Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-11-04 00:00:00

grand and compr

isomers,

s -put, forth as a soli of igfi

fattrus, to lure

us from thacgreat work which it is our duty to carry out ?
no doubt some of our friends have seen its glowing
beauties• through an enchanting vista of long years and

"distance lends enchantment to the view." (Laughter.)
I do think, sir, that they have endorsed that bill without

looking to the face of it for tue amount, seemingly
hoping.that when its falls due they will not be bound
to help to pay: t. Then, secondly,_aS to the proposition

how can this object bes

,t lie accomplished

To niv mind

the great merit of the plan proposed by Mr. Hartley
and adopted by the Works Committee is its extreme
simplicity and, in relation to the sreat amount of won;
to be: accomplished, its singularly inexpensive character.
Mr. Hartley's plan can scarcely be ,called one of new
works,. but rather it is the adaptation of existing works,
at a comparatively small outlay, to greatly increased
usefulness—a landing-stage is a sine qua non for this
purpose. While we put forward the report as the,
report and plans of the Works Committee, we all
know that it is the report and plan of the engineer--a
well-considered scheme of our talented engineer. What
has he done ? In fulfilment of the resolution which
was passed, he seeks not, knowing the spirit and
position of the board, he Seeks not to bring forward
a " grand and comprehensive scheme," which would
involve the putlay of some hundreds of thousands of
pounds, but with consummate wisdom he seizes upon an
opportunity when his plan can be carried out—that is
the present opportunity—to adapt to this great purpose
existing.works. What is the great, the chief cost of the
passage of the river, whenever a plan shall be deter-
mined upon for its accomplishment ? A landing-stage
is essentially necessary. Now the present stage which
it is proposed to use for this purpose, cost this board
£127,000. Then, here, sir, is the great machinery ready
to our hand ; and what, has Mr. Hartley proposed to do
with it ? He proposes, under the sanction of this board,
to provide means for the passage of the river, and to
turn that great and expensive landing-stage to a
much more useful account than has' hitherto been done.
He seizes upon it, and by a comprehensive plan, although
not so good as some gentlemen would like to see it,—
seeks to accomplish his purpose. The report of the
Works Committee shows 4 taking the most expensive
mode of constructing these works, a total cost for their
construction of £58,000. But I wish to ask Mr. Hartley
a question, and I believe he will tell yon that of the
£49,000 which is the total estimated cost (supposing
timber girders be used) of these constructions and adap-
tations, nearly the ,whole of the £38,500, which will
have to be expended upon the Liverpool side of the river,
'must be expended, if the bridges and approaches to the
North Landing-stage are to be made safe and efficient,
and this without, reference to the passage of the river.
This, I think. I am right in stating, is the opinion of
Hartley ?
Mr. HARTLEY—The whole amount would have to be
expended to give such facilities for traffic to the landing-
stage, with the exception of that portion which is neces-
sary to adapt the stage to the boats, and which is a
merely trifling sum.
Mr. BusHELL—Then, to make the stage safe and
efficient for the traffic which would in all probability
'came upon it, without reference to the traffic of the
river, nearly the whole of that £38,500 will have to be
expended ?
The ENGINEER--Certainly, if that facility is required.
Mr. BUSHELL—Have you any doubt that it will be
required ?
The ENGINEER-4 have none.

Mr. Tomx—l don't think these questions should

_
be put.
Mr. BusirEa.--Theu nothing remains but the £20,000
which_ would have to be expended at Woodside ?
t'Arr.. Buoucxima.xx--,—No • only £15,000.
if that t 38,500 i
251000 f s"I'L---Ye
; the £20,000 is reduced to
, 1 wood be used instead of iron girders. Now,
to be deducted from°
tof be spent in the approaches, of
course a bond deals that cost of maintenance will have
would have tthoebestimate, because that main-
tenancerive e incurred without reference
to the passage of the I am not going into the
figures, which were so 0)1.
it with by Mr. Rankin
and others, but with regard to
under
estimated deficiency,
youer £1,200, including
it.is put • clown .at somethin
lcan deduct
itiisii:f profit
interest on the £38,500 ;an if deduct from this
£l,2oo—if, as the Irishman says,
£1,540 from. £l,2oo—you will have a you
of something like £340 a year. Now, as To
the question, l am almost ashamed to into the delLairlts °l'
t
all with relation to figures; for supposing we had had at
deal,with the gross annual outlay, including interest and
' cost'of maintenance, I would have, in consideration of
the great advantages to be gained, swept away that
£3,850, with the same sort of indifference with which I
would sweep away a cobweb out of the path of my,
morning walk. (Laughter.) If, sir, there be any ap-

this rn

the pro
provide

me, Pi

ors .hey

ats .and othe
girth Landim

y afraid t

OppOSit:

stautly;outweiglis thi

,er a poet

" Lands intersected

so eviti

ror tine pass
prejudice h

c4at that, poet
gave prophetically seen the sort of jealousy which
Liverpool would 'one day bear 'to. Birkenhead.
.one
gentleman has said, "Some men can see nothing but
Birkenhead." I think, gentlemen, I may say conscien-
tiously that at this board I can se?.-nothing but what I
believe to be the interest of the estate.
Mr. MnclvEn—That is not the
Mr. RU.SILELL—Sir, 'I did not say it was,

d I somewhat am inclined

o believ

The CILAIRMA):'

uestion