DOCKS

term c commonly used k as Synonymous with wharves or piers for| the loading or discharging of ve els’| cargoes or pa engers, and in a more]in restricted sense applied to float in g stationary constructions for the building or repair of ships.: Modern and thoroughly equipped docks in the first sense are recognized as vital to the development of a seaport’s commerce. The larger initial cost is rapidly made up by the economy made| po ible by the increased facilities and the profit derived from the towing volume of traffic. Many cities with] inferior natural advantages have out-| stripped those with better harbors by the more perfect development of their docking facilities. Cases in point are afforded by Hamburg, Germany, Ant-| werp, Belgium and Rotter dam, Holland, where naturally poor harbors have been made great commercial centers by elaborate systems of docks. In England, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle have thus made a greater comparative advance than London. In our own|a country, Buffalo, which had practically no natural harbor, has overcome this handicap by its harbor and dock development and become in point of tonnage the wee pot a he ete Bone On the other hand, with a splendid} natural harbor has relied on this to her detriment, and is shut off from handling a large volume of commerce that would otherwise be hers. New York, where only a few piers are laid with tracks and which has few loading or unloading cranes, is vastly inferior in this respect to Hamburg, which has 130,000 lineal feet of quays for ocean liners, more than 5,000,000 square feet of sheds and 805 cranes for loading and unloading. American ports have wakened at last to the nece ity for better docking facilities, and great projects are now under way looking toward improvement. New York City is preparing to spend Many millions through its Port CommIni ion. Baltimore has made marked strides in increasing its port facilities. There is great activity on the Pacific Coast at San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego, where interest had been stimulated due to the growth of trade| following the opening of the Panama| Canal. There are two types of drydocks—| floating and stationary. The former designed to be towed from place to place, while the latter is excavated into the shore and heavily walled about by brick or concrete. Some of the greatest drydocks in America are those belonging to private companies such as the Cramp Yards at Philadelphia and the immense plant of the New York Shipbuilding! Corporation at Camden, N.J., both of which afford facilities for the construction and repair of the largest ve els existence or contemplated. Among or| the largest Government drydocks are | those at the Brooklyn, N.Y., Navy Yard, the League Island Navy Yard at Philadelphia, the Puget Sound Naval Station, Port Orchard, Washing to n, and | the Mare Island N avy Yard, California.