HISTORY.
The site for a Naval Dry Dock, in the harbor of New York , was examined by ColonelLoammi Baldwin, civil engineer, in 1826. This examination proved the feasibility of con-structing a stone Dry Dock, of sufficient capacity to receive a ship of the line, and receivedthe approval of Congress.
Nothing further, however, was done until the 3d of March, 1835, when Congress authorizedan examination for the definite location of a Dry Dock, at New York , and appropriated onehundred thousand dollars for commencing the work. In the following June, Colonel Baldwinagain surveyed the harbor of New York , and reported in favor of locating the Dock withinthe Navy Yard.
About five thousand dollars of the appropriation was at that time expended, and thebalance remained in the Treasury until December, 1837, when it was carried to the surplusfund.
From this period until 1841, although the subject was annually brought before Congress,in the Reports of the Department, owing to the conflicting opinions as to the most eligiblesite for a Dock, no decisive measures were taken for its construction, until the Act of March3d, 1841, making appropriations for the Navy , embraced in the items for improvements at New York , the sum of fifty thousand dollars, for commencing a Dry Dock at that Navy Yard.
The work was accordingly commenced, under the direction of Edward H. Courtenay, pro-fessor of civil engineering, at the National Academy, West Point, who was appointed chiefengineer in August, 1841, and remained in charge until the 1st of August, 1842, when alloperations were suspended.
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