The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-08-25 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY TIMES

Stn,—l regard the "letter of "Holiday Seeker" in
your columns as well worthy the consideration of the
London and North Western and Great Northern Rail-
way Companies, and give my hearty concurrence to
such a movement, as being one especially for the benefit
of all those travelling for enjoyment by excursion trains.
—I am, sir, your humble servant,
J DODD.
Windsor-street, Toxteth-park, August 23.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY TIMES.

SlR,—There can be very little doubt of the advantages
alluded to in the two letters which have already ippeared
in two or three newspapers this week. The persons
employed in shops, warehouses, offices, &c., would feel
the benefit of such a desirable improvement in the
sectiting of railway excursion tickets. Many people I
know have said, in a Conversation, " I should like to
see London this siimmtr, unit I should also like to go
home, but then 1 should have to make two jcnirneys of
it, which makes it too expensive, so that I must make
nil-self content with one journey, and go home next
summer." Stich suggestions as " Holiday Seeker"
alludes to, are very lißely never thoUght of by com-
panies, or the persons who have the Management
of excursion trains, or very likely as alteration to the
above effect would speedily take place. There caii b'e
but one opinion that excursion trains were started to be
a cheap medium for pleasure seekers, as well as remu-
nerative to companies, and I for one think that any
alteration that could be made to advance the comforts of
the people, ettd enhance the returns of companies,
ought to have the immediate consideration of their
managers.—By giving publicity, and excusing the
lengthy remarks herein, I ant, sir, yours truly,

A TdlirNSlvi &N.

MERSEY DOCK AND IiARBOUR BOARD.

TO THF, EDITOR OF THE DAILY TIMES.

Six,--On perusal of your valuable riaper of this
morning, I perceive that a Mr. 6MT:dor° has suggested
to the Docks and Quays Committee a plan for establish-
ing a line of fog signals for guiding the Woodside Ferry
boats across the Mersey during foggy weather.
There is a great deal of novelty in the design, which
consists of flat-bottomed buoys, with paddle wheels to
work signal gongs, and to be removod in fine weather.
I think the proposition (nautically speaking) imprac-
ticable, and so must all eiPeidenced men acquainted with
the buoying of tidal rivers . therefore unworthy of the
notice of the committee.

The communication between =Liverpool and Birken-
head is not capable of any great improvement, " unless
the sub-marine railway and tram road under the Mersey
is constructed," to connect the counties of Lancashire
and Cheshire, also the railways, docks, roads, &c. The
plans, sections, and estinfitcs for this undertaking are
already in a forward state, andthe prospectils will shortly
be published.—The insertion of the above renfarits *ill
oblige yours, most respectfully,
_

WILLIAM BILLINTON, C.E.,
Great George-street, Westminster.
Grecian Hotel, Dale-street, Liverpool, Aug. 24. •

THE CLOSING OF THE MARKETS ON

SATURDAY NIGHT.

TIDE 'EDITOR O} THE DAILY

SlR)—When I first wrote to you on this subject, I was
quite conscious of one thing, and that was perfect fair
play and impartiality at your hands—that I have
received, and thank yoa for it. I did not, at the outset,
contemplate a second letter ; hut, finding public atten-
tion drawn to the point, and hearing the matter spoken
of widely, 1 ventured to continue. This letter, however,
will close my correspondence for the present; but, with
your permission, I may again refer to the question.
Whilst our earnest attention is turned to reforms and
mprovements abroad, we seem to forget our wants in
such respects at home A man going into a strange town
will, in two days, be able to point out to an old resident
many things in that town that the old resident never saw
nor dreamt of; so, it is with us residents of Liverpool—
we are quite blind to what every one else can see, as
plain as noonday sun. Granting that we are alive to
clur own perfections—and we have some—we are quite
ophthalmic to our faults. A stranger in Liverpool will
ask, " What time do you close your markets
here on Saturday night ?" and when you
reply tea o'clock., he laughs at you, and
inquires "Do you see any sand in my eye ?" and
No wonder, for there is not a large city or town in the
United Kingdom where such a practice exists—Liver-
pool excepted. I challenge any one on this point..
Although I have put forward strong, and what I humbly
conceive cogent reasons why the markets should be kept
open to at least the old hour, I am by no means ex-
hausted, either in argument or facts in this respect. I
think I have given reasons sufficiently strong why the
old hour should be restored and continued. Surely there
is some respect due to public opinion ; but if that be
disregarded, public convenience and the benefit of the
great mass of the people should be attended to. If the
public, who feel the want of the accommodation, and the
loss sustained by them, apply to the Town Council by
memorial numerously signed, I think that body will
willingly accede to their wishes, as 1 am convinced the
Council has no desire to do anything but what is right
and fair.—l am, sir, years, &c., It.

THE LATE MR. JESSE HARTLEY.

In our obituary of this day we have, with much
regret, to record the death of Mr. Jesse Hartley, the
Engineer and Surveyor to the Mersey Dock Board. This
gentleman, from the high and important office he filled,
was well known, not alone to the fghabitants of Liver-
pool, but to the country generally ; and his death must
be universally deplored, for he was one of the principal
agents, if not the principal one in forming our magnificent
line of docks, which, while they are the proud memorials of
the skill, enterprise and industry of the people of Liver-
pool, are the admiration of the kingdom. Mr. J. Hartley
came to Liverpool in the year 1824, having been called
upon to fill the office of dock engineer, in the place of
Mr. John Foster, whom he succeeded. He was born in
Yorkshire, to which county his family belongs, but prior
to accepting office under the Liverpool Dock Board, he
was a bridge-master in one of the districts for the
county of Lancashire. To have been appointed to such
an_. important situation, at -such a time, will at once
show that he was a man of no ordinary skill and
intelligence, and that the appointment was a judicious
one, we have only to compare the then existing dook
accommodation 'for the port of Liverpool with its present
appearance. It would occupy too much of our space to
show the great works that have originated, and- been
completed since the year 1824, when Mr. Jesse Hartley
first took the management and control of that important
office—dock engineer. Suffice it, then, to say that during
this period all the then existing docks have been re-con-
structed, and those of a more recent date have been com-
pleted under the direction and management of the gentle-
man'whose":death we have now to deplore. During that
period the dock accommodation for this great emporium
of commerce—the wonder and admiration of the world—
has been extended to a length of upwards of five miles,
at a cost 'of millions of pounds sterling, and we can
now boast of possessing the finest and most beau-
tiful and picturesque line of docks to be found
anywhere. It may truly be said of him, that he has
left on this earth memorials of his indefatigable zeal,
exertions, and ability, that will never be forgotten, and
that the present and future generations will derive bene-
fits from his labours. While the Dock Board must
regret the loss of such an invaluable servant, the
public at large will equally feel that, in the death of
such a gentleman, they have also much to deplore.
Mr. Hartley died yesterday morning, at his residence,
at Bootle, at the advanced age of 80 years, esteemed and
regretted by all who had during his long and useful life
the pleasure of enjoying his acquaintance. For some
time past he has been unable, through infirmities, to
attend officially to his duties, but be found an able
substitute in his son, Mr. J. B. Hartley, who has ful-
filled the duties of the office to the entire satisfaction of
the Mersey Dock Board, and who, we have every reason
to believe, will be appointed as his deceased father's suc-
cessor to that most important office. On the death of
Mr. Jesse Hartley being made known in the town, the
flags at the Dock offices and the Town-hall were raised
half-mast high, as a token of respect and esteem to the
departed.

SUPPOSED MURDER BY
.11V0 CAFIAINS AT HULL.
—Considerable excitement has been caused in Hull by a
case •of mysterious drowning. It appears that two
German captains were seen early on Thursday morning
in company with a female, under one of the dock sheds
at Hull. A Custom-house officer observed them in
close conversation, and a few minutes aftewards he
u\go glicang in the water. He immediately
and asked them what they
ranptains
heard a violent scream, and upon looking round he saw
the
u female
p
struggling
ty
tr
had done, to which they made no reply. He made an
alarm, and a waterman came up, and they got the unfor-
tunate female out of the water. She gave one sigh and
then expired. In the meantime the two captains quietly
walked away; and although their vessels were lying
near in the dock at the time, they called for no assistance,
and made
no effort whatever to rescue the girl. The
body has since been identified as that of a female named
Lucy . Gray, 25 years of age. Both the captains have
been taken into custody, and were, on Thursday, taken
before the stipendiary magistrate at Hull, who remanded
them until to-day (Saturday.)