The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-16 00:00:00

THE MILL WALL DUCKS.

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One of the greatest and most important addi-
tions to the private dock accommodation of the
river was made on Saturday by the formal opening
of these basins and warehouses. There is not much
at any time in the way of ceremonial in the formal
opening of a dock, and on Saturday there was less
than ever, for, as a fact, the docks have been opened
for some weeks past. The idea of converting some
of the great extent of waste marsh laud which forms
the Isle of Dogs into docks originated some three
years back, at a time when the limited company
mania was at the zenith of its popularity and power.
Since then commercial conditions have sadly
changed, and with them, too, have proportionately
altered the financial prospects of the Millwall
Dock Company, and its shares, which once sold
freely at premium; are now at such a terrible dis-
count that we should almost be afraid to mention
what is their nominal value. Of course the public
are always the best judges in these matters, and
know what shares are worth and what they are not
worth. Still, it seems that the Millwall Docks are
one among many other recent commercial under-
takings which are suffering by the
I
ertpant fromhaicsall
faults of others less worthy of
the accessories of complete success which are
required in such schemes. The land was not costly,
the docks have been well and cheaply made, there
are unusual facilities to vessels entering or leaving
the river, there is ample railway communication
close at hand, and a short neck of canal not
much more than 200 ft. long would give access
Ito the West India and through them to the East
India Docks, thus coupling up what would then form
one of the finest series of docks in the kingdom.
The whole space on which the docks and ware-
houses stand is no less than 204 acres. Of this
great area there are no less than 35 acres of water
for dock accommodation, and when the scheme is
entirely completed there will be upwards of 52,
leaving no less than 152 acres available for wharfs
and warehouses. An adequate idea of the extent
of these docks can only be formed by a comparison
with other metropolitan undertakings of a similar
kind. Thus the Commercial Docks, Rotherhithe,
comprise only about 100 acres, the East India Docks
about the same, the St. Katherine's Docks less
than 30 acres, of which little more than 11 are
water, and the London Docks about 40 acres. The
Millwall Docks, therefore, when complete will have
a water area in itself greater than the whole wharf
warehouse and water area of some of our most im-
portant dockyards. The width of the floating dock
at Millw all is no less than 350 ft., and has two en-
trance locks, one, the first, of 250 ft. long, and the
s.cond 200 ft., and both with a width of 80ft., and
a depth at the sill of the lock of 2Sft. below Trinity
high water mark. Thus with the inner gate open
a vessel longer and broader than any vessel yet
built, except the Great Eastern, c)uld easily be
taken into dock at almost any time of average
high water. Near the floating dock is a graving
dock for the repairs of vessels. Its length
is, inside the sill, 415 ft., and its width 65ft.,
with a depth of water of 25ft. below Trinity datum.
All the locks are provided with hydraulic power
for working the pairs of gates, the bridge, and
sluices, and one three-ton and one five-ton capstan,
and hydraulic power is also applied to the draw-
bridge between the inner and outer dock, and to
some of the cranes in connection with the ware-
houses. Of these latter nine have already been built
—namely, two of 300 ft. long, four of 200 ft long,
and three of 100 ft. long. These are fitted with 12
35. cwt. cranes, one 5-ton crane, one 15 tons, and a
" sheerling," equal to a weight of 80 tons is in course
of erection. Oa Saturday little was done in the way
of "opening" beyond letting some vessels into the
new docks, and iu visiting the graving docks, in
which the Arapilcs, a Spanish ironclad, now lies,
awaiting her entire completion for sea. After going
over the docks on Saturday the company adjourned
to lunch, where Mr. Ayrton, as chairman of the
111illwall Docks, presided. At the conclusion of the
(76e/rner he gave "Success to the Docks" in a
warmly eulogistic speech, and expressed his confi-
dence that the great undertaking which they had
then inaugurated would result not only in benefit
to all the shareholders, but to the material advan-
tage of the inhabitants of the district in which the
works are situated, end to the benefit of the trade
of the Thames generally.