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6 MARINE REVIEW. [January 30, --e OFFICIAL TEST OF ALGIERS FLOATING DRY DOCK. The report of Capt. Converse's board on the test of the floating dry dock at New Orleans, with the docking of the collier Sterling and the battleship Illinois, has just been made public by Admiral Endicott, chief of the navy bureau of yards and docks. In general the working of the dock was satisfactory to the naval board and it is considered capable of docking a 15,000-ton battleship. The board, however, was disappointed in the depth of the river, but as Admiral Endicott remarked "that's the fault of the Mississippi." The report in its opening paragraph says that it was the intention to obtain a dry dock with all appurtenances for suc- cessful operations at all stages of the river in docking a vessel drawing up to 28 ft. of water. Continuing the report says: "The trials conducted by the board show that it was impossible to obtain the required depth of 28 ft. over the blocks, and at no time during these trials was a greater minimum depth than 22 ft. 3 in. over 48-in. blocks obtained with the river at 3.2 ft., Canal street gauge, and the board is of the opinion that during these trials the contractor has made every effort by dredging and scowing to obtain a greater depth of water, and that it is impracticable to obtain 28 ft. over the blocks of the docks as now located and moored. There are no means of indicating the engine or pumps, so that no economic test of the machinery and boilers could be made, but the work of raising the dock with the battleship [linois was deemed a proper duty test of the effectiveness of this machinery and was considered satisfactory. The docking of both these vessels (Sterling and Illinois) was satisfactory, and as a measure of precaution in docking the Illinois and to provide for undocking in the event of slight fall in the river, it was deemed advisable to reduce the height of the keel blocks from 4 ft. i e covered with some approved non-conducting materia] ore ation of heat. Racks should be provided for the wrenches and trap for the oil cans. Two special spirit levels should be installed in each valve house to replace the clinometers, which are untrustworthy in their indications. The bed blocks should be redressed and all blocks should be planed to a uniform thickness. Fenders should be provided to protect the altars and chairs to guide sheaves for bilge blocks. Additional side lights should be installed on machinery deck and additional ventila- tion should be provided for in the machinery compartments. "The board is of the opinion that all the defects enumerated above, except where otherwise recommended, should be made good before its final-acceptance. The separate reports and recommendations made by the technical members of the board and appended hereto are concurred in by the entire board. From the experience gained during the various tests which have been made with the dock itself and in docking the Sterling and IHinois, the board believes that certain modifications in the dock and additions to the present fittings are necessary for efficiency, and has pre- pared a list which is appended hereto. The board is of the opinion that. the changes enumerated in this list should be made at the expense of the government, as they are not covered by the plans or specifications. Lieuts. John G. Tawresey and H, G. Gillmor, naval constructors, in their technical report, make this criticism: The travel of the bilge block is insufficient to allow them to be hauled back enough to clear deep draught vessels. In nearly every case the bed timbers for the bilge blocks come over manholes in the pontoon deck, so that it is impracticable' to get -- access to these compartments without moving these blocks and timbers. This makes it practically impossible to examine these compartments with a vessel on the dock; and at all times much unnecessary labor is involved ey : " Shaft manufactured by:the Bethlehem Steel Co., South Bethlehem, Pa., for the Iowa Iron Works, Dubuque, Ia., to be used in a large stern-wheel steamer which that company is building for the Monongahela River Consolidated Coal & Coke Co. of Pittsburgh. This is the largest stern-wheel steamer shaft ever turned out by the Bethle- hem Steel Co. and is probably the largest ever made in the United States. A. special ingot of extraordinary dimensions had to be cast and great care taken in the selec- tien of'steel entering into the manufacture of the shaft. The splendid equipment of the Bethlehem works for the handling of such massive pieces of steel, both at the forge and in the machine shop, alone made possible the successful completion of this work. to 3 ft. This height, although permitting work to be done on the bottom, is insufficient for prompt and economical working. From the tests to which the dock was subjected in docking the Illinois, the board is of the opinion that the dock is capable of satisfactorily docking a 15,000-ton bat- tleship whenever the necessary depth of water is available upon the site, - and it will have with a vessel of this displacement a free board of 21 in. measured to the level of the pontoon deck. The requirement of the origi- nal specification, in respect to free board measurement to this level with a 15,000-ton vessel, is 24 in. Changes were, however, made in the struct- ure of the dock during construction, entailing a reduction of 3% in. in the free board required. "During the docking of the Sterling and Illinois there were no indi- cations of any defect, weakness or imperfection due to faulty or imperfect material, workmanship or design in the dock or its accessories and ap- purtenances, except as follows: The effect of the Sterling (effect of loads) was slight, there being but about 0.050 ft. maximum longitudinal deflec- tion and 0.020 maximum athwart-ship deflection, and no evident twisting, but an almost imperceptible set was observed upon its undocking. The Illinois produced a maximum longitudinal deflection of 0.220 ft. and a maximum lateral deflection of 0.32 ft. a slight twist and a maximum permanent set of 0.101 ft. The effect of temperature was so erratic that no uniform results were obtained. The dock does not fulfill the specifications as to maximum allowable deflections, although the above amounts are believed not to be dangerous to vessels being docked, and it is recommended that these requirements of the specifica- tions be waived. "The engine room floors should be stiffened to reduce the vibrations of the engines. The machinery deck leaks in places and should be made tight. Unlocated leaks in structure, which prevent dock being held in one position without pumping into, exist. These leaks should be located and made tight. The side walls of the dock over the gangway openings are structurally weak, though not dangerously so, and should be properly stiffened. The engines should be examined and valves adjusted. Drain should be fitted to steam whistle. Smokepipes of boilers should be length- ened about 12 ft. for improving draft. New grate bars giving more air space should be furnished. All steam pipes and valve chests of main in such an examination. In the docking and unloading, the inboard rails interfere seriously with the handling of the lines." : The drainage of the pontoon deck is considered slow and unsatisfac- tory. The current through the dock of 134 knots, they say, increased the difficulties in handling the shores and interfered with the cleaning of the vessel as the dock was being pumped. The following are the modifica- tions and changes recommended at the expense of the government: "First--Inboard rails on side walls of dock should be removed, and fore and aft string pieces fitted with cleats for small lines. F econ A daimonal bollards and chocks for docking lines should be tted. "Third--Suitable means of communication, which will not be inter- papted by a ship in the dock, should be established between the two valve- ouses. "Fourth--Means should be provided to show the depth of water in each compartment. "Fifth--Remove all but forward winches and substitute four capstans on each side, operated by engines below the upper deck. "Sixth--That an independent fire system with mains be installed neat the tops of the side walls of the dock, with portable connections to fire waters of vessels in dock. ""Seventh--That suitable means be provided to keep the dock clear of floating and submerged drift." Secretary Long has not expressed any opinion of this report, and probably will await the result of the self-docking test before announcing his approval or disapproval. Mr. Elbert H. Gary, chairman of the board of directors of the United States Steel Corporation, has been elected chairman of the board of directors of the Allis-Chalmers Co. of Chicago, the largest machinery company in the world. Great anxiety prevails in British naval circles concerning H. M. S. 5. Condor which is more than seven weeks out from Puget Sound en route if Hcaelili Two United States revenue cutters have been sent in sear¢ of her,