GENERAL CONSIDERATION OF NAVY YARD DESIGN. 83 



The New York yard can berth only four 600-foot ships. League Island can be ar- 

 ranged to berth eight or ten of this size, but the yard is too far from the sea to serve 

 as a base for the active fleet. Norfolk is not so well off as New York as regards 

 berthing space. An injured ship drawing more than her ordinary seagoing draught 

 could not be brought to any one of our yards except perhaps Portsmouth, New 

 Hampshire, where the strong currents would make handling of such a vessel diffi- 

 cult. 



The reasons for abandoning the existing yard at New York and moving to 

 a new location in the harbor are numerous. The present yard is not only unde- 

 sirable as regards capacity and accessibility, but it is incapable of satisfactory im- 

 provement at any cost. The shape of the waterfront is exactly the reverse of what 

 it should be. The yard surrounds the waterfront instead of the waterfront sur- 

 rounding the yard. Owing to the strength of the current and lack of depth in East 

 River, not more than three large ships can be brought to the yard or leave it in one 

 day. Greater depth of water would not much increase this number, as very large 

 ships cannot safely be brought into the yard during the strength of the tidal cur- 

 rent. As regards berthing space, there is room for but one more long pier. This, 

 if built, raises the number of 600-foot berths to six. The layout of the yard, as 

 regards docks, piers, wharves, shops, storehouses, power plant, and streets, is waste- 

 ful of both time and money. The cars of all railway shipments must be brought to 

 the yard on floats, while the internal transportation is unduly expensive owing to 

 unabatable conditions. 



The steady increase in size of our battleships and the demand for a very large 

 and properly located yard is most urgent. And while we need it now, the lack of it 

 five years hence will cause a serious reduction in naval efficiency. We cannot there- 

 fore begin work upon it too soon. 



DISCUSSION. 



The Chairman: — This is a subject which I think a great many others than strictly 

 naval people could discuss with a good knowledge of the subject. As I take it, it really is a 

 question of the most suitable location for a large industrial establishment, adapted especially 

 for turning out naval material, it is true, but at the same time it is like any other large indus- 

 trial establishment. I hope we may hear a number of good comments on this paper. 



Mr. E. A. Stevens, Jr., Member: — I think the suggestion of Captain Van Duzer in re- 

 regard to location is an excellent one, but it seems to me the sticking point would be to get Con- 

 gress to appropriate sufficient funds to build the yard in the proposed position. On account 

 of the everlasting politics interfering with naval affairs, and the fight that the Brooklyn repre- 



