s i t'UTiTHERFOIRD MOOiDY, l. JAMES F. SECOR. [,. Signed, se aleld a.d- d ehitvere.d in presence of P. M. WEtr'ImoRE, Witness t-o the signatus of John Sl. Gibert., O Secoir, lit.therfort.Mloody and. James F. S'ecor, To the best of my ikn,'oledT Ie arnd eli tiw so'-c...' n;aetd 1in t. his bond are good and sufficient. CHARALES McVEA.'iN, Uni 7td States- A tforney, i'5 [4 If,]'.1i1s agreemnent, made t;ins..'?.en:y-[.ou.rth da-y oft: Oc'".to, i: t;e year o-f our Lord eighteen hun dred an.d fori t -i- hty at t:t city of'Wa shington, in the District of Columbia thx. e g oinve cmmnt I ofn t'he f'roty i tates, by the Secretary of the Nav y 1the tretfl of, tihe first part, an d Saimuel ]. D akL and Rutherford Moody, of the city of' New York, in te State' 0o0rk, of the oiteseth: That wherea, by anl act of the C..ongress of the United States,"....p...r" August 3d, r the ye one thousan eight hkfundred and forty-ci.ht, entitled ".in act:akn o irproiatCions'or the aval. service fotr the year ending the thirtieth d.a, of Jt.i e in the year eig'htieen hundr ed an(! orti-ne ii the tlhi-r se' l tlereof:, t See retary o} the jNv is directed fort!.with to en.ter into contract with Samuel 1..) Dakln and. Rurltherfford Moody for he comple c onstru co tion,., witbien a; reasonable ti-ne efron the date ofn the c.ontract, of; sectional floating drydoek- basin and rai. lwa "s a.ttie nav-ard at Philadlphia, accrdi g to thei. paln; anad specific ations submitted oiY themt to the N:4avy Depatlment; the;id -wor'ks to be of' the largest dimensions iroposed t nsai plan iiandsc i-::a'i.ions; andl provilded su"ch contract shalli be d Iat'rice' tie tst -'"" i::xcesed 0by more than iten per cent. the price which has been1 submi;tte d bi y.''the said Dakin andl Moody for doa.tin!p dry-dock, basin and railways i'at sa rid. av y-yard to the said Navy Department and in the n' third section of ~.aid i.c it,. is fiurther provided, that the Secretary of the Navy shall also, y i'rti er contract iti sad parties, en arge e the dimenisions of' sid work, to: capacity suffi:cient ('or dlo('icing wari steamers of the largest class,,f at least threie hundred ani fifty ftet in length, if the dimensi ons aBore mentile shnou.ld not be fiund ndequate for that purpose: And w.hereoa1s pthe roplosals and specifications of the said: kirl and.f, ody, parties cf' the second part, refe rred to in the Iact aoresaid, spec it a to:k' basin aid railways at said n iav ) -yard, capable of rceiving nd.raisi"ng a ship-of;-,.l.. "i" ne n of.the first class, of five thousand three huindred tos:d ispacement, and a ste'ami-vessel o' trece huntied fet long and.sev.ey.tet ovetr the guards; and whereas the last proviso in thie third, section o; the a. ct aforesaid markes it the duty of the Secretait of the Navy, a y b irtheri c'on tract with saiad parties of the second, part:, to cause 1he said dock, Kba. i.:'m and railnways to e en!arged sit oul-i' the plain and. specificatio s bO"i:lore re.terred to not be found adequate for ithat puirpose, to a capacity sufficent ftor docking and hauling on and off the way, steamer s ofi the larges: e.lass, at least tihree hundred and fiftey fet in lenpt, and, it is understood, of breadth 4i propo0rtlion': and whl ereas the dimensio::s descri1ed in the sa plan and specificatioos submitted by said Dakin ail MNooy, aries of th.' second partt and referred to in said act, are not st i.eicnt, and do not furnish such a dock, basin and railways as would he adequate to.:reive anid raise, and to haul on and off' t ays, war steamers of tie largeste las above mnentioned And wvhereas the Secretary ofl the Navy has therefore called upp on the.said Dakin and Moody, ptarties of the second part, to submit a p.lan and Tspecifications of an enlarged dock, basin and railways, of a capacity siff cient to doc1k war steamers of the class aforesaid, at least three hundred aoad fifty feet in. lenl th, sad of tr th ain proportion; and the said.Dat in.,, Moody, parties of t'e second'part, have accordingly sub'mitted -to him suci h pla T!n and b specifications, which ave been,Ily consideed n the said c' [ 44 7 retary of t(he I4 avy- and ha.ve been sig,:n.ed by the partie-s hereto, and im. been hereto annexed, marked A, l, C, and -D, forming -a part of this coiltract: Now> therefore, it is mutually understood and agreed, by and between t]he parties to these pres'ents, e that the price to be paid for tihe enlargement of the said doe., basin and railways, shall be in proportion tc, their increased size in area, as compared withi the price to be submitted by the said Da kin and Moody for said works; in connexion with said first mCn-. tioned plan and specificationso an, d that ten per cent. on that aimount, bh. gallowed by said a.ct, ancdt required by said Daldn and Moody, parties of the, second part, shall be added to the said price, that is to say to tohe iric,' submi.tted by them in connexion with said first mentioned plani and specinfications referred to in said act, being the sum of'two hundred and eightyone thousand and six hundred dollars for the floating dry-dock, and the sam of two hundred and eighty-seven thousand, dollars for the basin arnd, railways; t he price of a dock;, basin and railways of the enlarged dim euisions, embraced in the plan and specifications hiereto annexed, of a capaci'ty sufficient to (ock and haul on and off the ways a war steamer of the largest class, at least three hundred and fifty feet in length, and of a breadth in prioportion, upon the'basis aforesaid, increased in proportion to the increased area., and by the addition of ten per cent. on the amount, shall be, for the floatng docklr the sum. of four hundred and two thousand six hundred and eightythree dollars; and for the basin and railwamys, the sam of four hundred aneeleven thousand and fifty-nine dollars; in all, for the said dock, basih aod' railways complete, according to the plan and speci rfiatons hereto annex d., the suim of eight hundred and thirteen thousand seven hbndred and fortytwo dollarss. And the said Dakin and Moody., parties of the seconed part, for themselves., their heirs, executors, administrators, and a ssigns covena.nt and agee to and with the sa.id party of the first part, to construct and complete the sa`id, floating dock, basin and railways, together with all. the machinery, fixture(s, and apparatus necessary for successfully working the same, and for, h:ori'n.:g and sereuring vessels of each class, aforesaid, on the ways, according to the p.an and specifications hereto annexed, and \vith th the materials specified!. thereine of the best quality, within two years and a half from the first day of November next, to the entire satisfaction of t-he Secretary of the Navy., The said basin to be constructed at such place ini. the said navy yard as 1e may select, and the said floatino: dock to be constructed at or nearc the sa'id navy yard, and when completedc to be delivered and put in said. basn. And ihe said government of the United tates, by the Scrietary of th Navy aforesaid, hereby covenants and agrees to and with. the said Samuel D. Dakin and Rutherford Moody, the said parties of the second part, thei. heirs, executors, administrators, andd ssigns,'in consideration of the premises and of the covenants and agreements herein contained o' n their pa.rt to be nerformedn to pay to the said Dakin aind Moody> parties of the second part, teir he irs, admecstratorrs and assigns, the said just and f ll, s-nn of eight hundred and thirteen thousand seven hundred and forty-two dollars, in the manner following, namely' when bills certified'by the super-intending agent on the part cf the said party of the first part, approved by' the commandant of said navy yard, slmall be presented, showing that thme rmain taunk and end floats of any section of the fioatingu dock are framed amnd set up, bastened and bolted the um of iee tho-usand dollars for each. setion'; '4)7 [ 4I 4 ] 7hat the end framne is raised and bolted, thRe end floats and main; tank: pta.ikedl and the bulkhead put in, in any section, the flrther sum of:ffteec thousandi dollars for each section; That the machinery is put u.p and tGhe section compieted in any secti o o0f 32 fet wide, the ftrther sumi of seven tlhousa dl five hundred and fortysix dollars and six:t;y-six cents for each section, and in any section o'f i it-y feet vwide, the f urther surm of five thousan d an two hundred dollars; That one- hird of the piles o- the coff er-damr a re driven, the fi.rt.er su.f, of't..wenty thousandt dollars;'TPhat two-thirds o the piles ol the pc'-da ae rii ven, thee f- r ^ t rther um.. of twenty thouIsand dollars That; all of the piles f the coffe-r-dam. are driven, the further sum' f ittt!eeen thousand dollars; Thatthe cofl er-d.anm is filled and conipleted, and the water pumlped oca::,'the further sum of txwenty-live thousand dollars; That thte concrete front; wall is Zput in, the fulrther suvmi of t-wenty thousanc! dollars; That the basia is eixcavated, filled, and levelled, the further sulm o 4.wenty thousand dollars; ln i at half of the piles in the botto-m of the tasin are drivin, the iu1rthle-r SL.ma of twenty-five thousand dollars; T[Ihat. the remaining half of the piles in the bottom of the basin are dtr.ivcr,, the ftrther saum of twenty-five thousand dollars; That those piles are capped, concrete and brok-en stone put in, and the bottomr planked, the further sum of twenty-five thousand dollars; That one-third, of the stone-floor is laid, the fiurther slum of twenty t hoausand dollars;.T hat two-t:hird's of the stone-floor is laid, the f.rther sum of t' wentiy thousand dollars; That all of' the ston:te-floor is laid, t:,e fiort her stt-n of twenty t-housand. d o'a rs; T.hail ore-third of the side-'waltls are bi ilit, the further suml. of twevnty' thousansd dollars; That two-thir, s f toe sit-t-alls as re built, t:e urthler sum. of twenty' thousanr.d dollars; That all of te ide-walls are built, the fri-ther suml of twenty thosa.i lhat the fiu.ndtatioa ples for ways are driven arlnd capped, the.i:rt.hc-er sum of fifteen thousand) dollars; That tlhe stone are laid fo', one way, t-he filrther sauin. of' seventeen t. outhtsand five hun'dreld dollars; That the stone are laid for the seconld way, tihe fIrther sum of seYveniree ti.ousand five hundred dollars; Thait all the ways are laid a.nd cid. tle made. the further suam o t' C-ea',' -lthonusand dollars; That the hydraulic cylinder and engines are done and set ip, the fu rth-er sEum of twenty-six thousand and fifty-nine dollars; The said payrments to be made by the navy agent at Philadelphia, or" New York; Excepting axd reaserving firom each. of said paymaents, twenty per cent. on the bills so approved, as security for the faithful performance of the work; a:nd after thle comt pletion anid satisf.ac.tory tria.,.as threXin provided, of said 44 1 VTworkst, whiich said Dakin aund.Toody wari-tant shall ccesiily dock and. Ihaui on and off the ways, vessels of either class before named, the said twenty per cent. above reservedl and retained shall be paiid ovier to them in And it; is further mutually unoder'soood aId agreed, by andl beten said parties, that no paynments shall be nmade on tis contractl, beyon-d he appropriations now maae for sait wor si, until Congress shall have made furt her appoprpiations for the same. And it is ii.th..er agreed, tha.t a.uch,.matia as may have been pur-e chased by order of the Secretary of,te Navy, and delivred or to be dclivere'd at said n:avy-ard ffor sid iots, sai - 11 be rkecived iy sail Dakin and Moody, and oad pa for at he bi is ofit cost th ereof, and to be deducted ifro the payments to bhead ithi t first t year of the time herein sperified for the conmpletion of the works. Ankd it is further agreed, that the nid works shall he corsitructed under the superviision of a comtnpetent persoi or civil engineer, appointed by t he party of the first part, who shall have power to rejet and exclude any materials from said works which are not in accorlance with said specifications hereto aninexed, either in kind or quaiity, and who shall see that the said works are constructed in c onformit to- said plan and sipecif.cations hereto annexed.e And it is further agreed, that the said l orks shall prooress in their seeral stages, in the proper ra tio of time, in proportion to the time specified for the completion thereof and shall iotl depart from the said plans and specifications hereto annexed, without authority firoim the Secretary of thre o Navy; u bt ifn; }n the course of the construction of the said works, it shall tie evident to the said.Da.kin and Moody that advantageous changes and improvemnents can be madn,:'upon the said plans and seceifications, in coasequenice of the enlargement oi' the striucture, the said Dakin a.nd Moody on submitting said. changes and irmprovements to the Secretary of the Navy, and receiving his sanction thereof, xw:ili be authorized to adopt said changes and improvements, provided that each and every such chauge and improvement shall be wholly at tlheir cost and expense. And it is further agre'ed, that said Dakin and Moody shall'have the option to caulk the tanks and floats mentioned in said specifications hereto annexed, with wooden wedges or with oakum, to use horizontal or beam steam-engines on the floating dock, and to transfer the motion froma one to another by'.means of banding or shafting, as they may prefer; andl also, at their discretion, ito increase the size and -fasternigs of the truss ti6mbers of the dock, all at their own cost and expense. And it is further agreed. thait the said party of the first part shall provide the vessel or vessels necessary for the purpose of testing the capacity of said works to dock vessels of the class aforesaid, to the satisfaction of lhe Secretary of the Navy, within three months after the completion of said'works, certified by the superintendent on the part of the United States. And the said Dakin and Moody further agree, t.h.at in case they shall fail to execute the work herein agreed to be done on their part, and. especially if the said dock, basin and railways, after completion, sha.ll,rove insuncieit to (lock successfully, vessels of the navy, according to their wa;rraiity aforesaid, then the said Dakin and Moody shall refiund. to the treasuryv o0 the United States the sums of money which may have been paid to ther undier this contract, and they are to have the privileg'e of removing the.imateriaals which they may have used. in the construction of the said do.ck, 4 44, ~-'" a'i ui,dina s ea se bas:n ari.d railways but the said mat:erials are not to be rce mvedi in sulchl (sC cit2 the money s so advanced sha ll ave:eeln refaollIed, andthe sat id nmate-.rials are o fre in a. s 8.p. addietio.Inal security Ior the?erformance of the contractp anr.ii' to refb.,ncd thle said motney so adtval.nced, in case of' faire i as. o;' esaid. Ind t'e s;.6i-d D'akint it M.Sody' p:.'tie.s of the s'ecot nd poa rtI do:fPias,t'er enrgge antd contract, that no mem ber of Congress, o!ficer of the iniavy','nor arny pe:sot: holt Fdilng any ofiCe or aippointmeint under the Nav-y lyepartr. e:';at slhai]. K.an y interest,r be in anywiise concerned, eithet directl iin3r"eczftlty in, any o:f' the issues, profis, orts o releiptS of this contract. llt is firther agreed thr at the said Dakin an(d I Moody, parties of the second' rt, sbhal, on demandr give to the said party of the first part their bond., with suflcient sr'iec:ties, irt th penalty of one hu ndreed thousand dollarss conditioned for the faslithfll per:formance, on their part, of this contract. tin testimony oft a?. which agPreements and stipulations, the parties above _n.amed have hereunto sigtned their names and affixed their seals, this twentyourth urb t day of Octoberf, a'::o.Domai ione tholn;sand eight hundred a rn! fortyeia'bl. J Y. MA[SONt 1.j Secr etta,r y of.the.Niavy. S. D. DAKIN,' L. s R. MOODY.. sL Signed,((i sealed and. 6ie ii e11 iII i he Ofesl ( th h e ( ord " five" erased O( thLe second, page, althd the ords \ "''five himdtred" o(n the seventh, and tlhe words' ad -aul.l- on. anld off th e ways, o.(t t1phe eigihtfh pa"ge, interImPl d'beifre execution) —W'LLAM. G... RDGEY','1. J Witness" to the signature of,. Y. - ason;. P M. WE TxMIOiE, tWitnss to t-e signa:tt-ires (,-:' S. D. )DaIl1;-!i.'ii(id I,ody. A. S'pecic atiC on,, s of a secliona l floating' dry-d(occ, basinti and two railway, ".,dii (ot aparat.l s,and.zachl.nery for rem oving vessels from the doc0 to the land and bact: aegrait to t/he dock, to be constructled at the Phliladelphia nrtesy-~Vf1d,'I1lE FLOA'.I NG( D1OCU( The floatingm dock is to consist of ten sections, each constructed An the sanme manner. The outside measurement of each is to be as follo.ws, viz one hundred. and forty-seven feet eight inches (147 -,) long, and eleven. (11) feet deep; six of tlhem to be thirty-two (32) feet wide, and four of them. thirty (30) feet wide. The main tank of the six sections is to b oe o hundred and. five ([105) feet long, thirty-two (32) fret wide, arnd eleven (11) fee; dee p d and the two e-nd floats each to be twenty-six feet and six inches ('26 ) lo g, t wen ty (30) feet wide, and eifght fbet and six in1ches (8. ) h ia,.' tn the I' r s c ti ons is to l e t;hirty (O:r ies wie. an of' t sa;e lenth a.l de n pt a in t. se scx c. ins aind the t'wo end oas t' a [44} be each twenty-four feet six inches (41) org, tweitvy (80) feet wide, and eight feet six inches (8;'l) deepm The sizes of all the timbers, for the framc-work of the ok; are to be t'he same as marked upon the f'aramig plans setW leroe. it,mariked Nos. I and 2; and the frame-worl is to be framed and put toge ther in the beat manner, and in conformity It those 19s18 The maiarmer of cosesru s to Is to be the same in each section, to be as foll/ows, (see plan No, 1,) viz ) The two side-tra:sses are to be first fraimed and put togeth.er of the best w-hite-oak timber, of the dimensionrs marked on plan No..; two sticks oif Iwhtite-oak, (A) 16) 8 inches, are spliced in the ceu'.tre, so as to make one p:i:ee' atnotCher stick of white oak, (B);1.6, is spliced at h ach end, near the steps of the trusses, to make fhe same length, and is plaedi on the top of the first stringer; two pair of trusses, of white-oak timnber, one (C) 216 X21, and one (D) 16X1t6, are stepped into the main stringer (B.) The float-sill (E) is placed on the topt of the main stringer, (B) ruaing oat t.o the end float-frame, and bevelled to fit the'foot of the truss (C.) Tihe two stringers, the float-sill and trusses, are then bolted together with..ad -inch iron screw-bolts, two tihrnouih each step; they being side by sideone only is shown by the marks on pian No I, fig, 1.'The top stringer (F) h16X16, is then spliced together -wvith one splice, aind bolted vwith (g6 siw: l,-inch iron screw-bolts. The short trusses, (GI) 2X.12, nIear the end of the truss-frame, and. the truss (~ J) are ypced in position, and the corner posts, (H) 1.6X18, are fra-med and halved on to the stringers, ald oolted. with 11-inch iron screw-bolts. Mortises are rma.de on the inside of the top and bottom stringers, to receive the top and bottom beams, (i) o ribs 6X14, half of yellow pine and half of white-oak, (see pla [Noo 2, section on line C ID;) and the side ribs, (K) of white-oak 9X9, are fitted and locked three inches on both edges of the top and bottom stringer and'.russes' on the outside of the frame that they cross; (see plan No. 1, fig. I.) These ribs are each fastened with six t11-ine S. s~q. iron The truss-frame is then strappled with two iron bands, (sWh) 1.6.(; Lin ch, at: the foot of each main truss. and. one band of irosn, of same dimensoniIs, atc the foot of each of the two shima.lier t:russes, and four barnds of iroa I.X6 ilch, in the centre of thie trruss-fram e; (plan No. I, fig. 1.) These Ianod. are fastened in the centre with key-s and gibs, passing through a stud, a6X16, bet w e se n d holding the ers, and ding the ands in place; (plan No. 2,;a.t W.) The truss-fr:mae being raised to,n upright position, and a corresponding''trss-fraime bei; g made and raised for the opposite side of the section, the top and bottom beams, (I) 6Xi4, half of yel-low pine and half of whiteoak, are framed with a double tenon and shoulder, and. inserted eighteen (1t8) inches fromn centre to centre, in the mortises ma.de in the top and bottom stringers, to receive them,'and pirnaed (see pin No I, ilg 2, a..nd plan No, 2, section on line CD.) Two centre trusses, of white-oak:"imbere a fram-ed amn set up i.n t.heir postion, as show n. plan No. 2, fig. 3, The top and bottom keelsons (LL) of i:ese truss-irames are.2 x 5; the maitn trusses (M) 8 I 15, and short trusses (M 0) 8> x L ]For their position anc th'ne mamnaer of boltngr and lockring thl'em toget her ief"e is - ade to plran- No. 2, fig, 3,:: md seci. on a nline )B B, f G 1, (R) 7? X 2, aCe spiked wvith two i'on spikes, 9 inches long a nd i.' i: eac hkeenlsni. and one at each. crossing of the trrsses o enrd race O(n cross;russ of white-oak uma ber tis ramed within the tank,;er I.hc e... Feor the macnner of nam,g tross tcr ss ss and fstsnem, it, itend ch sizes of the timbers, r'efernce is made to "pl- n No 2 -tin cm H-ie A B and cross seci'on D D.':he bottom strifne' or beam (A C):is 16x,o an'ved 6 inches to aiA;t the -bot tom k -eelso ans d t Ch,: e ei.'r est;'t ue te twoside)an:.ortise irnto.(' a i.rib 9.< 16" T he st'::: e is::6x. S4;ad:mrtises into tire topsid s....ri.gers T F'_) T..':-' ~......is 1L6.... I C-....ru'sses-,: are X6 and 6 (A a the two (1x2.6 are xfasened wi:th two 1-inch iron boltso The studs (A Li4) Ai,::.j' 1.6, a also ia. med in ai up:ighit position in this tr"uss. he end corner beams (T are rmined ilto the side strigers (A.B, and, ) and clhe end studs (A Y', 6.1 o. f..hi e., are fnaomed into the end, top and bottom benams (N. of the mi he studs being tenoned int. te i orer be ams (N) a-d it.steed'wsith pis..s;shovwin i an l -o~ 2.3 A. double wa'ter-tight bulk.-h;e`ad is constmructed in t[he cent"re... ofL the tank oil each side ol th' i-teo, r truss at A G, (see plan No. i2, e'1 D, section c,a i:'me A. B.')'ias. - e f - o tiead is ade otiers of white oak plani:-at-ning endways, 4 inchs tick,' ad -Ittng i a abbit on the bottom bearn _N'-)'1 i.X, L4ad t'he toup truss-b Im (A' D) 1\ 24,'acli k'A.astened with 7"i. c inron sp'ike.' at top and 2 at bottom, to. th.es baa and to each side of the tr'usns (A E) witth two s siiar'ikes i' eachi pia.A. space is left i: one tier of the p ani to alliow the wJater to,esca pee Two hllkh:-head. made -of -inch wh wite t pine plank, re framed inside of the.-i.,i, at equal distances fro'he centre to the cend, and are ecured by b:Lein:g spi}ked to the top and bottomr beams with 4-inc: iron spikes $ and a. pliank 3X10 inches is fitted between the bulk-head and adjoining-'bean"..EIah of the bulk-h-eads, except thle centre one, is provided with a door to a.idmit of passing'fr rm one a.partment to the next, (see plan N'No. 2, section -m:ine C DI) T'wo connectig-x-rod iosts, of wlhite oak 12 X'12 (see plain No I, at: Q) are fr-amed on the side truss-i'rame near each corner of the section, in. thee same iurinner as the side ribs.;.e end corner beams (N) and corner posts (H) a-re rebated to admit of piaaing fl us-h with the outside of the posts acn I _ea.n s. The foiur.co ners (A..) on the two sides are worked out of yellow -pinc'12 x 14, and gamined into the side ribs and against tie stig r;, forming tit'e naiitiicimmencent oif thel p:an.king and maikaing:u jo int at:- corners, (ee plans Nos. 1 and 2, A H.) The planking on the bottoms of the tank Is to, bie 4 i nc'- th ick' o t he..n...ds Inches t. cc -e the top 4.. inches thick, t'i. the tin:he:des o inchies hicuick o; o white oak on the bottom, and the rest of llow pi; no plank to, be used over 12 inches witde, except rbelow the centre oi t'e. dock; and below, not over 15 inches wide. On t.he bottein and ends of the tanik, the plto.ank is to be:astened with tw:o iron spikes, 8 inches ng and inch sqt.are, to each beam at the crossinag; for each piank:1 inchces'wide or les, end for- each plank over 14_ irnches wide, three iron spikes o f the same sie to eaci: be[: m ai t' e crossiong, and m: t:_e same p,-ropoion 0 r o i:er p a.k, -On the toI of:. th ank the palank k, ever:-0 i:ches-'ide is to be'iu':Lee'-,d witth iron spike e, le'c, e.. i: i 1)ic: sqa-r-., driven a' t'the;:~.;:-e d4lsta.cae a i inr the sides of e ta s the p...':is to be Efastened. w'ith two iron spikes i0 inche; long and inc omiuar~cc ti~rJe een- of e ach. plank inches w:id..ce or 1"sE, and three i r:on spikes (1f te same SL-'I in t"e d. o. eah -laki v'er 12 nch: s wid e, d 4[44] A 32 also one iro on spike of same size to every th-ird rib, and tiwo t cer-nais tiw inch to each crossin.g, for each plank 15 inches wide, except where the spikes are dri-ven. The ribs (K) on the sides of the main tank are each tio' e fastened with: tuwo iron spikes 11 ilnches long and i-inch square al the top ai bottomn stringers, and also one in ithe trusses at each crossing' anric two i each stui in tle float-sll. The mai n a he ot ta.l a.vin. ee a planied the en rames then constructed of yellow - pine timber. For the sizes of the timibers and manner oif framing asnd fastening, raei;e:ile is ma d e to plans Nos. I. and 2. The posts ( J) 0 ix 1. oin sections i ikc (I F ) (re.mortised dow n thrlough the top and bottom stringers nd' ^, Scuried by lo.cut pins. The posts of thie idjoining secti on, (A K ) 10:\. are mortise'd into the. flocat sill E1 (165 x 16) close to the end of thle section, a.nd halved n an-d pinned thereto, and boIted o the end beams (N) o'f I:t umali r tank, i ithi t;wo',-inch bolts in the r anrid two pins in the sill. I he posts (A L) 10 < 15, in the out end sect.tion, ot. line (.H K) are nort ise d into the float sill, and bolted witlh one bolt. Tihe pinion posts of white oak, (S S) 1.0x 1(0, are tenoned0 into thle'ioat sill, a-nd'the 12 x'1 "2 girts (N I) above.'1-te girt (N M) is imortised to receive the pinion potsts, (S S) and halvtc- d (i and bolted- with..-inch screw-bolts to the posts (A. J, A K, and./- L.) The maai brace, 9. 16 (A M,) and posts last rnaedl, having been halved or boxed' at the intersecting points, are then bolted with 1-.-inch iron screw-. bolts' tLiro ait (ac.C.it Crossing'. The gilr, (A. -) S X 1.5) is then halved oni to the posts, a fastenedt at eachl crossing with 1,:-inch iron screw-bolts. T he brace, (A 0) 9 X 1 15, is Ihalved on to the float sill, (E,) andl fastened vinth two I -inch i scl! rew-b olts andif tlso to posts, (A J) a~nCd (A KI) with S...nilar bolts.'The brace (A P) is halved onti t, the floor si.3I (E) and tirt (A. N ) atdi bolted wvith simiiar bolts. A correspondting fi'rame is then raised on tire i-.uss —fraine andl floa.t-sil, oi the opposite side of the section, and the girts, ( Q( ) (see plan. No. 2, setion. or line I-1 K,) 6 x 12, (A S,) 6 x 14, (.A F,) 1.0 12, a-nd the four braces GX7, (see plan,) having been fraiied and tenoned into their piaces, and bolted with 1.-inch jolint bolts, together witl thle girts, (A V, A WV, and A X,) on section on line (E F,) and the 6 x7 b:races, the floor-beanms, (X X,) a{6 12, are laid on the girts, (N M,) and. secured by pins. A girder (T V,) S x' 12, (see plan No. 2, section on E F and 11 K,) is then raised. and secured. by screw-bolts to girts, (A. Q and. A V,) and supported by a post (W W,) 8x8. A floor (Y Y) is then laid on the floor-beams, of 2-inch white pine plank, jointed together, aind secired. with two 4-inch spikes at each crossing. A house is then to be constructed on the top of each end-frame, 7 feet in height, to protect the machinery. The framre work and rafters are of white pine scantling and weather-boards'-inch, vwhite pine boards 6 to S inches wide, planed on both sides, matched and grooved, and the roof to be covered. with matched l -inch pine plank and XX. tin. A ladder or.bra.ce (S, section on line E F) is to be constructed, tre e', from th11e deckl.( to the pilatfoitrm, on a ea nd -rm.e. THE EIiD)- FLCOATS. The"re a.e.'- t, i: t1-e -o edioats o ent-tit(t as sol etion. the fra.mes of' vi-hich, are )o tbe of-' yellow-p-i:!e tinber. All the corn;.er end-lbealms (UJT U) are 1.2 5; 33 l 44 3 all the side beans (U) 1.1 X 11; all the posts (V) 12 x 12, and are frame.,, togtether by single mortises, tenons, and shoulders. (See plan No. 2, fig. 5.) 7[he top and bottom beams, (X) 5 by 9, are tenoned with single mortises into the side corner beams, (U.) The side studs, (X) 5 by 9, are a ls mortised into the corners, and the end studs are also inortised with single mortises into the end corners. Two yellow-pine keelsons, (Y Y) 6 by 9, are tenoned into the leelsoa posts, in the ends of the floats. Studs, (F M) 6 by.6, of yellow pine, are set between the keelsons, three feet apart. The outside corners have a, rabbet to admit the plank in flush with the corners. The end-floats are to be covered with 31-inch yellow-pine plank, fastened with 7 h wrought ron spikes, — inch square, two to each beam at the crossing for each plank, 12 inches more or less, and no plank to be used over that width, and on top not over 10 inches wide. The corner posts are secured with iron join". bolts, (see plan No. 2, figs. 4 and 5,) lA-inch diameter, and the tenons are pinned; right braces, 8 by 8, (0 0, plan No. I,) are framed in each end of the main tank, stepping into a girt, (T T) 12 by 12, and the two centre top and bottom keelsons, (L L.) The main tank is to be thoroughly caulked, tarred, pitched, and made water-tight; and it is to be sheathed with 1-inch white-pine boards, laid lengthwise of the section, fastened with 3-inch zinc nails, one and a half to every superficial foot. The sheathing will then be graved with a coat of tar or pitch. The end floats are to be thoroughly caulked, tarred, pitched, and made -water-tight, and their bottoms, sides, and ends are to be sheathed with'-inch white-pine boards, well-jointed, fastened with 3-inch zinc nails, one and a half to each superficial foot. The sheathing will then be gravedc with a coat of tar and pitch. The end floats are then to be rolled. into their places between the side posts at the ends of the section. Guides (B B,) 4x4, are spiked to Ahe posts (A K and A L) with S-inch spikes; and guides (L P) 8 x 8 are spiked to the four corners of the floats to guide them in their ascent and descent. Two pieces of white-oak timber, (C C,) one at each end of the section, 16 x 18, (see plan Nos. I and 2,) are fastened to the top of the section, and a mortise is made on each side to receive the tenon of the connecting beams. Two connecting beams, (see plan No. 1, at 2,) 7x 16, are to be framedc and inserted between the connecting-rod posts (Q Q) under the key, and tenoned into the timbers (C C.) The connecting-rod timbers are sectred together by two iron bolts. There are to be two keel-block timbers, (F F,) 6x 18, of white oak, laid on side by side, and fastened to the top of the deck with (8) eighk 15-inch iron spikes. The four slides for the bilge-blocks to rest upon, (J L,) of white oak, 6 x 12, are placed directly over the trusses, and fastened down with iron spikes 15 inches long and 1-inch square, and 4 feet apart. There are to be eight keel-blocks (Z) to each section, 3 feet Iong and 12 x 18, of white oak, fastened down with iron dogs, two in each en(. On their top are to be placed eight blocks of white oak, 2 feet long, 4 by 18 inches, fastened down with iron dogs, two in each. There are also to be eight biIge-blocks (see plan No. 1, at 5) made of white oak, of the follow-ving sizes, viz: three to be 5 feet high, three to be 6 feet high, and two 8 feet high; four to be 5 fiet long at the base, and:lour to be 5, feet long at the base: and alil ioot thick at the bottom an E. 3 o 8 inches at the top, to be secured to the bilge-block timbers by iron guides,. (see plan 1, figure J at 2,) and to be provided with iron racks bolted to the bilge-slides, 6 inches wilde and 1 inch thick, with suitable followers or fa.ls hung at the foot of each block, with hinges and everything complete for working them. Or the bilge-blocks may be constructed on any other plan, not more expensive to us, that:may tbe cdeeme d preferable by the Bureau of Yards and Docks. The top of the platform, not covered -with. the houses, is to be protected with zinc. Every part of the doock above the water is to be painted witth three coats of oil lead paint. Each section is to be furnished with two air'tubes, (see plan No. 2, at 3,) 7 inches square, ofi white-pine boards, running from the tank to the platform, with feet and inches marked upon them, to graduate the sinking of the dock, and with two gauge-rods and copper floats (see plan 2, at 4) within them, marked and graduated to show at all times the lifting power exerted by the dock also, with four wall shores, (see plan 1, figure I, at 8,) provided with racks and palls, hinges and lines, for working; and also with six composition pumps, of bore:l inches in diameter, (see plans I and 2, figure 1, at 6,) with butterfly valves, and each provided with l-inch iron rod, leading to the cross head and slides, ard connecting with the pump-shaft or crank, to which is attached a fly-wheel! moved by a belt running from the main shaft. Four steam-engines, two of them twenty (20) horse-power each, and two of twelve (12) horse-power each, of the best construction, are to be fur.nished for driving the machinery. A composition gate is placed in each end. of the main tank, (see plan 2, elevation of end ot r ain tank, at Y Z,) with a connecting rod leading to the platform. A plug-hole 1 —inch in diameter is made in the bottom- of the tank nearly under the scuttle, with a suitable plug and handle, to admit water the first time the dock is sunk. A scuttle (V B) is placed at each end of the main tank, of sufficient size to admit of passing into the interior, with a ladder leading to the bottom of the tank, provided with an appropriate covering of the same thickness as the planking, and caulked down water-tight.'Each section is also to be provided with all the requisite pump and float machinery and gearing, all to be graduated and arranged with a view to secure such strength and produce such relative motions of the pumps and floats as may be necessary, it not being possible to designate the exact relative sizes of the different parts until those motions are fixed. All the shafts are to be of wrought-iron of appropriate sizes arid bearings, and all cog-wheels, racks, and pinions to be of cast-iron. The following is a proximate description of the machinery and gearing to be furnished'for working the pumps and floats; the sizes being, of course, proximate and subject to be varied ac.cording to the motions that may be given, viz: On he tolp of each float, two pinion-shafts 4 incies in diameter one screw-shaift 3- inches in. diameter; one pinionl ditto 4 inches in diameter; four pinions and strfaps for the same; eight pillow-blocks; one cast-iron frame; one bevel-whfeel 9 inches in diam-eter; one ditto. foot and 8 inches in diameter; one endless srew-wheel 6 feet in diameter one endiless sxrew 9 inches in diameter; two sp-ur-wheels 6 feet in diameter; one ditto 3 fee t in diameter. Ozn the opi of each end Jrame, one drawin.-shaft 31 inches in diameter, and on the engine sections 31- inches in diameter; vertic:al scarfs 2 } inches sCeat e; adoliubl-. epup cranks - inches in diameter; 4 A I~ ~~~~ C;lt e-ptl.,. 1) l~~.S~, 35 [ 44 ] singe ditto, 3 inches in dlsmeter on fiy-whecl for dube pumps, 5 feet diameter, weighlng 390 lbs. -to 400 Ibs.; one fly-wheel for sii gle pumps, 5 feet diameter, weighing 290 to 300 lbs.; four drvins g-'leys 2 fee 3 inches m diameter; one spur-wheel 3 feet diarneter; two s;,ur vwheels 2 feet diameter; one pinion I foot diameter; one bevel-wheel 9 inches in diameter, and one bevel-wheel 1 foot 8 inches in diameter; one cast hollow shaft 0 1i inches in bore and m-inch thick, except the ends, which are 3 1 inches, turned and hooped with wriought-iron, with pillow-blocks, stands, and clditches, for working; all to be made in a very substantial nmanner. Weight[ of' the floaf'g., dock'. The displacement of the main tank of the six sections is as follows, viz: Dimensions of the (6) 105 x 32 x 11 —. 1,0-50 tons, or 96 tons to a foot; multiply by 6 —------- - 6,350 tons The displacement of the main tank of the four sections is as follows, viz: Dimensions of the (4) 105 3X 3 11. —990; multiply by 4- - ----- - - - --- ---- - - 3,960 10,296 The displacement of the end floats is as follows: timensions of six, 26 - X 20 X 51 X 6 —-- -- 990 tons. Dimensions of four, 24x X 20 X 5 I X.- - ---- 616 ~ —.,606 11.,902 Deduct the weight of each section of the large sections, as follows: For 6,858 cubic feet of oak timber, 60 lbs. per foot, 183 tons. For 5,052 cubic feet of yellow pine, 49 lbs. per foot, 1 I For 602 cubic fet.et of white pine, 35 lbs per foot, 9 For iron fastenings -. —. -.- ---- ~. —~ —-. 20 323 Miultipl by --..-.... 6 1,938'I he weight of the ftur se:ctions 81.0 X 4 —-- - - 1.240 -~ 3,178 Clear liftiTng power of the dcock-. -. -. — -... —-*- --. 8,724 The weight of the timber in the floats is not deducted.. They contaia.1,798 cubic feet of yellow pine, which amounts to forty tons, equal, to the buoyancy of an immersion of 1-? foot..\,s allowance is made for immersion, and it is not computed in estirnating the displacement of the section, it counterbhalTances the wegh of the floats and need not, of course, be ded ted. J. Y. iMAON, Secretary of the kJlTvy So D. DAKIN. RI MOODY. Witness' W. G. RIDGEt.i. NAVY DEPARTMENT, Ocober 24, 1848. [ 44 3 B. Specificalions oef a stone basin to be built ci' the PhViladeltphia, v.a y1iyr d, 1: the site located by the chief' engineer of" t1he~ Bureau of'.Yards.ad )oc../i'. The bottom of the basin is to be (e350 feet) three hundred a fifty fee^long, and two hundred and twenty-six feet (226.feet) wide, and (i'1 ) twelve and nine-twelfths feet deep from the surface of the floor to the top of the side and end walls, and so constructed as to have (10 9 ) ten ar nine-twelfths feet of water in the basin over the floor at mean high tide. (See plan No. 6.) The manner of construction and materials used are to be as follows: A coffer-d'am is first to be constructed around the site of the basin, of-sufficient strength to exclude the water during the progress of the works. A tier of sheet piling of plank is then to be driven across the basin eigdllh feet from the front, leaving a space of eight ifet in widtlh between it and the front of the basin along its whole width. Three rors of piles of heJ;lock, or other timber equally good, 12 by 14 inches in diameter at the bttl, are to be driven within that space across the whole width of the basin, 1omu: feet from centre to centre, and to be on a line with those to be driven in the central part of the basin; and the said space between the sheet piling' and the front of the basin is to be filled in from the bottom of the river to. the floor around the piles with broken stone and concrete, forming a; s ubl,stantial wall 8 feet thick in front of the basin. (See plan No. 6, aa.) Tlhe water is then to be pumped out, and the bottom of the basin to be excavated, filled in, and levelled to the requisite depth for the floor of the basin. Piles of hemlock, or other timber equally good, 12 to 1.4 inches in diamaeter at the butt, are then to be driven in rows four feet from centre to centre over the entire surface of the basin, and an additional row under the side and end walls, as shown in plan No. 7; these piles are to be cut off level at the requisite depth, and to be capped with hemlock timber 1.2 nches deep, and from 12 to 15 inches wide, and fastened to the piles with treenails, the top of the piles for forty feet from the front being reduced to a certain uniform diameter; and the cap timbers being boxed on two inches, are lockedf,. to their heads. (See plan No. 7.) The space between the caps is t<'be filled in and levelled off to the top of the caps with broken stone and concrete. The caps are to be covered with four-inch hemlock plank over the whole floor, the plank to be spiked to the caps with iron spikes eight inches long, one at each crossing and two at the butts. The planking is to be extended under the side walls. This floor is then to be covered with slabs of granite nine inches thic.k, rough-hammered on the top and edges and laid in hydraulic cement; no stole to be laid that contains less than two superficial feet, and any of the sto3n:^ to be as much larger as we choose. For the side walls, foundation timber of hemlock, 8 inches thick and. feet wide, is to be laid upon the planking; and for the end or rear vwails, foundation timber of hemlock, 12 inches thick and 5 feet wide, is to be lai: on the caps; the walls are to be laid on this foundation (121 -) twelve fee':. ten inches high, (5) five feet thick at the bottom, and three feet thick at thKe top, bevelling back from the front, one inch to the foot, and be ing reduce. by offsets in the rear in each course to diminish the thickness graduallyr to t:he top. The walls are to be constructed of' granite, split, below ordia-ar y 37 [44 iow-water mark, and Irough-hammered on the face and( edges above, and the top course to be rough-hammered on the top, and each stone as wide ais the wall. The stone is to be laid in hydraulic cement, in regular courses on each Side and end, of such thickness as we may prefer from one to three ieet, and the bed to be not less in width than the height of the stone. Each ecourse may be backed up ir the rear with one or more thicknesses of stone, tibut no stone to be used of less thickness than 6 inches (See plan No. 6.) it is understood that the piles are to be driven until a hammer weighing 2,240 pounds failing throughl thirty feet will drive them but half an inch at a blow. J. Y. MASON, Secretary of the JVtavy. S. D. DAKIN. R. MOODY. Witness: WAX. 3r. ]RUDIGELY. N'..,,,vY DEP.ARTME.T- October 245 1848. =3 14v J B.Ei.....rT....., 0tobei' 24 1848. C. Sp iecificatio~~-s of the bed-ways and s/idi'gtJ-cayw.'THE BED-WAYS. There are to be two bed-ways constructed, commencing at the rear etnd Io the basin and running back into the yard, in the following manner, viz: For each bed-way we propose to lay down three ways, (see plan No. 8, at A A,) one to support the keel, and two to support the bilge —each to be (350) three hundred and fifty feet long, and (26) twenty-six feet wide frorm outside to outside of the side or bilge-ways. (See plan No. 8, bed-ways, cross section, and elevation.) The earth is to be excavated to the requisite depth; two rows of' hemJock piles, 12 to 14 inches in diameter at the butt, are to be driven under.the centre-way, (see P C,) 21 feet from centre to centre in one line, and tIree feet from centre to centre in the other line; and two rows under each nbilge-way (P B,) of similar piles, are to be driven two feet from centre to cenatre in one line, and;3 feet f-rom centre to centre in the other line. These piles are to be driven until a hammer weighing 2,240 pounds falling through thirty fieet will drive them but half an inch at a blow. They are to be cut off level three (3) feet below ordinary high water, and capaed with hemlock tinber twelve incles thick, (see plan 8, at S S,) the caps i'7 the centre-ways to be dove-tailed to the piles every twelve feet. A crossiie timber (a, a) of yellow pine, 16 by 16, is put in every twenty-five feet, locked down three inches on the heads of the piles which they cross, and wrhich are cut off five inches below the level. The top of the cross-tie is ehen boxed dow- four inches to admit the caps, which are gained in four'laches, and the caps and tie locked together and treenailed. The tie is supported by one pile between each way, as shown at (P'1'.) e The walls (T B) undter the bilge-ways are built of granite laid in hydraulic cement, three feet thick at bottom, and 2- feet thick at top, and t.hree feet high. The wall of the certre-way (T) is also of granite, 3^ feet thick at the beo-ttom, and three-feet thilck at the top, and 2o feet high. The height of [44] 3 the centre bed-wray wall is to be laid with one course of stone as showrt at (T.) T.lhe beds and vertical joints, and six inches from the top down on each side, are to be rough-'ammerec The sides below are to be left in their rough split state. The bilge-way walls are to be either in one or two courses of stone; in height at our option, as shown at (T B,) and dressed and laid in the same manner as the centre-way. The walls are tied toge-ther with a stone tie one foot square, placed on. the top of the t:imber-tie every twenty-five feet, and running to the centre of each'all, and dovetaiiiedf therein. (See plan 8, C C.) The top of the wall is to be grooved two inches to admit the bed.-ways, as shown on the cross section, plan No. 8, at (T mand T B.) Upon this foundation the bed-ways (A A A) are to be laid, extending 350 feet from the rear of the basin -into the yarda, and are to be made of white-oik or yellow-pine timber, at our option, in lengths of about five feet, each. The bilge-ways are to be 24 inches wide, I 1. inches high on the outer edge, and ten incles on the inner edge. The ceitr'e-way is to be thirtyfour inches wide and eighteen inches deep. Three bed-ways, one centre and two bilge-wtays, are tto be constructed, to be placed under the ship on the dock, to be connected with the ways laid in the yard, of the same dinensions and materials, except that the centreway will be but eleven inches deep. The splices of the portion of the waays on the (lock, and the side-ways on shore, are made by lapping the timber nine feet, and by a coging four inches thick, secured by four I-inch iron screw-bolts, as shown on the plan at (N N.) The ways are further secured by 1~-inch iron screw-bolts every ten fiet. The centre-way or hauling beam is strengthened at the splices with an iron bar, 3 by 122 inches, let in and. placed on each side, and keyed as shown at M M. It is even with the face of the timber, but shown on the plan on the outside. It is also bolted together with, l.-inch iron bolts, one in every eight feet. A keyhole is morltised in every eight feet to admit the kteys for holding the ha.uling armi ci the Ihydrllraic cylinder. lTHE SLIDTN'_ G-W.'-AVYS5 O.Pi CRA.DLE, The sliding-ways (or cradle) are to be made (350) three hundred and fifty feet long, and made partly of white-oak and partly of yellow-pine timber, in 6 or 7 lengths, and 5 or 6 splices. Each way is composed of two pieces of timber, fitted and bolted together, as shown in plan No. 8. The side-ways are t12 by 24, and the centre'way 12 by 34. For the manner of framing, splicing, bracing, and fitting, reference is made to plan No. 8. The cross-beams, 8 by 8 (L,) are placedl 7I- feiet apart, and have a castiron tenon I inch thick, fi!tting into a mortise through an iron bar that is let into the way, as shown in -thle plan at ( L L, The braces (K) also have an iron tenon 1 inch tiTick, that sits into an iron mortise made into the side bar, as shownr at (K.) There will be three sets of braces in the cradle, containing four each, making 12 in all The sizes of the iron are to be as foIlows, viz: the two side bars running fiomi the head of the cradle outside of the head braces to a point marked (XY,) are 2 by 8 in;'hes. (See plan 8, at F.) An iron bar, 1 by 5 inches, i let in flush on the inside of each side-way, (see plan 8, at R, a nd runs from a point marked (V) on thte side braces to the first splice, [44] The iron bars, t 1 by 5 inches, will run on each side of the centre way, (F):rom the head of the cradle to the first splice. At the first splice the two centre and two side bars are to be 2 by 5 inches for 25 feet in length. (See at F F, plan No. 8.) The four iron bars between the first and second splices are 1I by 5 inches, and for 25 feet in the second'splice, 2 by 5 inches, (see I I;) between the second and third splices I by 5 inches, in the splice 1' by 5 inches; between the third and fourth splices { by 5 inches, in the splice 11 by 5 inches; between the fourth and fifth splices I by 4 inches, in the splice 1 by 4 inches; between the fifth and sixth splices I by 4 inches, in the splice 1 by 4 inches; and the bars are not to run below the last splice. The iron bars will be spliced as shown on the plan at (F F) by laps and keys, one splice on each side of the ti.mber splice, at each end of the large bars. At the first cross-beam at (M) two iron bars, 1~ by 6 inches, cross the head of the ways and are keyed, the lower one passing through the ways and under the first cross-beam, which is 10 by 14. Iron rods, one inch in diameter, will run through the ways, by the side,of each cross-beam, secured by nut and screw. The iron keys on the plan will be I by 10 inches at the head and at the first and second splice, and all after the second splice will be 1 by 6 inches, and all the iron screw-bolts will be one inch. Two-inch cogging is let in between the timbers, as shown on. the plan. A guide 4 by 7 is bolted with one-inch bolts, one in every 8 feet, on each side of the centre way, and on the outside of the two side-ways, and riveted together every 5 feet. The hauling arms connected with the hydraulic cylinder are shown at (Y Y.) All of the several lengths of the timber will be spliced and framed in the same manner as the first and second splices, and ironed as above stated. The cradle is to be so constructed as to be capable of being readily taken apart and replaced under the ship. J. Y. MASON, Secretary o' t4e.fa/, S., D. DAKIN, R. MOODY. Wi7tf.ess: WILLIAM G. Rl.R:.I-Y. N.nvY D.PAT,.r:NRT, October 24, 1848,.Spcij/ica'iop,,s of ithe h/auling.apparatus fbr movinrg the vessels fromr ihe sections to the bed-uways on shore, and back again to the sections; and o f /hi,e er,,i'ne-house and t.urn.-table. The central bed-ways are to be extended (40) forty feet irom the end of the main ways, or 390 feet from the rear of the basin into the house hereinaifer mentioned, built to prote:t the cylinder and boiler. The extension will be constructed in the same manner as the maain way, except that the ~piles will be driven five feet from centre to centre, and the walls will be laid up with split granite in hydraulic cement. On the bed-ways will be placed a hydraulic cylinder, of cast iron, (see plan No. 9, at A,) the piston of which is fifteen inches in diameter, and the stroke eight feet. The engines (B B) [ 44 40 tie work the pumps of the cylinder are placed near each end of the top of the cylinder, and consist of two vertical cylinders 16 inches in diameter.and fifteen inches stroke, with starting bars and excentrics; the cross-heads on a slide at right-angles, ard turning a shaft on which are the excentrics that work the force-pumps. There are to be four force pumps (C C) of I': —inch diameter and 6-inch stroke. The connexions between the pumps and hydraulic cylinder will be by means of pipes and valves of suitable size and strength. The boiler (E E) to supply steam to the engines is to be a locomotive boiler, having 85 tubes of 2 inches diameter and nine feet long, giving a fire surface of 821.89 feet. The boiler is to be supported by a suitable bed-plate of cast-iron, resting on a bed-way, and connected by suitable rods of iron, with the hydraulic cylinder under the boiler, and on top of the bed-ways (F F) is placed a reservoir to furnish water to the boiler and the pumps of the hydraulic press. The cross-heads (G) of the hydraulic press are to be of cast-iron, 57 inches long, 30 inches wide, and 18 inches deep. Two side-rods (H) 4 by 12, of wrought iron, are to connect the cross-head with the centre timbers of the cradle, (D D) on which. the ship is to rest when to be drawn on shore. The side-rods are to be attached to the centre beams by two iron keys (S S) 20 inches wide, 48 inches long, and 4 inches thick. The ends of the side-rods and the centre timbers are to have a mortise 20 inches long, 4 inches wide, to receive the key; the keys are to be three to six feet from the ends of the centre timbers. To connect the hydraulic cylinder with the bed-ways, lugs of suit-;able size and strength are to be cut on the hydraulic cylinder, (P) and. amortises, eight feet apart, are to be mortised through the bedways (LL.) The mortises are to be 24 inches long and 6 inches wide; cast-iron keys 24 nches wide, 6 inches thick, and 44 inches long, are to be placed in the mortises; wrought-iron rods 6 by 6 inches, and suitably formed, to connect with the lugs on the cylinder, and the cast-iron keys of the bed-ways, are to make the connexion between the cylinder'and the bed-ways (M M.) The ways are to be anchored down by an iron bar running down through the centre of the wall every twenty feet, and secured by an iron key under the cap and in the way. (See plan No. 9, at K K.) A house is to be built for the protection of the cylinder and engine, over, the end of the centre bed-way, 30 feet in width, 40 feet long, and 12 feet high. (See ground plan L L, plan No. 10.) The foundation is to be a course of foundation timber, four feet long and five inches thick, laid in a trench dug three feet below the level of the surface of the ground. On the cross foundation ranging timber 12 by 20 is laid, and a stone wall is built up thereon, one foot above the level of the ground. A brick wall eight inches thick is then built up twelve feet in height. The roof is laid to pitch both. ways, planked and covered with XX tin. Two windows are to be placed on each side, and one in each end, and a door in front, and one on each of the sides, of sufficient size to admit of the passage of the engine and toilers. Two turn-tables are to be constructed, one near the end of each centre bedway, for the purpose of turning round the cylinder on the ways, and removing it from one way to the other, (see plan No. 10) to be made in the fbllowing manner, viz: Piles twelve inches in diameter are to be driven for the foundation, (see plan 10, at F F) which are cut off three feet below mean high tide, and capped with timber twelve inches thick, (C F) and a wall of stone built up to the same height as the wall of the ways (G.) The circle of the table (H) is to be ten feet in diameter, and an iro-n bar three 41 [ 44 ] quarters by three inches is to be laid in a circle on the stone wall six incees fOrnm the edges, and crossing the centre-way wall. A cast-iron plate is to be inl the centre of the table, one inch thick, and ten inches in diameter, and a journal two inches in diameter is inserted through the plate into the stone.,'The main ways are not laid over the space occupied by the table. Two pieces of white.-oak timber, corresponding in size to the ways, are bolted together, and an iron plate let in and secured in the centre and at each end at.the crossing of the circle. This timber, or short way, is placed on the table,;-lnd the journal in the table passes up through the centre of the plate, alld onfines it in its position, and allows it to move around the journal on the iron bar and centre plate. When it is required to turn the cylinder aroundl to push a vessel back upon the floating dock, it is slid upon the table and turned around as shown on the plan. A sliding-way is to be constructed,!leading from one set of ways to the other, for the purpose of removing the vylinder and engine from one to the other. It is built as follows: Two rows of piles twelve inches in diameter are driven two feet apart and. iour feet from centres, (see plan No. 10, at A) and cut off three feet below:te surface and capped with timber twelve inches thick, as shown at (B;) on this a wall of split stone is laid (C) in hydraulic cement, to the level of depth of the dock bottom 71 feet. They are placed 4 feet apart froi centres, making 87 in the whole length of the dock. Between each truNs beam, and along the middle of the dock, there will be an iron clamp band, 5 inches wide by - of an inch thick, passing over a keelson formed of foul pieces, extending from the platform up to the line of the upper truss, running the whole length of the dock, and halved into the said truss. (See sheet A, fig. 7, letter i'.) These bands (see sheet A, figs. 10 and 11, letter jD' pass down to the tight platform, and are bolted through the said keelsons with inch-iron screw-bolts, one through each course. TEach of the courses which form the keelsons is separately fastened, one upon another, with inichiron bolts, reaching down three feet, except the lower piece, (see sheet A, fig. 7, letter k') which is fastened with - copper bolts, down 20 inches into the tight platform, there being two bolts through each truss-beam and one between. The several parts of each truss, (k and h') and the cheeks below thetm, (see sheet A, figs. 3, 4, 5, m) will be separately fastened down through the parts below, with inch-iron bolts, three feet apart, diagonally, the bolts passing through all the parts, down to the tight platform. Two of the beams, each of them 100 feet from the end of the dock, wVill be caulked, making a tank of 150 feet long, across the middle of the dock (See sketch sheet, (4) letter 5.) OUTER RIBS. The outer ribs of the sides and ends of the dock chambers, 12 by 12-i anch timber, except the corner posts, which are 24 by 24-inch timber, one foot apart, in the clear. (See sheet A, figs. 5 and 6, letter n, and sheet B, fig. 16, letter n.) They are hook-tenoned into the ends of the lower pieces of the truss-beams, (see sheet A, fig. 9, letter o) and fastened with two one-inch:ron screw-bolts, passing through the beam and tenon, and are also fastened through the thick work of the sides and ends, with 1 locust treenails, two treenails in each rib. The thick work is also butt-bolted through, and clinched with W-inch copper, 4 bolts in each scarf. The ribs are also supported at their heels by stringers (see sheet A, fig. 5, and B, fig. 16, letter 1) 16 inches square, jogged 2 inches into each rib, and fastened by two oneinch copper bolts in each truss-beam, reaching down 21 inches into the tight platform. This outer wall is also supported by a series of five parallel arches, made in two thicknesses of 8 by 16-inch plank, and jogged into the outer ribs 2 inches, (see sheet A, fig. 5, letter n', and sheet B, fig. 16, letter in') the lower ends of the arches being jogged into the stringer', and fastened with one iron screw-bolt, and two blunt bolts at each end. The arches are also fastened through the outer ribs with 1 locust. treenails, one in every alternate rib. Each of the outer ribs, which are cut off by the windows and fastened to thick strakes, 12 by:12, (see sheet A, fig. 5, letter p, and sheet B, fig. 16, letter p,) running along the outside of the dock, with a 1-inch iron screw-bolt; and that part of the arch whicit crosses the windorws is fastened with screw-bolts of the same size, and at distances of three feet apart. One-half of the said outer ribs pass dowtbetween the truss-beams to the tight platform, and are dovetailed into the [44] fo;re-and-aft stringer, (1) to whici they are fashtined! with an. ica;-iron bolt. ~(See sheet A, fig. 9, letter q.).,SLO.PING RIBS. The inner ribs, that form the frames of sloping sides of the chambers, are itkewise 12 by 12-inch timber; they start from the tight platform, at a distance of 251 feet from the middlce of the dock, and pass up on an angle of 45 degrees; the upper ends passing betweenl the outer ribs, to which they are fastened with an inch-iron screw-bolt, (see sheet A, figs. 5, 8 and 14, letter r.) Like the latter, they are one foot apart; they are secured at their lower ends to the truss-beams by a hook, dovetailed, jogged 16 inches into the lower part of the truss-beam, (see sheet A, fig. 5, letter s;) they have a shoulder of 2 inches that rests upon the tops of the truss-beams, clamping its several parts together; four screw-bolts of inch-iron pass through the dovetails, one through each part of the truss-beams; they are backed at their heels by a stringer, (see sheet A, fig. 5, letter t,) 16 inches square, running along on the top of the truss-beams within the chambers, fastened with two iron bolts in each truss-beam, reaching down to the platform. They are also supported in front by stringers, (see sheet A, figs. 5 and 4, letter u,) 16 by 24, bolted along the middle compartment of the dock,, -fastened the same as the other. The are also each backed and supported by a sloping stanchion, 12 by 16, (see sheet A, fig. 6, letter v, and sheet D, fig. 19, v) tenoned into the top of the truss-beam, and passing up between two of them, supporting them on shoulders of two inches, and fastened by an inch-iron screw-bolt reaching through and through two ribs. On each side of the heels and shoulders of these stanchions there are 8 by 16-inch clamps, (see sheet A, figs. 5 and 8, letter w, and sheet D, nfg. 19, letter wv,) bolted upon thre top of the truss-beams with an inch-iron bolt in each beam, and with the same above into the sloping ribs. These clamps are in lengths of 30 to 50 feet, and key-scarfed, the scarf being screw-bolted; they are also fastened to the stanchions by screw-bolts of 9 iron, and passing through and through each of them. There is a system of truss-work connected with these stanchions and stringers, running the whole length of the dock; it is composed of scantling 6 by 16, jogged into the stanchions two inches, and bolted together with iron screw-bolts v inch iraming passing through and through the trusses and stanchions where they cross. The trusses are keyed up with white-oak wedges upon an oak tiock. (See sheet D, fig. 19, letter x.) UPPER CLHAMBERS. The upper chambers (see sheet A, figs. 5 and 6, letter y) are seveni feet fbur inches wide at the top; their frames consist of the outer ribs of the dock, as already described; the inner frame is formed of upright stanchions 12 by 12, (see sheet A, fig. 5, letter z, and sheet C, fig. 17, letter z;) these stanchions pass up between every alternate sloping rib of the lower chamber; they are tenoned into the trussed beam, the tenon being 8 by 12, and fastened by a screw-bolt, inch-iron, reaching through the beam. (See sheet A, fig. 5, letter a'.) They are also supported on both sides, where they pass between the sloping ribs, by clamps 9 by 16, (see sheet A, fig. 5, letter a", and sheet C, fig. 17, letter a",) and also by calamps at their heels of Ex.-4 I 44 50 12 by 16, (see sheet A, ig, letter b, and sheet C., tgo 117, letter b;) the clamps are in lengths of 30 to 60 feet, and key-scarfed, the scarfs beiing fastened with inc}hiron screw-bolts. These clamps are jogged into the stanchions twvo aiches, and fastened by nch-iron screw-bolts passing through each stanchiono The lower clamps (b) are fastened to the truss-beam by two one-inch iron bolts in each beamr reaching down to the platform. Between these upper and lower clamps, and connected with the stanchtors, there is a system of truss-work of 8 by 1]6 scantling jogged into the stanthions two inches, and fastened by inch-ion screw-bolts passing through where the trusses cross the stanchions; it is keyed up at the ends against oak chocks, (see sheet A, fig. 5, letter d', and sheet C, fig. 17, letter d';) there is a 12 by 12 plate tenoned along the top ends of the stanchions, (see sheet A, fi. 1, letter e') fastened by two — inch locust treenails passing' through each tenon. There is also a clamp 10 by 16 on the back of these stanchions running along under the sloping ribs; it is screw-bolted through stanchions, and bolted to the sloping ribs with inch-iron; one bolt in each stanchion rib. (See sheet A, fig. 5, Jf) Between each of these 12 by 12 stanchions there is a stanchion 6 by 12, (see sheet C, fig. 17, letter f) extending from between the clamps a", up to the plate e of the chamber; it is fastened at its heel with j screw-bolts, and is tenoned into the under side of the plate, and fastened with a treenail. Each cross frame of the side chambers being thus composed of the outer ribs n, the sloping ribs r, and the stanchions of the upper chamber z, is supported by a 1.2 by 12 inclihed stanchion, (see sheet A, fg. 5, letter g',) halved on the side of the trussbeam near its end and passing uip under the sloping rib; midway between.'the two lines of trussing is fastened with two bolts of inch-iron at both ends. There are two 12 by 12 horizontal beams (see sheet A, fig. 5, letter A") across each frame, and fastened to the outer rib, and to the stanchions of the utpper chambers, with iron inch-bolts, and extending across the chambers to the inclined stanchions g', bracing the lower chambers in two places every four feet along its whole length, as equally distant as the arches arnd truss-work will permit. There "will be a 12 by 12 beam across the upper chambers Vive feet belov the deck, fstened with!-inch iron screw-boits.. (See sheet A, fig. 5 letter i'.) There will be eighty-seven of these fraytmes in each of the side chanbers. T'A.U^,1, t/2,cE.. BUtLKHEADS IN CHAMiB~Ek1, Across each of the side chambers there are ten tight bulkheads; three of hese at each end are thirty-eight feet apart. The main pump-wer i in the middle of t a. cihamber, is forty-six feet, and the two smaller pump-wells in each chamber about- six feet These bulkheads are made of six-inch plan i as ir up as the lower rhhambers, and above that heleight, reaching up to the top of the chamlers (see sketch sheet X; I3 ) of four-ineh plank, fastened to the frames of the lower chambers with -nch.eron bots, and above w ith tem-bcT ir en sptikes The level of the dock lonigitudinally is soured n...- a.. of, " tese.b.hearis by purmpirtg more or less water from. one end of the dlock thlan from the other, whil te h dock is being raised or lowereid. No rs is made of them generally afer it s pumped out, VThre 51 [44] ar openings at the bottoms of the bulkheads, furnished with gates or valves fbr the passage of water to and from the pump-well. The general arrangement of the bulkheads, valves, and pumps in the chambers, and the number of gates in the side chambers, are shown in the sketch sheet X. All the valves that open outside to admit water into the dock, will be of composition; those for the passage of water through the bulkheads to the pump-well, will be of mahogany There will be eight windows through the upper chambers 12 feet long and 7 feet high, their sills being 22 feet above the under side of the dock bottom. The plank on the bottom of the windows will be six inches, fastened with 1-inchiron bolts to beams 8 by 12, tenoned into the outside ribs, and into the stanchions of the upper chamber, and fastened with inch-iron screwbolts. the tops of the windows will be planked with four-inch plank, fastened on to 6 by 8 beams, tenoned into the outside ribs and stranchions of the upper chamber. The sides will be planked with the same thickness, and fastened with nine-inch spikes. (See sheet C, fig. 16, letter h", and sketch sheet X, 8.) DECK OF CHAMBERS<. The tops of the chambers are decked over with-three inch plank, the deck beams being 5 by 8 scantling halved together, and laid so as to cross diagonally, forming lattice bracing; the deck beams are fastened with 1-inch bolts, and the deck with 8-inch iron spikes. (See sheet A, fig. 12, letter k".) PLANKING OF THE DOCK. The outside ribs are planked up above the thick work with four-inch plank, and fastened with 1i treenails, two treenails through each rib; the treenails are caulked or wedged on the outside. There will be three thick strakes, 12 by 12, running the whole length of the dock, one at the bottom and one at the top of the windows, and one along the upper ends of the windows, and one along the upper ends of the ribs, fastened with 1-inch iron screw-bolts through the ribs, one in each rib. (See sheet A, figs. 5 and 13, letter p') Every butt in the planking will have two 4 copper bolts as far up as twelve feet from the bottom of the dock, to which height the whole is to be coppered with thirty-two ounce copper, as before. Above that height the butt-bolts will be of iron. (See planking on sheet A, figs. 5 and 13, letter p'.) The insides of the upper chambers will be planked with four-inch plank, and fastened in the same manner as above. (See sheet A, fig. 5, letter r'.) The ends of the chambers will be planked up with six-inch plank, and fastened with treenails the same on the sides, copper butt-bolted up to twelve feet. (See sheet A, fig. 6, and sheet B, fig. 16, letter v'.) The sloping ribs are planked up with six-inch plank alternately, with a strake of 12 by 12 timber, of such form as to afford a step or altar to place the heels of the shores upon. (See sheet A, figs. 5 and 14, letters a"' and b"o) This planking and the thick strake will be fastened with 1 treenails passing through the ribs, and. iron butt-bolts, two treenails in each sloping rib; in the planking, the thick strakes will have one X iron bolt and one treenail in each rib. All the planking above the thick work will be caulked with new oakuan, in the ordiary way of caulking new ships of the largest class. I 44 j 5 The platfoir tor the wovrkmen to stand upon'will be of 2-inch plank, laid an the fore-and-af. beams. (See sheet A, fig. 4, letter h"'..) The platform. finished is seen at fig. 15, letter k"'; it will be fastened down with five-inclh spikes. The dock will be furnished with a floating-gate; it may be necessary to shorten the dock with such a. gate when a ship-of-the-line with all her armament on board is to be taken up; it will be placed forward of the ship, in. grooves across the bottom and up the sides of the chambers. It will be eight feet deep from the keel to the deck, and will be of the same form and proportions as that described for the basin. The fastening for this gate will be of iron. The time which would be required for us to make and present, in proper form. a detailed estimate of the weight of the various materials to be used in the construction of the balance dock, would be very great-more, perhaps, than.can be allowed us. We therefore give the result of our calculations -without the details. The dock, when ready for use, will weigh 5,000 tons net, of 2,000 pounds each. As we do not understand it to be the intention of the department to haul thips ashore with their armaments on board, we think the depth of the bain, as now presented to us, will be ample.. GATES. There is to be a. gate at each end of the dock, made of wood, aid so ar-t ranged as to oper and shut on a hinge extending across the entire length of the gate. (See sheet E, figs. 21, 22 and 25, letter a.) This bottom timber of the gate is eighteen by twenty-four inches; the lower edge is halt round, with the ends entirely rounded, so as to pass through a bitt two feet on its face. (See same sheet, fig. 21, letter b, and figs. 23 and 27, fig. 6, letter o'.) The sill-piece upon which the gate rests is eighteen by eighteen inches, the upper edge being hollowed so as to receive the bottom timber of the gate. (See same sheet, figs. 24 and 26.) Both -this sill-piece and the bitts arefastened to the end of the dock by one-inch copper screw-bolts, eleven bolts in each bitt and three feet apart in the sill-piece. The frame of the gate will be of stanchions 8 by 12, (see same sheet, figs. 20, 22 and 25, letter d) placed fifteen inches apart, reaching up to a line with the lower line of thbe side windows, twenty-two feet above the bottom of the dock. The ends of the gates will be on an angle of about forty-five degrees; the end pieces (see same sheet, figs. 20 and 22, letter e) are eighteen by twenty-four inches; the stanchions are mortised into the lower piece of the gate, and into the slanting end pieces, the tenons being 8 by 8 square, and each fastened with copper clinched bolts of I inch. (See bottom of fig, 25.) The frame is supported by two trusses, one at the top and one midway down. (See same sheet, figs. 20, 21 and 25, letter g.) Each truss is sup-. ported by five iron key-bands, five inches wide and l inch thick, passing around the cord and arch of the truss. (See same sheet, fig. 20, letter k.) The ends of the arches and cords are screw-bolted,together (see same sheet, fig. 20, letter k) with three iron bolts one inch thick. These trusses are supported in their horizontal position by iron braces 1 inch thick: (See same sheet, fig. 25, letter k',) The gates are planked up with 4 by t-ineih plank, and fastened as far upas twelve feet from the bottom of the doi ck with nine-inch rompesition. spikes, two through each plank in every 53 L[: 44 ] ibi and above with.iron spikes, the like numbr of spikes in each rb. The gate at the forward end of the ship is made to unship by means of a sloac in the bitt. (See same sheet, fig. 27, letter 1.) There will be two wicket gates in each, 18 inches square. (See same sheet, figs. 21 and 22, letter mn.) The timber which forms the frames of the end of the deck, against which the gates close, is two feet square; the corner post (see sheet A, fig.:6, letter n) is rebated to receive the end' planking (v') of the deck. The slanting post is also two feet square, (see aame sheet A, fig. 6, letter r"; it is tenoned into the post, (p") the tenor being 6 by 8 inches, and reaching in six inches; this post (r") extends dobw' to the truss-beam, half of its thickness being cut away, leaving a shoulder or one foot resting on the top of the thick work, (q') to which it is fastened with.1-inch treenails, two through each thick strake, and one-inch copper bolt is also driven in through each thick strake two feet long, as it passes do.wn to the truss-beam below. The corners are fastened by oak knees; side 12 inches, 12 inches on the face at the ends, and 20 through the throat, each arnm being five and a half feet long, and bolted with ]- iron bolts, 12 in each knee, reaching into the posts and thick work 22 inches. The knees. are seen on sheet A, fig. 6, letter r"'. The thick work is dovetailed at the corners of the dock, and each dovetail has a one-inch.copper bolt reaching thrlough the post and clinched. (See sheet A, fig. 6, leter q') -. Y. MASON, Secretary o1 thie wav'?y. JOHN S. GILBERT, ZENO SECOR. W~ XM... G, R mireL.,:,.Witness to.the signatures of J. Y. Mason aad uJno S.-Gilbert. P, M..WETMORE, Witness to the signature of Zeno Secor. B. SApecicafions for bas'in. Tlhe stone basin will be 120 feet wide and 365 feet tonghaia.lg otn three sides, walls of granite masonry 13 feet high, six feet thick at bottom, and three at top, battering three feet in the whole height. The walls will be bu'ilt up to low-water mark with split granite-above that height with granite well cut. The depth of water in this basin at high water, will be 10. feet over the projecting courses of stone on which the dock is to rest. The foundation of the basin will be formed of round 12-inch piles, driven fi our feet apart, and capped with:12 by 12 timber and 5-inch planking, (see sheet G, figs. 40 and 41, letter a,) secured to them in the firmest manner; the said piles will be driven until a ram of 2,200 pounds falling 30 feet will not move them more than half an inch. There will be double this number of piles under the courses of granite projections, (See sheet G, fig. 41, letter b.) The platform will be caulked with wedges of soft wood; four courses of hewn granite, 12 by 12, will be laid in cement upon the platform, along the middle of the basin in the direction of its lengtho (See sheet G, fig. 39, letter d.) Two other courses, 12 by 1. wide. (see sae sheet and fig., letter [44 54 e,) will be laid in t he same direction on each side 20 feet from the cemitral courses, frming level projections or granite stringers, on which to rest the dock. The spaces between the courses of granite and the spaces out to the side walls are filled with concrete six inches deep. There will be three courses of stone across the bottom at the outer end of the basin; the inner courses (see same sheet and fig., d') will be 12 inches thick, and form a. shoulder for the gate to bear against. The two outer courses (see same sheet and fig., letter.f) will be six inches thick. All. these courses will be fastened with I copper bolts, two in each stone, (see same sheet and fg.. letterf',) driven.down into the timber below. There will be grooves in the outer end of the side-walls of thie basin,> two feet broad and one foot deep, to receive the boat-gate. (See same sheet, fig. 39, letter g.) The basin will be enclosed with a boat-gate. This gate is represented in figs. 36, 37, and 38, sheet G. Its depth from the. under side of the keel will be 13 feet, its breadth on deck 12 feet, and its lengthi 128 feet, reaching across the mouth of the basin, its ends fitting into the grooves g, fig. 39, in the side-walls of the basin A. cross-section of this gate is seen at fig. 38, letter h, sheet G. The keel will be two feet broad by 16 inches deep; the ends or stern pieces will be two feet square, with an. apron to back them 18 by 18 inches; the keelson will be two feet broad and 18 inches deep; the ribs will be 12 inches deep and 8 inches broad, placed 2 feet apart, and jogged into the keelson. It will be planked up with 4 by 12 plank; the upper course or gunwale will be 12 by 12 deep, and, in connexio with the deck-beams, will form the deck frame. The ribs will be fastened at their upper ends to this gunwale, by inchiron sciew-bolts; the deck frame is seen at fig. 37, letter i. The deckbeams will be 8 inchies wide and 10 inches deep; they will be placed four feet apart from centres and cross diagonally, one set of beams crossing another, halved when they cross, the ends being let down flush into the thick gunwale; the deck plank will be 3 inches by 12. Half way between the deck-beams and the keel, there will be beams across of 8 by 8 scantling. resting on clamps running the whole length. (See fig. 38, letter j.) There will be a wicket gate of two feet square, so arranged that one man can open and close it; the boat will be treenailed and copper-fastened as fuil1y as the best merchant vessels of like tonnage. It will be coppered with twenty-four ounce copper up to eleven feetl, and have all the necessary machinery and rigging for using it. J. Y. MASON, Secretary of the Navry. JOHN S, GILBERT., ZENO SECOR.'Wm. G. RIM.ELY, Witness to the signateaes of J. Y. Mason and Johe S$ Gilbert. P. M. WETMORSE Witness to thte signat-<1e of zee SeeifTor. 'm%'II~ [ 44] C. Rail way The middle bed-way is forrmed of two courses of timber of 45 andX 560 feet lengths, each course being 17 inches wide and 18 inches deep, scarfed and screw-bolted together, so as to form a surface of 34 inches, the depth bing 18 inches. (See sheet F, figs. 1 and 5, letter a.) The side bed-ways are formed of two courses of timber, 45 and 50 feet lengths, each course being 14 inches wide and 18 inches deep, scarfed and screw-bolted together. They are grubed out so as to form a surfce of two feet on their faces, with 4-inch flanges above on each side, to forn. guideo fer the upper:^~- so (See sheet F, figs. 1, 2 and 5, letters b b.) The foundation of the bed-ways on the shore is made by driving two rows of piles, 14 inches diameter and three feet apart, in the direction of the length of the ways, and capping themn with cross-ties 16x16 inches, the ties twelve feet apart, and extending across the top of every third set of foundation piles, which are tenoned into them three inches, (figs. 1, 2 and 5, letter d.) Two courses of timber, 15 inches deep by 17 broad, jogged down into the cross-ties 4 inches, and extending the whole length of the bed-ways, are next laid to receive the stone wall. (See figs. 2 and 5, letter e.) The stone wall wiill consist of two or three courses of granite, each block being 34 inches Nwxide on its face, -nd nrot less than 6 feet long, the upper and lower sides to be partially levelled or rough-hammered, so as to lie firm incement. (See figs. 2 and 5, letterf.) The bed-ways will be cut into the, back wall of the basin, so that their upper surfaces will be flush with the said wall; they will pass up ihto the yard on an inclined plane of one foot three inches to one hundred leet. The bed-ways on the floating dock are of the same dimensions as those on the land, will be laid down upon the truss-bearms at the outer end of the dock, an d will be fastened to a permanent bedding on an inclined plane rising towards the inner end of the dock, one foot three inches to one hundred feet, so as to bring them on a line with those on the shore, where the dock is made to rest on the bottom of the basin. When the bed-ways of the dock are not under a ship, they will be hauled off, with the cradle upon them, on the shore bed-ways, the docks being- raised so that the lower edge of the bedding under the ways will be on a line with the bed-ways on shore. (See fig. 7, letterf.) The middle bed-way will be fastened down to the timbers, (fig. 3, sheet i'F) with iron bars three-fourths of an inch thick by 5 inches wide, lastened at their upper ends to the middle bed-way, and at their lower ends to the timber e of the foundation. These bars will pass betwseen the two thick-:aesses of the m.iddle bed-way down through the stone fotudation, and through the middle of the timbers e and fastened with iron keys, one inch thick and three inchles wide. The middle upper ways of the cradle on which the ship is moved to the shore, are made of two courses of timber 16 by 17 inches broad; they are screw-bolted together, forming a surface of 34 inches. (See figs. 3 and 5, letter g,) The side-ways are made of two courses, 12 by 16 inches, screw-bolted together, forming a surface of 24 inchees (See figs. 3 and 4, lettter h.) Both the middle and side-ways of the. cradle are made of sections of about 32 feet in length; the sections of the cradle are fastened together by plates of iron, two inches thick and six:inches wide, by about t3 -e.ve feet Ing passin4m over the joints, (in fiL:~.ee~ 1ong pas~g over,,h e ois~ ('a i~, joints marked jors) ts)he plat es o ne part lapping over those on the other; they are scr:,w-bolted to the ways, being keyed together with iron keys three-fourths of an inch thick by 4 inches wide. (See figs. 3 and 4, letter i.) The joints in the middle upper way (see fig. 3, letter j) are supported by plates ten inches w-ide by two inches thick, and keyed with iron one and a half inch thick by 6 inches wide. Across the top of the cradle-ways are ties (sheet K, figs. 3, 4 and 6) of wood 16 by 16 inches, placed eight feet apart, locked down over them fotr inches, and fastened with screw-bolts. Between each of these ties there is one keel-block sixteen inches broad by twelve inches deep, placed upon the middle way of the cradle. On every alternate tie there is pla-ced an ordi nary solid bilge-block, made to slide up to tihe vetssel's botttom, where it is held by a pall working. in a cast-iron rack. These bilge-blocks are also to be used inm the floating docks'when the cradle is not in use. (See fig. 6, letter c'.) There are also braces of wood 12 by 12 inches, (inm, fig. 3) jogged into the side and middle ways, where they are supported by chocks; these braces are jogged up 4 inches into the ties, as they pass diagonally across from one way to the other. The cradle is also strengthened with iron rods 1l inch diameter, (n, fig. 3) passing from the middle to the side ways, diagonally, and made to tiglhten with connecting screw-swivels; where the iron rods are attached to the ways, there are, in the plates of iron which fasten the section of the ways together, projections into which the ends of the rods are screwed. (See fig. 8, letter 1.) The foundation of the basin an1d railway will be of the most solid construction, according to the nature of the soil. The cradle is to be so arranged that it can be b.rem oved fi1om under tthe ship and replaced without difficulty..Engtne-pu tmps and other fixtures.'Th engines —one on each side-(see a, sheet H) will be horizontal arid of twenty horse-power, and placed on the guard, (w'. fig. 5, sheet A,) a plan of half of which is shown by fig. 1.6, same sheet. The boiler (b, sheet H) is of the locomotive kind, and placed at one end of the engine, with the furnace on one side. The pumps (c', sheet H) are twenty in number on each side; they are made of plank five inches thick, and fastened with inch-iron screw-bolts, passing through and through all -the parts; they are ten feet long, with 18 by 18 inches square chambers, and three feet stroke; sixteen of the pumps will be placed in the main pump-well directly under the engine, and two of them will be placed in smaller wells, adjoining the main w ell. (See a', sheet H, for these pumps and small welL) The upper and lower boxes (e, sheet H) are to be of composition; the lower one is made to fit the cha.nber by cork placed in groove (f,) and the upper one is leathered, the ring (g) screwing down upon it. The valves are of the kind called butterfly valves; they are also of composition; their bfrm is seen at (h.) The guide-rod (i) is of iron, and the connecting (.j) is also of iron. The ^,...-, sh-iftrl g-. be w hich-: c}i thle pumnps are driven is shown at k, the bevelled wheels, the crank-wheels r, the pinion-wheels n; the shaft, rmnning the twh ol o e l ehthe o bw the cl hes y wh the pumps may be throb wn 57 a 44 out of gear, p, sect ion of ciutch. An elevation of one of the crank-wOheels anaid pinions is seen at q. At the end of the shaft n is seen the windlass, by which the gates at each end of the dock are opened. The chains by which the gates are opened will be -. The forward gate will be hoisted. perpendicularly out of the bitts by means of this chain and windlass, and then lowered down into the water when a vessel is to be hoisted out of the dock, an again hoisted in its place when the dock is sunk to float the vessel. The pumps will be so arranged as to pump out the dock, in raising a vessel, witf one engine, by means of the conductor, (12,) sketch sheet. The engines and boilers, and machinery attached to them, will be enclosei with good houses, extending out to the guard, (u', fig. 5, sheet A.) A section of the outline of the frame of the house is seen at o', fig. 5, sheet A; the combings (c') will be 6 by 12 deep, and the stanchions (d") will be 4 by 6 scantling, placed two feet apart; the carlines will be 4 by 4, and the plank of the sides and top will be 1t white pine. The guard (e') will be of timber 12 by 12, and the beams (a3) of the guard-deck will be 6 by 12; the deck of guard will be 3 inches. The beams of the guard-deck will be tenoned. into the thick strake (p) of the dock, and into the guard, the tenon being 4 inches and fstened by 1 — treenails. The braces are to be tenoned into the thick strake, (p,) and also bolted through the ribs of the dock. There will be a rail. on each sidet of the dock five feet high. The whole surface of the dock, inside and out, above the lower parts of the windows, will be planed and painted with two coats of lead color. The dock will be furnished with centring beams, (letter d', fig. 5, sheet A.) It will also be furnished with solid bilge-blocks, (letter k', fig. 6, sheet F.) The wall shorin g against the altars will be furnished in accordance with the Dlaans now in use i. the stone-docks at Norfolk or Boston. All the gates or valves for the passage of water will be geared so that oame man can open or close them. The dock will be constructed in a workma;n-like manne.er and furnisbed with machinery for its successful operaftion. J. Y. MASON, Secretary of the Jatv?/j. JOHN S. GILBERT. ZENO SECOR. Witness: Wr. I., RTOn," SpeciJ'ications oJf he hzsauing apparatus for mov in,'? yessgelt ro i te edock to the bed-ways on.,hore, and back again to the dock,; and a.s' otf tb he g 2tes-house. The central bed-ways are to be extended 40 (forty) feet; from the end: of the main ways, or 390 feet from the, rear of the basin into the house hereinafter mentioned, built to protect the cylinder and boiler. The extension vill be constructed in the same manner as the main way, except that the piles will be driven five feet from centre to centre, and the walls will be laid up with split granite in hydraulic cement. On the bedways will be placed a hydraulic cylinder of cast iron (see plan No. 9, at A) the piston of which is 15 inches in diameter, and the stroke 8 feet, [ 44 58 placed aear each end of the top of the cylinder, and consists of two vertical cylinders 16 inches diameter and 15 inches stroke, with starting bars and excentrics, the cross-heads on a slide at right-angles, and turning a shaft on which are the excentrics that work the force-pumps. There are four force-pumps (C C) of 1, inch diameter and 6 inches strokeThe connexions between the pumps and hydraulic cylinder will be by meas ol pipes and valves of suitable size and strength. The boiler (E E) to supply steam to the engine is to be a locomotive boiler, having eighty-five tubes of 2 inches diameter and 9 feet long, giving a fire surface of 821. 89 feet. The boiler is to be supported by a suitable bed-plate of cast iron, vestii:g on a bed-way, and connected by suitable rods of iron with the hydraulic cylinder. Under the boiler and on top of the bed-ways (F F) is placed a resel-voir to furnish water to the boiler, and the pumps of the hydraulic press.'he cross-head (G) of the hydraulic press is to be of cast-iron, 57 inches iongg 30 inches wide and 18 inches deep. Two side rods (H) 4 by 12, of wrought iron, are to connect the cross-heads with the centre timbers of the cradle on which the ship is to rest when to be drawn ashore. The side rods are to be attached to the centre beams by two cast-iron keys, 20 inches wide, 48 inches long, and 4 inches thick. The ends of the side rods and the centre timbers are to have a wortiise, 20 inches long and 4 inches wide, to receive the key. The keys are to be 386 feet from the ends of the centre timbers. Lwags to connect the hydraulic cylinder with the bed-way's lugs, of suitable size, are to be cast on the hydraulic cylinder (K) and mortises eight feet apart. are to be mortised through the bed-ways (L L.) The mortises are to be 24 inches long and 6 inches wide; cast-iron keys, 24 inches wide, 6 inches thick, and 44 inches long, are to be placed in the mortises. Wrought-iron rods 6 by 6 inches, and suitably formed to connect with the lugs on the cylinder and the cast-iron keys of the bed-ways, are to make the connexion between the cylinder and the bed-ways (M M.) The power of the hydraulic press, and the strength of the machbi;ery above described, would be adequate to draw a ship of 5,300 tons. In case it should not be required to move a ship of that weight, the power and strength aforesaid are to be diminished in proportion. One turn-table is to be constructed near the end of the centre bed-way, for the purpose of turning the cylinder around on the ways, (see plan N,) to be built in the following manner, viz: piles 12 inches in diameter are to be driven for the foundation, (see plan F F,) which are cut off 3 feet below mean high tide and capped with timber 12 inches in thickness, (C T;) and a wall of stone is built up thereon, to the same height as the wall of the ways, (G.) The circle of the table (H H) is to be 10 feet in diameter, and an iron bar, I by 3 inches, is to be laid in a circle on the stone wall, 6 inches from the edges, and crossing the centre-way wall. A cast-iron plate is let in the centre of the table, t inch thick anld 10 inches in diameter, and a journal, two inches in diameter, inserted through the plate into the stone. The main ways are not laid over the space occupied by the table. Two pieces of oak timber, corresponding in size to the ways, are bolted together and an iron plate let in and secured in the centre and at each end at, ttie 59 r[ 44 ] crossing of the rcl. This imber or short w ay is placed on the taBei and the journal on the table passes up through the centre of the plate and confines it in its position, and allows it to move around the journal on the centre plate. When it is required to turn the cylinder around, to shift its ends, to psh a vessel off from the bed-way upon the floating dock, it is slid on the table and turned around, as shown in the plan. A house is to be built for the protection of the cylinder and engines, over the end of the centre bed-way, 30 feet wide, 46 feet long, and 12 feet high. (See ground plan L L.) The foundation is to be of' cross foundation timber, 4 feet long and 6 inches thick, laid in a trench dug 3 feet belowT the surface of the yard. On the cross foundation timber, ranging timber, 12 by 20, is laid, and a stone wall is built up thereon, one foot above the level of the ground. A brick wall, 8 inches thick, is then built up 12 feet in height. The roof is laid to pitch both ways-planked and covered with XX tin. Two windows are to b placed on each side, and a door in front, and one on the side, of sa-fi;cent size to admit the passage of the engine and boilers. Rods of suitable size will be attached to the cradle-ways at the upper end, (M,) so arranged as to receive keys through the mortises in the be"dway, to prevent the ship from slpping bac:k whsen the hydraulic pres is fleeted. J. Y. MASON, SScretary of the J/avS. JOHN S. GILBER T, gN~O SECOR. W ites S: W ILIA G.x RIX ri.. Kiww all men by t hee presents, That we, John S. Gilbert and Zeno Secor as principals, both of the city and State of New York, and Francis Secor and Charles A. Secor, as sureties, of the city and State oi New York, are held and firmly bound unto the United States of America in the full and just saU of one hundred thousand dollars, lawful money of the United States, to be paid to the said United States, or to any person or persons, agent or agents' that may be duly authorized by the Comptroller of the Treasury of the United States, for the time being, to receive the same; to which payment, well and truly to be made and done, we bind ourselves and every of us, our and every of our heirs, executors, and administrators, in the whole and for the whole, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents. Sealed with our seals and dated the seventh day of November, anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight. The condition of this obligation is such, that if the above bounden John S. Gilbert, Zeno Secor, Francis Secor, and Charles A. Secor, or either of them, their or either of their heirs, executors, or administrators, do and shall well and truly execute and fulfil, in all its stipulations, a contract which the said John S. Gilbert and Zeno Secor have entered into with John Y, Mason, Secretary of the Navy, acting for and in behalf of the United States, for the corplete construction of a balance floating dry-doc, with [44 ] 6 basin and riaiwys, and floating-gate, at the navy-yard at Pensaccla agreeably to their contract, dated 25th October, 1848, for the use of the United States navy, then the above obligation to be void and of none effeet; otherwise to remailLn in fll force and virtue in law. JOHN S. GILBERT, L ZENO SECOR., L. S. FRANCIS SECOR, L. s CHARLES A. SECOR. s Signed, sealed, and delivered in the presence ofELIJAH F. PaRDv, C. So BOGA rDUS. To the best of my knowledg e aid beitef, te sureties named in this'bond are good and' suff.cieat.. CHARLES McVEAN, United Sta.es Attorne-, No. 4, This indenture:, made this ntneteenth day of May, in the year of o0ur Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, at Washington, in the District of Columbia, by and between S. D. Dakin, Rutherford Moody, John S. Gilbert and Zeno Secor, all of the city and State of New York, of the first part, and the government of the United States, by the Secretary of the Navy thereof, of the second part, witnesseth: That whereas, by an act of Congress of the United States, approved on the 28th September, 1850, entitled' An act making appropriations for the naval service for the year ending 30th June, 1851,' in the first section'of said act, the Secretary of the Navy is authorized to enter into a contract for the construction of a sectional or balance floating dry-dock, with basin and railway, on the coast of California: and whereas, by a subsequent act approved 3d March, 1851, entitled "An act making appropriations for the naval service for the year ending 30th June, 1852," the first mentioned act has been so far modified and repealed as to authorize the Secretary of the Navy to confine the sums appropriated to the construction of a floating dock alone, without the basin and railway, provided the Secretary of the Navy considers the estimates made by the department for the construction of said work to be "fair and reasonable:" and whereas, in the execution of said laws, the Secretary of the Navy, the party of the second part, has selected and does hereby select, from the two docks named in the first named law, the sectional floating dock, as preferable for the coast of Cali.fornia to the balance floating dock, and also selects some suitable place within the waters of the bay of San Francisco, in the State of California, to be hereafter determined upon, as the location for said sectional floating dock: and whereas the said Secretary of the Navy has agreed with said parties of the first part, upon terms which he considers fair and reasonable, tor the construction of said sectional and floating dock, and has considered and approved the plans and specifications which have been signed by the parties hereto, and have been hereto annexed, marked 1, 2, o and 4, and forming a part of this contract:' t641 [ 44 ] Now, therefore, it is mutually understood and agreed by anid between tihe parties aforesaid, that for and in consideration of the covenants and agreements hereinafter mentioned, the parties of the first part, themselves, their heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, do hereby covenant and agree to and with the United States, by the Secretary of the Navy, the party of the second part, that they will furnish all the materials and construct a floating sectional dock of ten sections, with all the machinery, fixtures, and apparatus necessary for working the same, and of power and capacity sufficient to raise and sustain for repairs a ship-of-the-line of five thousand three hundred tons displacement, or a war steamer of the largest class, of'not less than three hundred and fifty feet in length, according to the plans and specifications aforesaid. And it is further agreed, that all the materials shall be of the best of their kind, and the workmanship shall be of the best quality; and it is further agreed, that the said parties of the first part shall construct the said dock at such place or point on the coast of the Atlantic or Pacific ocean as they may prefer; but all the parts of the dock are to be delivered to the United States put together complete, and in every respect ready for use, in raising'vessels, at such point in the bay of San Francisco as the party of the second part shall hereafter, and before the dock shall be ready to set up, designate. And it is further agreed that the work shall be commenced forthwith, and progress in its several stages and periods of construction, in proportion to the time herein stipulated for the completion thereof, and shall be comple-. ted in all respects within two years from and after the date of this contract. And it is further agreed, that the said parties of the first part shall and do warrant the dock aforesaid to be capable of successfully raising and sustaining for repairs a ship-of-the-line of five thousand three hundred tons displacement, or a steamer of three hundred and fifty feet in length, and that the experiment for the testing the power and capacity of said dock shall be performed by and at the expense of the parties of the first part, the vessel used for the purpose to be furnished as hereinafter provided. And the said government of the United States, by the Secretary of thoe Navy aforesaid, hereby covenants and agrees, to and with the parties of the first part, their heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, in consideration of the premises, and of the covenants and agreements herein contained, on their part to be performed, to pay to said parties of the first part, their heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, the just and full sum of six; hundried and ten thousand dollars, in the manner following, namely: W. hen bills certified by the superintending agent, on the part of the said party ot the second part, and approved by the commandant of the station where the work, or any portion of it, shall be prepared on the Atlantic, or by the superintendent of the work in California, and approved by the commandant of the Pacific. squadron, or such other person as the Secretary of the Navy shall from time to time appoint, shall be presented, showing that each or any section is framed, and the whole of the materials of every descriptions for such section, except the machinery, are prepared or ready for shipment, there shall be paid the sum of fourteen thousand dollars; that the whole of the machinery to make each or any section complete, has been prepared or ready fbr shipment, there shall be paid the further sum of thirteen thousand fiur hundred and fifty dollars; that the whole of the rmaterials, includ.nmg irachinery, iron, copper, &c., for each or. any.seetion, ha el be ce ieeve at 4k 4 tle point designated in California by the party of the second part, and the truss-frames ready to be set up, there shall be taid the further sum of eighteen thousand and three hundred dollars; that each or any section shall have been launched and fully completed in every respect, nxachinery set up, and all ready for immediate use, there shall be paid the further sum of fifteen thousand two hundred and fifty dollars.:Each of the said payments to be made by the navy-agent at New York or San Francisco, within thirty days from and after the presentation of bills duly certified and approved as aforesaid, excepting and reserving from each of said payments ten per centumron the bills so approved, as security for the faithful performance of the work; and after the completion and satisfactory trial of said dock by the said parties of the first part, as herein provided, the said ten per centurn above reserved and retained shall be paid over to the said parties of the first part in full, within thirty days after the dock shall have been accepted by the Secretary of the Navy. And it is further mutually understood and agreed by and between the said parties to this contract, that no payments shall be made on account thereof, beyond the appropriations now made for said dock, until Congress shall have made further appropriations for the same; and in no case shall the amount of payments made exceed the amount appropriated for said dock. And it is further agreed, that if Congress shall fail to make appropriations for the dock aforesaid, to meet the payments as they shall become due, in manner and form as before mentionedJ, then the party of the second part may suspend the work, unless the parties of the first part may elect to progress with it, and look to Congress for remuneration. And it is further agreed, that the party of the second part, acting for the United States, shall provide a ship or steamer, not to exceed the dimensions and displacement aforesaid, for full test and trial of said dock, within three months after notice of its completion. And if the party of the second part shall fail to provide the parties of the first part with a vessel for said trial, which trial shall be made by the parties of the first part, after notifying the party of the second part of the time of the trial, then the dock, if otherwise satisfactory in form, construction, and materials, to the party of the second part, shall be con-sidered as complete, and the contract may be accordingly closed. And it is further agreed, that if the location selected by the party of the second part does not afford a sufficient depth of water for docking vessels of the foregoing description, dimensions, and displacement, then and in that case, such dredging or other excavation as may be necessary to procure a sufficient depth of water for- using the dock in raising the vessels above described, shall be done by and at the expense of the party of the second parto And it is further agreed, that if the parties of the first part shall fail to comply, in each ar:d every particular, with the specifications and provisioe of this instrumnent, all the materials of every kind, delivered and used upon the work, shall be held and used by the United States as their property, as collateral security for advances mrade, or until a satisfactory adjustment of the case shall be concluded. And it is further agreed, that all the materials and work of every descripian which may be shipped on the Atlantic coast for the said dock n California shall be'fully insured, and the policies of insurance shall be made payable, in ase of loss, to the United States; and in case of ias the inAs 0b3 [ 44 ]:ra;nce'or ioss or damage paid by or recovered fro the al rers shall be.held by the party of the second part, until the said materials nd work lost or damaged shall have been replaced, or that the party of the secind parl; shall be fully satisfied that they will be so replaced. And it is further agreed, that the said dock shall be so constructed under the supervision of a competent naval constructor, or other person appointed by the party of the second part, who shall have power to reject and exclude.any materials or workmanship from said dock, which are not in accordance with the said plans and specifications hereunto annexed, either in kind, size, or quality, or which, in his judgment, are not suitable for the portion of the work they are delivered for, and who shall see that said dock is cxen structed in conformity to said plans and specifications; but if, in the co.truction of said dock, and the apparatus thereto, any improvement shall be sugogested by either party, that may be considered advantageous to the atility of said work, with the assent of both parties thereto they may be adopted, without otherwise impairing or affecting this instrument. And the parties of the frst part do further engage and contract, that no member of Congress, officer of the navy, or any person holding any office or appointment under the Navy Department, shall be admitted to any share or part of this contract, or to any benefit to arise therefrom. And it is hereby expressly provided, and this contract is upon this express condition, that it any such member of Congress, officer of the navy, or other person above named, shall be admitted to any share or part of this contract, or to any benefit to arise under it, or in case the parties of the first part shall in any rerespect fail to perform this contract on their part, the same may be, at the option of the United States, by the Secretary of the Navy, the party of the second' part, declared null and void, without affecting the right of the said party of the second part to recover for defaults which may have occurred, It is further stipulated and agreed that if default be made in progressing with, and the execution of the said work satisfactorily, as aforesaid, and especially if the said dock, after completion, shall proveinsufefcient to dock successfully vessels of the navy, according to their warranty aforesaid, then and in that case the said parties of the first part will forfeit and pay to the United States, as liquidated damages, the sums of money which may ihave been paid to them under this contract, with interest at six per centum, which liquidated damages may be recovered from time to time as they accrne, and the said materials are not to be removed until the moneys and interest so advanced shall have been refunded; but the said iaaterials are to be held and used as the property of the United States, as an additional security ior the performance of this contract in all its parts. And it is further agreed by the parties of the first part, that they will lprotect the party of the second part (the government of the United States) in the fll use and enjoyment of the patent-right of the said sectional coating dry-dock, and the right to use the sapme against any lawful claim that may be set up by William Ballard and Roswell B, Mayon, or any other parties lawfully claim ing the said patent-right. It is farther agreed, that the said parties of the frst part shall, on de-.ianda give to the said party of the secoAnd part their bond, with two suffcient sureties, in the penalty of one hundred thousand dollar, condi.tione fay the faithfil performance, on their part, of this contract. In tesi On y of all which agreements and stipulations, the paries above 1 44] i4 riamed have hereuniao signed their names, and afixed their seals' this nineteentih day of -Mayv anUe Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty-oie S.D. DAKIN, L. s. RUTHERFORD MOODY, L. S JOHN S. GILBERT, [ s. ZENO SECOR, L S. WILL. A. AGRAHRAM, LoS. Secreftary of the Javya Sisgedi, sealed, and delivered in the presence ofGEO. L. STOREn, As to the first four signatures. CHAS. B. STUART'[, As to the signature of tbe Secretary of the Navy. [No. 3.].B il of mat r;i sa f r the e setructiont of (ne sectiotn f floating dock, a per,pecifie ations awnd plan. Length. Section. Cubic feet. Total c-bie feeto WBITE OA.R. DIBA B. RI'~ist c(lcs(. — l i, ]Uzg/hA, of 60 ftet aczd oer'. Feet. Inches. 2 ai stringers......................... 70 16 X 16 250.00.......... 2 top stingers........................... 60 16X 16 213.33.......... 4 main stringers......................... 60 14 X 15 350.00.......... f, fenders.....................60 X 8 X 12 80.00.......... 4 corners................................ 6 1 4 280.00...... -- 1,13.33 Secoztd clat s:l. — I r, lengtlvs jf' 50 j'eft af, utndCer 60,fet. 4 shores......................... 9 X 16 210.00......... 4 main braces 5.1........................ 57 X 16 228.00......... 2 nders.............................. 50 8X 12 66.67......... 4 corners................................ 50 12 X14 233.33.......8.. 738.0 Third /a s,,S.-hI lengthi s of 40. f/et and,7 under t50 %et. 2, spbicers............................ 45 16 X 16 160.00.......... 4 posts........................... 47 10X 15 193.50.......... 8 segments......................... 46 12 X 12 376.83.......... 4 bilgers....................... 42 8 18 168.00......... ~ — 81 S97bg Fourthi dacss,.-ru lengths of' 30feet sI, ou under 40 feet. 4 float sills......,.................. 35 16x16 248.00.......... 4 tnasses............................... 35 16X 20 311.00.......... 52 top and bottom braces................. 30 6x 14 910.00......... 4 beams........ i.......30 14.X 14 163.33......... 4 corner beams.......................... 32 14 X18 224.00.......... 2 gi,...........................2 2 X d4 74 7 O......... 65 [ 441 Bill of materials~Contiue d Length. Section, Cubic feet. Total cubic Ifeet. F Inxfes. top beam.............................. 32 16 X 24 85.33.......... I middle beam......................... 32 16 X 16 56.67.......... 1 bottom beam...............3....... 32 14 X75.00.......... 2 out-end joists......................... 30 8 X 12 40.00. 2 middle joists........................... 35.00.......... 2 top joists 30 3.00!11111~i~; 2 top joists........ 80 X 12 80.00.......... 2ontside end........................... 30 6 X 14,5.00. 2 outside middle.................... 30 8 X 12 40.00.......... 4 outside beams.......................... 30 8 X 9 60.00.......... 8 ladders............................. 36 6 X 7 84.00.......... 2 studs.................................. 36 8X8 32.00.......... 2 keel sills........................... 32 8X18 64.00.......... 4 connecting rods................ 34 7 X 16 105.67.......... 02,673.67 Fi7fth class.-Inl lengths of 20 feet, and under 30 feet. 4 splicers............................. 25 16 X 16 181.33.......... 4 trusses......................... 22 16 X 20 195.67.......... 4 trusses................................ 20 16 X 16 143.00.......... 8 splicers............................... 2 14 X 15 268.67......... 8 trusses............................... 27 8X 15 180.0......... 4 trusses................................ 27 8 X 15 90.00.......... 4 top braces............................ 28 6 X 8 37.33.,........ 4 braces................................. 25 9 X 15 93.67...... 4 girts.................. 22 8 X 15 74.00....... 4 top braces............................. 2 8 X 12 29.33......... 1,298 00 ai.t:tl'ass~.-l] le tght~. of 0 fet cn Je'( d un - 1,der290 20 je. 4 corner posts........................... 12 16 X 18 98.00.......... 4 trusses................................ 11 10X 12 36.67......... 104 ribs................................. 11 9 9 641.33.......... 4 connecting............................ 17 12 X 12 136.00.......... 4 centre side studs..........1........... 11 9 X 24 33.00.......... 30 stds................................. 11 6X14 192.50.......... 4 studs................................... 11 12 X 14 51.17......... 2 trusses............................... 15 12X 16 40.00.......... 2 trusses................................ 15 16 X 16 53.08......... 8 trusses................................ 15 8 X 12 80.00.......... 8 trusses................................ 16 8X12 85.33.......... 72 studs................................. 11? 7 X 12 483.00.......... 4 out-end B. braces..................... 11 6 X 6 11.00.......... -~ 1,941.08 eeventh class.-In lengths of' under f10 feet. I stud...................................12 X 16 6.67.......... 2 studs................................. 7 12X 16 18.66 8 posta~s., ~00~00~o.OI~e~~~.~.0II1OO C~~80~~ Pf2 X 12 72 00 1....... 8 posts................................. 9 12x12 72.00................' ________' 07 9 OAK;, Si:zes not specicfied. 4 bilge blocks................................................ 100.00 i......... I set keel blocks........................ 83.33.......... 8 wale shores.................................... 66.67......... 4 stanchion posts................................1.............. 16.66..........' -'~. ~' - 2(. 6.666 Ex~-50 , 44<. ]6 F^^.'of m $Kril''~G) m~hmed,. - 6~th. 1Soctio~ Oabicfest., Total hs101K ^poste. —-.................. -.... 4^ I........388.8.8. iur/t, c/c~,s, I 42 toepr bn:o,,,as...........,....................-..'S 6 X!= 1 ~ ~ ~ou 6 03.0. 8A ciner bt a....7.,..,. 12x 10 (X) 216.0).. 60! 0 kee'!ao,.>....................... X 8Sconr~ 5. I ftth4 4 5 100. 0 oend st a......................1. I X 15 100 ~ 00 -...... 1,4s 1d........ -.... —.. 6X4 12.00 40 end, -t,~,t 5 X 9 00~00 1i stfUd ~ is.. 6 X S 18 inch, O 3 -1-n "8 board I 530 00 i b;""r two.onrir ix.! TInhIn 5 lov 71l'5in):.h:,..........-.............,., ^...,-., ^0...7...o.......,,,.....de ~C~n~~i ~.... (..... 1, 1.0'26 6 5-ichi lor rfide.....;....,.....'...-.....,... 2.....305.65....... -inb~!r;5dc',,..,....,........ 9. ~ 12........ b-~-.ich.,.for top.......................... 9383 8.....,... 3-c'................................ j 5.. 120,0 c. ~ o........ ~ ~.~~m:...I 283; ~l.- ^ ^16^ ~~. o.. o.... [Ilo. 4.1 7 cificationst of a, sech&onal fl oainTg dry dck i be crucd at the srile to be selected b, the Xyavy ]Diie partnien fot a ocation of a an" yrdcr nt hSan MFrancisco,, Satte, o4'f C'ali frn e The floating dock is to consist of ten t sections, each coa,rstruacted in tie same manner. The outside measuremnent of each is to be as follows: One hundred and thbity-three (133) feet long, thirty-two (3S) feet wide, eleven taet nine inches (11, ) an depth. The main tank to be one hundred (100) Ifet long, thirty-two (32) feet wide, and eleven feet n ine inches (li p-) deep, and ninety-two (92) feet between the inside posts, Ai; and the end f oats atre to be twenty-six feet and a half ((231) in length, fiftee (15) feet wide, and eight and a halt (81) feet deep. The size of all the timbers for the framne work of the dock is to be the,same as marked upon the framing plans sent herewith marked Nos. I and 2, and the frame-w ork -is to be framedt aTn' d put together in the best an ner, and in conformity to those plans. All the tlimber used in the construction of tis - dock to be of the best ~quality of northern white oak and white pine, and southern yellow pine, The manner of constrution is to be -the same in each section, and to be as follows, (see plan No, 1.) viz: The two side trusses are to be first framed and put together of the best white-oak timber, of the dimensioiLs mnarked on plan No. 1; tvwo sticks of white oak (A) 16 by 8 inches, a ar spliced in the centre so as to make one piece,:antd the stick of white oak or yellouw pine (B3) 16 by 16, is spliced at each end near the steps of the tlrusses, to make the same length, and is placed on the top of the first stri-nger (A;) two pair of trusses of white-oak tim.r 16 by O20 (D) are stepped into the.rmain stringers (B.) The loat-sill (E) 16 by 16, is placed on the top of the main stringer (B,) running out to the end float, framed and bevelled to fit the foot of the truss, (G L.) The two stringers, the float-sills and trusses, are then bolted together with 1j-inch iron screw-bolts, two through each step; they being side by side, one only is shown by the marks (a, a, &c.) on plan No. 1, lig. 1. The top stringer (F) 16 by 16 enches, is to be spliced together wi one splice, and bolted with six (6) 1-1inch iron screw-bolts, (, h, &c.;) the short trusses (G) 12 by 12, near the tend of the truss-frame, and the truss (G J,) are placed in position, and th:, corer posts ((H 16 by 18, are firamead d halved on the stringers, an;d bolted'with 1l-inch iron screwbolts. Mortises are mrade on the inside of the top and bottom stringers to receive the top and bottom beams (1) or ribs, 6 by 14, of yellow pine 9 by 9, and are fitted and locked three inehes on both edges of the top and bottom stringers and trusses, oB.. t.he outside of tie frame that they cross. (See plan No. I, fig. 1.) The truss-frame is then strapped with two iron bands (W) I by 6 inches, at the foot of each main truss, and one band of iron. of the same dimensions at the foot of each of the two smaller trusses, and four (4) bands of iron, I by 6 inches, in the centre of the truss-frame, (plan..o 1, fig. 1.) These bands are fastened in t-he entre with keys and gibs,ipssring through a studt 6 by 16 etwee the stringers, and hodii the bad n place, ( pIa. No. 2, W.) The trls,-fame be ing raised to an- apright [44] 68 position, and corresponding truss-framre being made and raised for the op-. posite side of the section, the top and bottom beams (1) 6 by 14, of yellow pine, are framed with a double tenon and shoulders, and inserted eighteen (18) inches from centre to centre in the mortises made in the top and bottom stringer to receive them, and pinned. (See plan No. 1, fig. 2, and plan No. 2, section on line C D.) Two centre trusses, of white-oak or yellow-pine timber, are framed and set up in their position as shown in plan No. 2, fig. 3. The top and bottom keelsons (L L) of these trussframes are 14 by 15; the main trusses (M) 8 by 15, and short trusses (M 0) 8 by 12; for their position and manner of bolting and locking them: together, reference is made to plan No. 2, fig. 3, and section on line B Be. of C D. The ties (R) 7 by 12, are spiked with two iron spikes nine inches long and x%-inch square in each keelson, and one at each crossing of the trusses and end braces. One cross-truss of white-oak timber is framed within the tank, under the keel. For the manner of framing this cross-truss, and fastening it, reference is made to plan No. 2, section on line A B, and cross section D D. The bottom stringer or beam A C is 16 by 16, and halved six inches to admit the bottom keelsons, (L L) and the ends rest upon the two sidestringers, (B B) and mortise into a side rib, (C) 9 by 16. The top stringer (A D) is 16 by 24, and mortises into the top side stringers (F F.) The trusses are 12 by 16 and 6 by 16, (A E) and the 12 by 16 are fastened with two 1l-inch iron bolts. The studs, (A H) 12 by 16, are also framed in an upright position in this truss. The end corner beams (N) are framed into the side stringers, (A, B and F) and the end studs, (A Y) 6 by 14, of white-oak, are framed into the end, top and bottom beams (N) of the main tank, the studs being tenoned into the corner beams (N) and fastened with pins, as shown in plan No. 2. A double water-tight bulk-head is constructed in the centre of the tank,; on each side of the interior truss, at A G. (See plan No. 2, line D D, section on line A B.) This bulk-head is made of two tiers of white-oak plank: standing end-ways, 4 inches thick, and fitting in a rabbet on the bottom beam, (N R) 14 by 24, and the top truss-beam, (A D) 16 by 24. Each plank is fastened with 7-inch iron spikes, two at top and two at bottom, to these beams and side of the truss, (A E) with two similar spikes in each plank. A space is left in one tier of the plank to allow the water to escape. Two (2) bulk-heads, made of 2-inch white-pine plank, are framed inside of the tank, at equal distances from the centre to the end, and are secured by being spiked to the top and bottom beams with 4-inch iron spikes, and a plank 3 by 10 inches is fitted between the bulk-head and adjoining beanm. Each of the bulk-heads, except the centre one, is provided with a door, to admit of passing from one apartment to the other. (See plan No. 2, section on line C D.) Two connecting-rod posts of white-oak, 12 by 12, (Q Q) (see plan No. 1, at 2,) are fiamed in the side truss-frame, near each corner of the section, in the same manner as the side ribs. The end corner beams (N) and corner posts (H) are rabbeted to admit of planking flush with the outside of thei posts and beams. The four corners (A 1H) on the two sides are worked out 6of yellow pine, 12 by 14, and gained into the side ribs and against the ti'ngers, forming the commencement of' the plianzki7g'g, and making, no ai ts: at the conoers. (See ptans Nos. I and 2, A-. D. 69 F i44 The planking on the bottomn of the tank is to be 4 inches thick; on the ends 4 inches thick; on the top 3- inches thick, and on the sides 5 inches thick, of white-oak on the bottom and ends, and the rest of yellow pine; no plank to be used over 12 inches wide, except below the centre of the dock, land below not over 15 inches wide. On the bottom and ends of the tank the plank is to be fastened with two composition spikes, 8 inches long and -s square, to each beam at the crossing, and for each plank over 14 inches three composition spikes of the same size to each beam at the crossing, and in the same proportion for wider plank. On the top of the tank, the plank not over 10 inches wide are to be fastened with iron spikes, 7 inches long and — inch square, driven at the same distance apart and in like manner. On the sides of the tank the planks are to be fastened with two composition spikes, 10 inches long and -9-inch square, at the ends of each plank 12 inches wide or less, and three at the end of each plank over 12 inches wide, and one eomposition spike of the same size to every third rib, and two 1Linich treenails to each crossing, for each plank 15 inches wide, except where fastened by spikes. The ribs (K) each to be fastened with two iron spikes, It inches long and s square, at top and bottom stringers, and one treenail, 11 —inch, in the trusses, at eachi crossing, and two in each stud, at the floatsill. The corner pieces are to be fastened with two 1-inch copper bolts at each end, and one 1'-inch treenail every two feet. The corner posts are screwed with iron joint-bolts, (see plan No. 2, figs. 4 and 5) l-inch diameter, and the tenons are pinned. Eight braces, 8 by 8, (see plan No. 1) are framed in each end of the main tank, stepping into a girt, (T T) 12 by 12, and the two centre top and bottom keelsons (L L.) The main tank havilng been framed and planked, the end frames are then constructed of yellow-pine timber. For the sizes of the timber and manner of framing and fastening, reference is made to plans Nos. I and 2. The posts (A J) 10 by 15, of oak, oi section line (E E,) are mortised dowtn through the top and bottom stringers, and secured by locust-pinso The posts adjoining, (A K) 10 by 15, are mortised into the float-sill E, close to the end of the section, and halved on and pinned thereto, and bolted to the end beams (N) of the main tank, with two 11-inch bolts in the beam and two pins in the sill. The posts (A L) 10 by 12, in the out-end section, on line H K, are motised into the float-sill, and bolted with one bolt. The pinion-posts, of white-oak, (S S) 11 by 11, are tenoned. into the float-sill, and the 12 by 12 eirts (N M) above. The girt (N M) is mortised to receive the pinion-posts, 8 S) and halved on and bolted with 1 -inch screw-bolts to the posts A J, A K and A L. The main brace, 9 by 16 and 9 by 14, (AM) and posts last named, having been halved or boxed at the intersecting points, are then bolted with 1 — tincb i-ron screw-bolts, two at each crossing. The girt (A N) 8 by 15, is then halved on to t1e posts and:f'astened at each. crossing with 11-inch iron screw-bolts. The brace (A O) 9 by 1.5, - haalved on to the float-sill (E) and fastened with two 1:1-inch iron screw-bolts to) post (A J) and (A K) with similar. bo-lts.. The brace (A 0,) 9 by 15, is halved on to the float-sill (E,) an fastened with two Ij-inch iron screw-bolts, and also to post (AJ) and (A K) with similar bolts.'The brace (A P,) 8 by 8, is halved on to the foat-,sill (E) and girt (A N,) and bolted with similar bolts. A corresponding firae is then raised on th le truss-fr.am e aad'loat-sili on the opposite side of the s*ectio%, ai-nd the girts (A Q,) (see pl!an Noe 2, sectioL n tBiane AH ) 6 by 12 (.A S,) 6 by 14( gA. E,) 10 by 12 and t9he foir braces 6 by 7 (see plan,) having been framed and tenon.ed into their places, and bolted wvith 1} joJint bolts, together with t1he girts (A V) 6 by 12, (A W) 8 by t0, arnd (A X) 6 by 14 on section on une E F and the 6 by 7 braces, the floor-beans (1B l) 6 by 12, are laid on the girts (N M) and secuCred by pins.l A girder (V V) 8 by 12, (see planiaa No. 2, section o' an F ad H K) is then raised alid secured by screw-bolts to girts (A. Q) and (A V) and sapported by a,post (W W) 8 by 8 A floor (H V) is then laid on the floorbears, of wo-ici. white-pinel- ph-n k, joit ed together amnd sec, uredd with two,) 4-inch spikes at each crossing. A house is then to be constructed on't'he top of each eind 5jframe, sreven3 feet in height, to protect the machinery. The frame-work and rafters are of white-pine scantlning and weathef-boards — inch, white-pine boards 6 t, 8 inches wide, planed on both sides, matched and groo-ve d, and the roof to be covered with..i mathed i.t —inch pine plank and XX ti. A ladder on b-lce T, secti E F is to be con st. Sted, to eg from tbh e edo ck t'o the platforat i., each end farame'.'t e J'.Tere aref to e6 two en:.d floats aon c. eh secta() tihe fra mes oI which aret to be of yellow-pine timbel 1r; all th.e cormers anxd bearms (U) II by 1.1, all the posts (V) 12 by 12, ad are iramed togetler by single t ortises, tet o.,: and shoulders. (See plan r No. 2, igi. 5.) The top and bottom beams (H) 5 by 9, are tenoned with single mtortises into the side corner beams (U.) The side studs (H) 5 by 9, are also r oi'tised with single mortises into the end corners. Two yellowi-pine keelsons (Y Y) 6 by 9, are tenoned intoo tie keelisonl posts. Studs (E4 M) 6 by 6, of yellow pine, are set bet ween the keelsons, three fbet apart. The outside corners bhae a rabbet to admit tihe plank oi~: flush with the corners. The end-floats are to be co(vered with 3-inch yellow-pine p}1ait fastened. up to copper-line with. 6-inch coImpositit.i.o spikes. -inc h square, two to egac beam at the crossing, for each. plank twelve in.ches m0ore or tless, and no plank to be used over that -idth, andi on top not over ten inches wide; to be fastened in the same manner abovre *'e t copper-line with iron spikes, The main -tank is to he thoroughly caulked with. wedges of oakum, at shall be hereafter determined and directed by the governmet'}t, superitelndent or engineer, tarred, pitched, anld made water-tight, andt, together with all the end t i1-11g., is to be she.ated wi -... 32-oz. copper, fistened,*with 1l-inchi copper'il, une dred to the sq.-ua,-re foot, excep tte top, wh-ich is, to be shea.thed with -incb h whte-pine sheathi ng-board as te-ne d w iti 3-nch Bnails, eqiul to 1- to every sqtuare foot and grav ed. ith E-, coat of ",a, an d pitch. A I brits or fa$tenings that would come in cont.ac,- witli t.li.e -copper sheathalinl to be of copper or cormposition metal. The end-floats to be throughly: cal ked, tarred and pitci:he~d a rti:'adttwa cr- tight. The bottomi atnd thre e' et) tp he sides and eindc, to ibe s'hea'nled'wi.i}. 32 -oz copper, fastened with l - inch copper nais., T';he end-frames a2d. fjoat-sills to be - coppered as hiEhl as- the top of t'1-., tank ( G-uAides (B.B) 4 by 4, a:lre spikted to, tie -posts (A K) af d (A L)( wii ) tib. 7i1 [ 44 ] cight-Rnch spikes, and gumides (L P)3 8'y are pikLed to tihe four c,)om O ers of' the-float, to guide them in their ascent and csdecent. Two pieces of w white-oak timber, (C C) one at each enod of the section, 16 by 18, (see plans I and 2) are fastened on the top of the section* and a mortise is made on each to receive the tenon of the oemi ecting beams. Two connecting beamrns (Q Q) (see plans Nos.. 1 and 2) 7 by 16, ar4e to:be. framed and inserted between the comnnectir g-rod post (Q Q) uy.der the, key. and tenoned into the timbers (C C.) Theconnecting-rod timbers are secured togoheth. er by two iron bolts. There are to be two keel-block timbers (F E) 6 by 18, of iwhite oak, Iaid side by Side, and fastened to the top of the dock, with eight fifteen-inch iron. spikes. The four sides for the bilge-blocks to rest on (J L,) of white oak 6 by 16, are placed, directly over the trusses, and fiastened down with. iron spikes fifteen inches long, and inch square, and foiur feet apasrt. There are to be eight keel-blocks (Z) to each sectionC three feet long, and 1.2 by 18 inches, of white oak, fastened down with iron dogs it each. There are also ttobe eigiht bilge-blocks (see plan Noo I, at 5) made of white oak of the fohlowing sizes, namely: t hre to be fi et bhigh, and two eight feiet high —four to be five ifeet long at the base,, and all one fc, ot thick at bottom. and eight inches at top, ti be secured to tihe bilge-block timbers by iron grades, (see plan I, figs. 1 a.!id 2,) and to be provided with iro'n iracks, bolted to the bilge-slides six inches wide an'd one inch. thiclk, with suitable followers or palls hung at the ioot of each block:, with. htges aad everything complete for working them; or the bilge-blocks may be constructed on any other plan, not more xpe'rsve to us tlha a be di eem.lr preferable by the Bureau- of Yards and Docks. Tib.e top or the platfo irm not covered with houses is to be pro,'te ted wit ZFnc. Every pa't of the dock bcilow, and. including the bilge-blocks, to h'ave three oood coats of brown zinc p'aint, an ill " 0or bov' e tot- of bi'l1ge-blocks to'ha-ve three good coats of white zinc paint. blach secotion is to be imrnished with. two air-tubes (see ip:l's.Nos. rid a ) seven i nches-squIarIe ot white-pinpe boards rimunn g i'omin Pe t aink 1t) tIhe platform., with. fiet: aiad.'rohes marked upon them to gradu:ate t sinkini of Liei d(ock^ aind with' two gaugie-rods and copper iplates (see plan No. 2. iat 4) it thiera,' ma:ked anI gradtuated to slow at4 al.l times the ] i'ftirm' 1power xrted by.ec also with four wale-shrs ('see lan, 1. at 8) proLvid:edt with -k'.d palls, h ie ai ie, worki ng,( i ls.caczerst' 1 3 44:,: i r'4n ITIf.ei with i x com: sitin. o' pum'ps of bore even inches ir eit.er (e.i4 t lan S'oO. "1: O i, i 4i' 4''' e Viii' inch Y nrods caig to I. c:rossa —head and. sidesa:,:, and Ce.g:,-,'_.~) with. tli', pu.mp> shai: or c...ranky to'wh,.ich~ is att..xachred, a. nv'..-w..u. ee., mo,:ved by a bo.il:, run',mi:%; from th.e::._ sl.i: Four ste:-,e', es, two of twenty (2SO). ~i a t w (12) }horse-ow-er, ea.:fe best conau.:.i:, are i'o he.fu 1s..h for dri vig th r m?:i. ery A composition: _/ pg.-hoe'-. inch:.'i diam.,:etr is made i. the 1 bottm, r " f' t:., n',:'.'early u 4nder' i:; t scuttle,'wt.'- a Uid',.'an,.,"'S'1k4.4 the fir im e the1, dock i q su-nk* A: C(ite O' ). "' B'';t", AI 10.'1' 7' A. scut~tile (Y.B' )'o place:d a:t ea end of.h.i,:tnk, of,'""..... to admit ofT-as r-; into the i.teror, w v. ith a 1adde. C- ading o'; bottofm 3. 0c' & d Othe.ak pr ov'i.ded - i.i3 ana appropriate co'ering of the same'ess as tihe - -. a'. c d dow wate:-ti.gt [ 44] Each section is also to be provided with all the requisite pumps and float machinery and gearing, to be drove by banding or shafting, as shall be directed by the government superintendent or engineer, all to be graduated and arranged with a view to secure such strength and produce such relative motions of the pumps and floats as may be necessary, it not being possible to designate the exact relative sizes of the different parts until these motions are fixed. All the shafts are to be of wrought iron, of appropriate sizes and bearings, and all the cog-wheels, racks and pinions to be of cast-iron. The following is a proxiiiate description of the machinery and gearing to be furnished for working the pumps and floats, the sizes, of course, being proximate and subject to be varied, according to the motions that may be given, viz: On the top of each float-pinion, shafts 4 inches in diameter; 1 screw-shaft 3. inches in diameter; 1 pinion ditto 5 inches in diameter; 2 pinions and straps for the same; 4 pillow-blocks; one cast-iron frame; 1 bevel-wheel 9 inches in diameter; I endless screw 9 inches in diameter; 1 bevel-wheel 1-,s feet in diameter; 1 spur-wheel 6 feet in diameter; I ditto 3 feet in diameter. On the top of each end frame, I driving shaft 3" inches in diameter; vertical shafts 2S inches square; double pump-cranks 3- inches in diameter; single ditto 3 inches in diameter, weighing 390 to 400 pounds; I fly-wheel, for single pumps, 5 feet in diameter, weighing 290 to 300 pounds; 4 driving-pulleys 2 feet 3 inches in diameter; I spur-wheel 3 feet diameter; 2 spur-wheels 2 feet diameter; I pinioned 1 foot diameter; 1 bevel-wheel 9 inches diameter; one bevel-wheel s;, feet diameter; 1 cast hollow shaft 31 inches in bore and'-inch thick, except the ends, which are — inch, turned and hooped with wrought iron, with pillow-blocks, stands and clutches for working, all to be made in a very substantial manner. It is also understood that all the white-oak, white pine and yellow pine used in the construction of this (lock, is to be delivered as classified in the foregoing bill of materials, No. 3, and it is all to be free fiomr wane, black oi loose knots or shakes; and all the yellow-pine and white-pine timber, plank and boards, and all the white-oak plank or ribs, is to be well seasoned before being used in the -work, and no timber of any description to be used that has not been cut less than one year before being used or put into the dock. WILL. A. GRAHAM, IL. s.] Secretary of the Javy.. S. D. DAKIN, L. s. RUTHERFORD MOODY,X r e JOHN S. GILBERT, I.. ZENO SECOR. S'Witness to tie four silgnatures of the contractors of the first pa.rt GEORGE L. STORER. As to the signature of the Secretary of the NavyCHARILES B. STUART. I certify that I have exam ined the foregoing' contract, bil of i ma.t:e eiraI s and specifications, and also examined the plans accompanying the sam. e, by the directions of the Secretary of the Navy, and do approve the sarme as specified and describedo CHARLES B. STUART, Engin eer-in -c, ief U. S,, Jaur /. NEW YORK, May 19'. 1 1851 73 11I[44] Knou i all men by these present., That we, S. D, Daldn, RPutnier:Jior Moody, John S. Gilbert, and Zeno Secor, as principals, all of the city and State of New York, and Charles A. Seeor and Edgar M. Brown, as sureties, of the city, county, and State of New York, are held and firm- ly bound unto the United States of America, in the fdll and just sum of one hundred thousand dollars,'lawful money of the United States, to be paid to the United States, or to any person or persons, agent or agents, that may be duly authorized by the Comptroller of the T'reasury of the United States, for the time being, to receive the same, to tl-ich payments, well and truly to be made and done, w -e bind ourselves and every of us, our and every of our heirs, executors, and administrators, in the whole and for the whole, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents. Sealed with our seals, and dated the twentieth day of May, anno Domihn one thousand eight hundred andi fifty-one. The condition of this oblifgation's such, that if the above bound S. D. Dakin, Rutherford Moody, John S. Gilbert, Zeno Secor, Charles A. Secor? and Edar M. I Bown, or either o f them, their or either of their heirs, executoers, or administrators, do and shall well and truly execute and fulfil, in all its stipulations, a contract which; the said S. Do Dakin, Rutherford Moody, John S. Gilbert, and Zeno Secor, ha1e entered into with William A. Graharm, Secretary of the Navy, acting for and in behalf of the United States, for the complete construction of a sectional floating dry-dock at such point in the bay of San Francisco, in the State of California, as the Secretary of the Navy may designate, agreeably to their contract, dlated the nineteenth. day of May, anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, for the use of the United States navy, then the above obligation to be void and of non;e effect; otherwise to be and remain in full force and virtue in law. S. D. DAKIN,, L. s.' RUTHERFORD MOODY, L.. JOHN S. GILBERT, L. sj ZENO SECOR,'L. s. CHAS. A. SECOR, L. s E. M. BROWN. L. s. Signaed, sealed and delivered in the presence ofGEO. L. STORER~ STATE OF NEW YORK, i City and county of JTew York, S: Charles A. Secor, being duly sworn, deposes anli says, that he resides in the State of New York, in the county of New York; that he is a householder, and that the value of his property, over and above all debts and liabilities incuhrred by him, is over one hundred thousand dollars. CHARLES A. SECOR. Sworn and subscribed, this 22d day of Ma, 1851, before HENRY D. TOWNSEND, Cormmissimer of Deeds., Jo, 37 Wail street. ' 4:41. ] 2'74 Ij Vlka -' T'IV'71 Y K, nty atnd co'rt3'y of1 tu Ya y rt' Edga, M4. BErov n being duly sworn, deposes, thlat he r esides i tihe St-ate, of ~Tew Yo rk, in the county of New York; that h.e is a h oausehblolder, andm that the value of 11hs poperty over and above all ebtl and ia4 BilitBlties incauIred by h;im-., i i-eor (e hindireed h(ill:nd do0allars t'.. M., 8. BOWN, wornia ".t:,':ccribed this..... dia of"Mav.: 1801: befbre m, Y HEENRY:D. TOWNL $END, ('o.in,;mis,; one', of oJeedc,,F., A 37 illt sElt!ra.'.I cer:ify, tIht I bei.ehve the' above rameil suretie s in this; b)id as od are o(dl ald sufficent' fbo.r the sa S tnamed thereine. J. PRHSCOTT'IALL, Un-itted Stde,,it> t',,. o.tih, f,t ifreti:,rc eoW Yorki. STATE' OF' N:EW YORKm, s: C"iy n countiy of N.1tew Yotrk~, On this twenty-second day of May, A*. one thot.usand eight hundred arld ifty-one before me, came Ctharles A. Secor and Edgar M. Brown, to, 1t'known to be the indivdlsals desclibed iin and who executed the foregoing n-mttrumeRt, and seveallB!y ackneowledged to me tbat they executed the samse JtENRY D. TOWNSEND, C((Yom Jd,:c.. iok'?er 0of Sdied s,..N 27 Wlfl 1 teef... No, 5. /ec eiber I, I7S, i., SS1.i R iteering to the clide. cc o tf' ai - title ftirish,:-di by Mir. Da-kin and s~ALtmitted in my letter of the 2d instant, I have nowr the hoor t o enclose hierewwith the oreigciala patents and certified copies of pa; tents, & C, whliXi sho.'w tJhe right anid titl.e o S. D. Dakin and his associates, t.i maki^ an' use, anid send i.. tc. AlI'J2 ST-, _'as 2.,[O,,,', si..'.P-.:-.2 a-..s, to -e United S-at'es, tlhe d- v-dosei dry-d, basin and r ilwa, as pr in their letter of the 2d ultait. I enclose,t aiso, a synopsis of'the pat.ents for a dry-doci:v, g:r anvtced to Jof. Thomas, and his several convSeyanci(es of thle same as tak:ea frlm te rctoi-s of the Patent Olffiee. The ev idence herewith subinmittedt fully esstablishes, eto y n ti re satis:action the incontestable rih t ofI Dakin to construct, -se, and sell to thWe lUn.:t S.ates, the sectional dock, basin and railway, as p-ropos(d I hav,e Ie h honor to be, waith great reYspent, vonur obedient serva'nt, JS 0STPH SMT.il. -,OB.. WL.- A. G RAHAM fe.'l,, e...^.: 5 [ 44] BJREe AU. OF U Y A,,I)S AOK, DOCS, Febtuarr i 27, IS5r. S'Io i co La'c lavWce with your directionst of the 21gst instiant, to furnish. copies of the pap ers called for by the Senate's resolution ol the 20th instant, I thave the honor to transmit herewith copies of contracts under awhich tile dry-docjks, basins, and railways, h eave been or are now b huiding at the navyyards at Kittery, Philadelpihia, and Pensacola, togethe.r vith the copy of a,ontract foir the construction of a. dry-d.ock ui;hoaft basin and railway at Sal: Francisco. Te con'racts for" the three first nam ed docks &e, w'ere etered into under' a mianidatory clause in the act of Congress approvel August 3, 1848, which " directed" the Secretary of the Navy " forthwith" to contrOact r witht.S Do Dakin arnd.Rutherf rd M(oody, and with FJohi, S fGiltber't an.d Zerto; Secor, &c. &e. The contract for' the dock t San iFra ncisco was emade utndb te at appin.oved Septemrber 28, 1850. N'o advertisem.ent was issued by the departinent, iutiviting proposals f, th l e works above mentioned; Congress, by the acts abovei r!eerred. to, hav-; ine namued the parties jwith whom the contracts shLould be made. I have the fhonor to be, vith c:reaot resoect, your obedient servant, JOS. SMITH. Ft oBw WILL.o A. G~IAlA:, Seercafi't ofq the JVvy,W r i:P.,gtimartn:. No,. 6. Ni...at v t~irecr. KATT~i~ D,EP]i TM rT',; J'anuary 21, 1851, Si." in comr.npliane: e with a resolution. ofc the House of Representatives of the 20tih instan, requesting the Secretary of the Navy " to inform th.e louse what action, if' any, had been had by him under the 1o act of the lastI sessosi, making an appropriation fo the constrruction of a dry-dock'in Californhia - antd wh.ether or not, in. his ju.dgm.Xent, a dock could hot be constructed'sueficint 1fr all.4 the pur'poses of the navy, Iat a much less expense to t he -gonveu;rnment than the one con. templated by the fr; a that ai ha the rmern t tm the Secretary be requested to suspend further proc3eedings gi.: the'matter"~-. h'ave the honor to state. that the act o Cono gress referred to it, the resolution of the House authorized anid contiemplated the constr uc.tion. (f a sectionial or balance floating dry-dock, basin 1 ad railway, of a capacity and dimersioins in no r espee t infrior to those of the dry-dock in the r n ogress of consti.rtion at Pensacola. T te three structures, dlock, basin aind railway, are so obviously embriaced in thie law, that a did not ftee atl liber y to separate tbhrm, or to entertaint olfers for any one of them., withoat; the. who ler foxir any substitute for the -repration of ships, i tstead of the series of works pointed out in the act. Accorddingly, propositions to b uild a mnarine railway in lieu of te dry-dock, and to build a dock only, a.with.oflot the appendages of basin a iid railways were of necessity declined. i:av'ingf determined by virtuIe of the power vested in the hfead of this dtepartmea.t that the sectional dock was to be prefrle3red t to the balance tdo-el, a ldhe tena, s aom e i ac e 1. the bay of San -rarcisco, is. te.0ost eligPible [44] 76 site for its location, I invited proposals for the whole work, and instructed the Bureau of Yards and Docks to make careful estimates of its cost..iThe law limits the cost to a sum "not exceeding by more than twelve per cent. the total amount contracted to be paid for the floating dock, basin. and railway, at the Pensacola navy yard, with the addition thereto of what would be the cost of transportation to the Pacific coast of the materials for the work when prepared." 1. The total amount to be paid for the works at Pensacola is -, - - - 921.,937 00 2. Twelve per cent. on this sum is - - - 110,632 44 1,032,569 44 But, 3d. The cost of transporting all the materials for these immense structures fromr our Atlantic ports to the bay of San Francisco is so difficult to ascertain, that the limit intended to be placed in the discretion of the d1epartment is, at best, very indefinite. The lowest estimate submitted to the department for this item is $581,000. Yet, owing to well known causes, it is still a matter of uncertainty whether it will operate as a saving of money to procure the work, or any portion of it, to be done in California, rather than pay at this rate for freights. Messrs. Dakin & Moody and Gilbert & Secor claim a patent for the sectional dock, by virtue of an assignment from John Thomas, an original patentee in 1837. Other persons claim under the same individual, and contend that this alleged assignment is invalid. Inasmuch as the letterspatent of Thomas will expire in May, 1851, this dispute is not regarded as of the least importance in letting out the work in question. But Messrs. Dakin & Moody and Gilbert & Secor claim also a patent-right to the marine basin and railway described in the act of Congress, under letters-patent to Messrs. Dakin & Moody in 1842, and which have yet four or five years to run. And they therefore claimed the sole right to contract for these works, since, by the law, the dock, basin and railway, constitute but one structure. The department, regarding as undeniable the right of the government to take a patented invention for public use, making just compensation, in the same manner that it may appropriate any other article of private property, could respect this claim of exclusion no further than to make a reasonable allowance for the patent last mentioned, in its negotiation with these bidders. Their first offer was to undertake the whole work at the sum of $1, 776000. The estimate of the bureau, taking the maximum permitted by the law as herein set forth, and adding $581,000 for transportation, amounts to, $1,613,569 44, or if the sum of $75,000, stipulated to be paid on account of camel properties in the Pensacola dock, should be left out. of this estimate, then to $1, 538,569 44. The bureau was directed to make other estimates irrespective of the prices agreed to be paid for the works at Pensacola, which resulted in an aggregate of about $1,000,000, exclusive of transportation of materials, or their procurement and preparatio n California instead thereof. Messrs. Dakin & Moody and Gilbert & Secor at lengthboffered to undertake the contract at the above estimate of $1,538,569 44. This was declined by the department, and Mr. James Brooks, of St. Louis, who produced unquestionable evidence of character, as well as ability to give secu 77 [ 44] lity for the completion of the work, submitted a proposal at $1,390,000 This being the lowest bid offered, would have been accepted, but for the reason that Mr. Brooks disclaimed any pretension to a patent-right, and wished to enter into no legal controversy in respect to that alleged by the other bidders, and proposed only for the work. Doubts being entertained whether a contractor for the work might not be enjoined or otherwise impedted by a legal process in its execution by the claimants for the patent above mentioned, negotiations were continued with Messrs. Dakin & Moody and Gilbert & Secor, with the knowledge of Mr. Brooks; and they were finally informed, as the last proposition of the department, that if they would do the work on the terms stated in the law at the sum of $1,450,000, the contract would be concluded. They desired time for consultation, and on Friday last, the 17th instant, informed the department that they accepted this proposition. The contract has not been signed or written, nor has any bond been executed for its fulfilment; and regarding the request contained in the resoltion of the House as equivalent to a command, I shall take no further step towards its completion, until the pleasure of Congress ii regard to it shall be made known. In reply to so much of the resolution as inquires, whether, in the judgment of the head of this department, a dock could not be constructed, sumcient for all the purposes of the navy, at much less expense to the government than the one contemplated by the act aforesaid, I have to state, that, in my opinion, a sectional dock alone, without the addition of a basin and railway, but with a pier to secure it, would answer every demand of the navy, on the coast of California, for many years to come. Such a dock has recently raised the steamship "Ohio," belonging to Messrs. Law & Co., in the harbor of New York, which ship is over three hundred feet in length. The cost of the dock alone would certainly be much less than one-hal, and possibly not more than one-third of the amount proposed to be paid for the whole work, as herein stated. The addition of the pier, to secure it and render it capable of use, would probably not exceed $50,000. These can be completed and ready for use in ten years at most, and may be in fifteen or twenty months, while the addition of the basin and railway will require from four to five years to complete them. 1 have the honor to be, with the highest respect, your obedient servant, WILL. A. GRAHAM. -Ho. HOWELL COBE, Speaker of the Htouse of Representatives. No. 7. NEW YORK, March 28, 1851. Si-: A rumor being abroad that you have concluded to give the contract to Dakin & Co., will induce me to leave for Washington in the morning. They give out that they deduct $90,000 for excess of charge, and yous accept their proposals. The laws, as I understand, authorize you, in case you believe the estimate of last autumn reasonable, to contract, after advertsi.sng; blut if you do not believe it reasonable, then you cannot contract. If the'ore, you. ie them to (leduct 1S90,000, you do not believe it............,....,0,y, y o d -o n ot believe i 44] 7 reasonable, of' s lesiides, yono kAne^w ee made an t hrough the Senate, wxhich reached you, to build thde dock for $500,0000 Thisa we, are still ready to doO'We can give the best of securi.ty, and qui`te as responsible as Ji D. Dakila, who has, for years, refused to pay his debts, and wbiho,owes ne a large amount of money, in sustaining hi in a carrying on his foraer contract, &c., and of which I cannot collect one ce nt. and which he pretends to be unable to pay. I therefore appeal to —you not to al.low hitm further to wrong0in me, when en I own he patent, and which you wiill compel.me to defend by injimnction, at great expense, if you entertain his p roposals I4 shall be mn Washington on Tuesday onorning, God wil linBg, Respectfilly yours, WILLIA.M BALLAtD, For MASON O & CO...WiiLL A. II AIt RAH AIM ISecirear.y of thI aS'riarcy No, 8. CA.LIFORNIXA X Kt -?OcK,.lason & Compan'y', of New Yfork and Bridgeport, Jhereby offer to costruct and deliver, fit for use, the contemplated sectional dock at or near San Franvisco, California, for the sum of four hundred and eighty-eight thousand dollars; the dock to consist of ten sections, to be coppered and copper-fastened, and perfected in eighteen months. The fbllowing exhibits, per section, the estimated cost of the various ingredients of che structure, and the subjoined certificates show that it can be perforrmed at these estimates; but whether or not, they hereby offer to give security for the perforsmance of the contract in $15J,000, and leave twenty per cent. in depo-c site as further sec trit.y, ti.ll the work is finished.. Cost per section.'Tim ber, as pe' estimate of quantity procured from department - 8,O000 Labor, inciudairf:t the framfing in New York and setting'up, launching a'nd fitting for work in California - - - 9,500. Machinery, incl.ding steam-poweer..-4.... 4 000 Bolts and stra.;. all copper below water, large straps and boltIs of iron, proved in New York before shipment 2- -;,500 Pumps, actual estimate - - - - - - - 800 Comrposition work, actual weight and estimate.- 3,500 Coppering to'water-line, 32-on.ce copp er - - 5,500.Insurance around Cape Horn - - -.. 1,5010 Comminssio-s.and carges, on la nding in Cahiforniaa - - 500 F.ieight around Cape Horn - - - -. 3,000 ~Contingencies a.l d r1 suprinytendce.e -....- 3000 48,800.PASC)N & CO., Or~ffR D, 8 f1~iP tC II 0 M AS (-48 Per R. 3B. Mt O__ View YmApII 11, 1851. 79 [- 44 iThe prehat' sito' of oak aii.'caorgia pi,t i, be:rc'i rn New, York very ifal. bei,,ig It}e rernaiants of a fver by usy eson, This past winter" has been of u1usual acti'vity: i jobs:tequiiring large ald ialn timber. There Qas beean a large aimouni of timobehr cut-, both G-eo rg ia pina e m anLd o-k, got rteaiy to trUaari'port to mnarkIet ior the colg season, an twill trrive an ew York du'ril te n lolths of July afnd A ugust. Tlher, and not till then, cyat large and io(ng' thimber bie procu.revd at any Aprie, I t August, extra large and long tirxber can be had at fair ptices, say firom thirty cents per cubic tfoot to fifty cents per cubiC.fot; the common length -ad ses can be had t'fio:m twenty.-fi;ve to t hwrty-fi' e ceats pe- cubiic bot. COLTE.,YR.: & )U.(A.I:.,. Saweld tdimt:i on inbe:, a abos ae- iitsand sizes, wii cost from rl orty to seventy-five c tollars per thousand'ett, and comraron:. sizers and hlegtbs. from hl I y-h. to (rty -five dollars per thou san d i C:t.'ft..& Jf.EI:A. Of'.FICE, 22 SPaUC:E TRESaTr,.Afw:_ork, Jprt! 7, 185i.. iin reply to your aiquiry as to the price of labor inr San Francisco, 1I have to state that I reached that port the 29th day of Mtay last, enatd left there t-r Newr York in the latter part of August fAllowing. Whe l I first arrived at Sacramento, labor o rwas very high, but it continaed to fall and depreciate io value until I left, at which period labor itn and about te city., in some instances', commanded five dollars day, a id ranged from that to ihree dollars A.s:far as my observ;ationl extends, it was still falling in price. Pheal estatet aid most other things in that country, were ar d had been for sone time on the depreci;ation. From ray acquaintance in the IountryS, labor will continue to depreciate, and may be obtailed a year heI ace, inm:ti op: ision, as-ow as two dollaors a day. R espsetfully, yours., E. WX. DUN'HkAM. To s.is t':-N,,rl'Y M. y WSTAr!s::Ea.%,s1. WASHAimNGTONm 0enJ'. 7, 1951,. DMAR R $.m: In answer to your inquiries as to what is a fair rice per ton tobr dead weight fror New York to Sain Prancisco, I reply that twenty-five (,dollars peir ton of two thousaind two x hundred and forty posund s a full price. Your obedient servant, A. a1BENSON,, I4. M. WE;; TBB, ii, of the town of Bridgeport, ia the State f OnCone;tic:eut, being,Swor, saith, that he i.s by professsio a eiuvil. e r._.n ees.r,,a. [ 44 ] 80 been for many years last past, and n-zow is eaged in and upon various railroads and other public works of magnitude, and is familiar with the structure of work requiring heavy timber, extensive mechanical structure, and the employment of large numbers of men; that such employments have led him to a knowledge of the value of the material employed in such structures, and the probable expense of transportation and freight. Deponent saith that the annexed estimate and offer for the building of a sectional. dock at California has been subjected, in all its items, to his careful and critical examination, and that he verily believes that the same can be built, transported to California, put up there, launched, and finished fit for use, at the prices mentioned in the annexed estimate and offer, and within the period of eighteen months from the commencement of the work, and that when so built it will conform to the plans and qualities as communicated to deponent by C. B. Stuart, United States engineer in the city of New York, in the present month of April, and that the sections of said dock will be equal in capacity, capability, workmanship, and material, to the sections oi the dock at Philadelphia. Deponent further saith that said offer and proposals are made in good faith, and that he and his associates are prepared to give security for its performance. R.. B. MASON. Sworn this 11th day of April, 180 1. GEO. L. TAYLOR, Conmmissioner of Deed., C1TVY AND COUNTY OF NE w YORKs, SS: William Ballard, of the city of New York, machinist, being sworn, sailh, that he is a mechanic by trade, and has for several years had an intimate kn-owledge of the structure and working of the sectional dry-dock, and was one of the persons concerned in, and who built the section dock niowin successful operation in the city of New Yorkr. That he is, and for many years past has been, employed in that species of business in said city, and acquainted with the persons engaged in the same, and that he has thus obtained a knowledge of the costs of materials, labor, freight, and other things connected with the annexed estimate. That he has carefully examined said estimate and offer, and that he verily believes that a sectional dock of ten sections, competent to perform the work required by the government, and each section equal to those of the Philadelphia dock, can be erected and delivered, fit for work, at or near SafrrFrancisco, in California, for the sum named. That he is concerned with Rockwell B. Mason and others in the patent for said sectional dock, and is a party to the offer made to build the same; that said offer is made in good faith, and if accepted by the government, will, as he verily believes, be fully accomplished at the price and within the time designated. WILL. BALLARD. Sworn this 11th day of April, 1851. GEO. L. TAYLOR, Cofmmi'ssioner ofqj Deeds. 81 [ 44] No. 9. AWASHINGTON. July, 17,851. Mason, Ballard & company, propose to take the contract for building the sectional dry-dock, basin and railway, on the coast of California, on the terms offered by the Secretary of the Navy to Messrs Dakin & Moody. Messrs. M. B. & Co., being considered the servants of the government and under the protection of the principle of the right of the government, to use a patented invention for necessary public purposes upon just compensation. H. M. WESTON, Attorney, &c. To the Hon. the SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. No. 10. NEW YORpC, JMay 23, 18-51. SIR: WVe were solicited by you, and also by Mr. Stewart to submit offered to contract the dry dock at San Francisco, in pursuance of the law passed at the last session of Congress. We submitted a proposal and therewith offered to furnish the best of security for the faithful and prompt performance of the contract, and we most respectfully demand that the contract shall be awarded to us, if our proposal is the lowest as the law requires. We make then this statement, because we have received instructions that you have stated the contract,cannot be given to us on account of our incapability. R. B. MASON, WILL. BALLARD. No. 11. NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, June 3, 1851. GENTLEMEN: I have- received your letter of the 23d ult., in relation to the contract for the construction of the dry-dock in California. As I stated to one of you in conversation at this department some two months since, feeling embarrassed by the contradictory terms, in the act of the last session of Congress, touching this contract, I referred the law to the Attorney General for an opinion upon its interpretation. That opinion was, in substance, that the proviso, in respect to advertisement, was so inconsistent with the previous direction of the statute, that it was to be rejected entirely, provided the Secretary of the Navy should be of opinion that the estimates of the officers of the department, mentioned in the act, were fair and reasonable, and that only in the event that he should arrive at a,contrary opinion was an advertisement necessary or proper. In the interview already mentioned, I informed you that I should act in accordance with this construction of the law by the Attorney General; that the engineer-in-chief of the department was then engaged in reviewing the estimates in question, and upon receiving his report I would propose to Messrs. Dakin & Co. such a modification of the contract referred L 44] 8] to in the act of Congress as I d"eemed right; that i thought them entitled, under the law, to accept or refuse it; and that if they did refuse, I would then advertise for proposals, but not until then. Subsequently, on receiving the report of the engineer, I made an offer to Messrs. Dakin & Co, which, upon the best information I could obtain, I deemed fair and reasonable, and which has been accepted and the contract closed. You are mistaken in the assertion that you were solicited to bid for this contract by me. On the contrary, you were informed that if Dakin & Co. would accept the terms I should propose, after full information and consideration, I thought there was no alternative but to allow them the contract; and you may remember that, in reply to this yov inquired whether I could not pro-ide, in the contract, for the payment of certain amounts which you alleged were due from. Mr. Dakin to you, -nd that I[ answered, I had no i)ower over that subject, but the (ou'rts of justice would no doubt a'ord all proper relief. The proposal presented by you, through lMr. Bokee, is far less detailedt and definite than I should have felt bound to require before closing a contract, had I been at liberty to consider it at all. Another gentleman, claiming an exclusive right to the patent for the sectional dock on the Pacific coast, made a proposal at a much less price than you. He, however, admitted that the amount agreed to be paid by the department to Dakin & Co. was not unreasonable for the work actually required to be done, but expected to supply a cheaper construction, Which would answer the purpose. I apprehend you will find, on a careful examination, that you have been under a like mistaken impression in your estimates. However this may be, I have simply endeavored to execute the law made for my guidance in the premises, according to the best interpretation and information I could obtain. I am, very respectfully, your obed(ient servant, WILL..A. (AGRAI H AM. Messrs. R. 3. MASON, WILL. BALLARD. No. 12. Extract fromn a report relative to an examLination of the coast of the Unitei States on the Pacific, by a joint commission of navy and engineer officers, dated San Francisco, ArMovember 1, 18.50. 78. The joint;commission were fortunate in discovering a site for a naval depot in the waters of San Francisco bay, and possessed of most of the advantages proper for such an establishment. It is at Mare island, which lies on the north side of the outlet of the Straits of Karquines into San Pueblo bay. The island is several miles in length, and in the widest part nearly a mile. Although the surface is elevated and generally broken, though not abruptly, there is abundant space of level ground at a convenient elevation above the water, and in the most suitable position for the buildings of a naval depot. " 79. On the east side of Mare island are Mare island straits, which are entered from the Straits of Karquines. The soundings through the 83 [44 entrance, and generally within the straits, are deep enough for the largest elass of vessels-of-war, and this depth is found very near that part of the shore where the docks and buildings of a naval depot would be placed. " 80. The island itself' might be defended against any attack, by land or water; but the docks and buildings of the naval depot, as well as the ships moored near thlem, might be destroyed or greatly injured by the fire of batteries established opposite to them on the eastern shore of Mare island straits. " S1. The heights between Mare Island Straits and Benecia, may be so occupied by fortifications as to prevent the establishment of hostile batteries within bombarding distance of the naval depot. No opinion, to be relied on, could be formed, as to the number or character of those fortifications, or the position they should occupy, without the aid of minute surveys and levellings of the ground."