5759. NAVY, Dockyards for.—
Presuming
it will be deemed expedient to expend annually
a sum towards providing the naval defence
which our situation may require, I cannot
but recommend that the first appropriations
for that purpose may go to the saving what
we already possess. No cares, no attentions,
can preserve vessels from rapid decay which
lie in water and exposed to the sun. These
decays require great and constant repairs, and
will consume, if continued, a great portion of
the money destined to naval purposes. To
avoid this waste of our resources, it is proposed
to add to our navy yard here [Washington]
a dock, within which our vessels may be
laid up dry and under cover from the sun.
Under these circumstances experience proves
that works of wood will remain scarcely at all
affected by time. The great abundance of running
water which this situation possesses, at
heights far above the level of the tide, if employed
as is practiced for lock navigation,
furnishes the means of raising and laying up
our vessels on a dry and sheltered bed.—
Second Annual Message. Washington ed. viii, 20.
Ford ed., viii, 186.
(Dec. 1802)
