The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-09-13 00:00:00

DOCK MONOPOLY.

TO ALDERMAN EVANS.
Sir,—You conclude your reply to Mr. Mason on the dock
question in the Town Council, on the 7th August, with a
challenge which renders it unnecessary to apologise for ad-
dressing you on that subject.
By imputing great ignorance of mercantile matters to Mr.
Mason, you appear to claim great deference to your own
opinions on such points : it therefore becomes necessary for
me, in the first place, to state that I do not look upon jou
as the perfect model of a Liverpool merchant, thoroughly
initiated in the practical detail of commerce. I consider
you a theorist, with some cleverness and acuteness, with
much vanity and arrogance, generally influenced in public
matters by a strong political bias ; consequently, I receive
your opinions at all times cunt grano salts.
You commence your observations by an assertion that
" every mercantile man knew that competition required a
surplus." I deny that your assertion is accurate. I main-
tain that competition to sell may exist without a surplus,
and I appeal to the whole mercantile community if it is not
of almost daily occurrence. As to your conclusion that men
would conspire, it is too uncharitable to require discussion.
You proceed to say that in London there is a surplus of
dock accommodation, and therefore in London competition
is safe ; artfully insinuating that the docks of Liverpool are
insufficient, and therefore,in Liverpool competition is unsafe ;
but finding competition a dangerous word, in connection
with the Liverpool docks, you suddenly fly off to warehouses.
I must, however, use the freedom of bringing you back to
the subject of docks, and I define the propositions to he—
I. That the Liverpool dock estate is a monopoly, and the
present management of this monopoly is bad and unsatis-
factory. _ _ _

2. That the management would be greatly improved if a
competition was established, by letting off the various docks
to different companies.
That you will not bewilder yourself, I beg to explain that
by monopoly I mean, with Dr. Johnson, " the exclusive
privilege of selling, anything." I apply monopoly to the
LiVerpool dock estate, because that estate has the privilege
of exacting dock rates from every vessel entering Liverpool,
even though such vessel should go into the Duke's dock. In
illustration of the injurious effects of this monopoly, I would
cite the admitted insufficiency of dock accofiamodation, the
almost entire want of facilities, or assistance of any kind
to ships ; the great delay ; the oppressive and vexatious
dock tines, and the heavy 'dock rates.
By competition I mean, likewise with Dr. Johnson, " the
act of endeavouring to gain what another endeavours to
gain at the same time." Competition cannot exist with
monopoly ; but I maintain that if the Liverpool docks were
let off to different companies, a competition would be pro-
duced among the different companies, especially amongst the
companies forming the extreme docks, which docks, I be-
lieve, by the printed report of the dock committee, and
directly contrary to your insinuation, have generally much
vacant space. This competition, I maintain would compel
the different companies to make very great exertions in
affording every possible accommodation, facility, and de-
spatch, with moderate charges and civility, in order to induce
ships to resort to their respective docks. The establishment
of this most desirable competition, would be materially
assisted if the Liberals, at present in power, would, in your
figurative language, strike off the manacles and shackles
from the Duke's dock, the Harrington dock, &c.
In illustration of the advantage of competition, I cannot
point out a stronger or more appropriate instance than is
exemplified in the effect of the great, free, and fair compe-
tition of the numerous proprietors and keepers of warehouses
in Liverpool. The increasing trade of the town has always
been provided with the most improved warehouse aceoninio-
don as near the docks as was pendent, on terms so extremely
moderate that the charge for rent, cartage, and porterage,
on goods in Liverpool, is less than the charge for rent and
porterage alone in London, as was proved by the printed and
uncontradicted statements of several gentlemen infinitely
better informed on the subject than you appear to be.
As you gravely surmise that, if the docks were let to va-
rious companies, such companies would conspire, on account
of the deficiency of docks, I beg to remind you, that it would
still remain the duty of the dock committee to provide ample
dock accommodation; and, as the companies would be fet-
tered with maximum rates, and other judicious restrictions,
they could have no object in conspiracy.
With respect to dock warehouses—a subject as distinct
from the subject of docks as land from water—although it
suited your purpose to confuse and confound them, dove-
tailing cotton and conspiracies, surplus and consumption, in
a very incoherent manner,—l must premise my observations
by reminding you, that the proposed warehouses were to be
on the Prince's dock quay, and that the whole tenor of your
observations conveys the impression that you admit the dock
and quay accommodation of Liverpool to be deficient.
iriait coex anu quay accommonahon is acsuowlengeu {in-
disputably in the Prince's and central docks) to be insuffi-
cient for the present exigencies of our trade, I submit that
it is absurd and wrong to erect warehouses (not required nor
asked for, and objects of secondary importance) on land
available for docks and quays—objects of the first necessity
in what you correctly term an unsheltered harbour.
You allege that the dock committee only demand ware-
houses, forsooth ! to the extent of four per cent !! Do you
think it necessary or just to build dock warehouses, that your
two barrels flour, and another Irish alderman's two bags
coffee, may not be weighted with cartage, without regarding
Messrs. Bartons, Barings, Browns, &c. &c.. the importers
of the other 96 packaggs ? Do you think such a request mo-
dest ? or do you not consider it an unreasonable, impudent,
and jesuitical attempt to get a commencement of what would
result in a monopoly ? No ; let us have uo favouritism nor
monopoly in warehouses, if you please, Mr. Alderman.
The alleged advantages of dock warehouses are, the paltry
saving of cartage, and the presumption of increased despatch
in discharging certain descriptions of goods. The cartage is
to be saved by laying tram-roads and providing trucks.
This will be attended with much heavier porterage, probably
quite equal to the saving of cartage. Increased despatch can
only be attained by the Customs allowing shipowners to bond
all cargo not entered in a reasonable time after arrival, re-
moving all restrictions as to commencement of discharge,
permitting gocds landing rapidly to be warehoused before
weighed,, providing more officers, and working twelve hours
per day, instead of six or seven hours.
If the eealand to erect dock warehouses is anything more
than a mere itch for jobbing and a desire to acquire increased
power, utterly regardless of the danger of fire, and of the
injustice and ruinous consequences to most of the warehouse
proprietors and landowners in the town of Liverpool, why
do not the Dock Committee adopt all the expedients, and
apply them, to the present warehouses along all the dock
quays ? For instance, why not erect walls with large gates
to connect the Goree warehouses with George's Dock ? lay
tram-roads and provide trucks ? and having made such
arrangements to save cartage and protect the revenue, insist
on the Customs allowing the same time for working and all
the facilities as in London ?—1 am, Sir, your obedient
servant, A SHIPOWNER.

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST'S CHURCH, TOXTETH-PARK.--
We understand that this church, having been closed for
some weeks for the purpose of being repaired and painted,
will be re-opened for divine service on Sunday morning
next.

MANCHESTER IMPERIAL BANK.—At an extraordinary
meeting of the shareholders in this company, the resolution
passed at the extraordinary meeting of shareholders on the
22d August, for making a further call of £5 per share, was
confirmed, and we believe, was on Tuesday confirmed by the
board of directors.

At every fresh visit which we pay to Mr. Colic., we are
more surprised and pleased than at the preceding one. His
deceptions stand the test of frequent and severe scrutiny,
particularly " the dissolving ball,' which, on mature consi-
deration, we have no hesitation in declaring to be the neatest
and most truly deceptive piece of dexterity we ever wit-
nessed; and yet we understand that his method of teaching
is so simple, that numbers of his pupils are able to perform
it equally as well as himself. All who visit Mr. C.'s apart-
ments should make a point of seeing " the dissolving ball."
G. P. DAY, THE NEWSMAN.—We are sorry to say, that
this veteran newscarrier, who has run to and fro for the iast
forty years, spreading and increasing knowledge, (which can
not be said of every man,) has nearly run his race. He is
now feeble, and with difficulty crawls along in his vocation,
which his poverty, and not his power, compels him to pursue
for the support of himseltaiid his family. He has, all his life,
been a sober, as well as an industrious man ; and 'now, that
" age bath clawed him in his clutch," it would be an act of
charity, to endeavour, by a small subscription, to render the
remaining days of his pilgrimage comparatively comfortable.
We shall have pleasure in giving our own mite, and shall feel
equal pleasure in receiving any donations from the benevolent
for poor old Day's use.
ANNUAL LICENSING SESSIONS.—The magistrates held
their Court of Annual Licensing Sessions, on Wednesday
last, at the Sessions-house, Chapel-street. The applicants
were numerous from all parts of the town, amounting, in all,
to no fewer than 297. Their respective claims being con-
sidered,—adaptation and localities of the premises, and the
wants of the inhabitants,—the result was that licenses were
granted to only thirty-six, a little more than one-eighth of
the whole number. 'l are not yet enabled to supply a list
of the successful applicants.
ANTELOPE STEAMER.—We are requested, by the pro-
prietors of the steamer Antelope, to contradict a paragraph
copied into the Liverpool Mail, of Saturday last, from the
Belfast Vindicator, stating that the Antelope steamer had
taken fire on her voyage to Glasgow from Belfast, and giving
a circumstantial account of the perilous situation, in which
both ship and passengers were consequently placed. This
malicious report is a contemptible fabrication, no such acci-
dent nor any other accident whatever having happened to
the Antelope.
THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.—The weather during
the past week has been exceedingly unpropitious for the
harvest, which can scarcely be said to have commenced in
these districts, and northward, and the crops which are for
the most part quite ripe, are, consequently, placed in great
peril and uncertainty. Prolonged thick rains, and heavy
showers, have fallen at intervals, and though we have had one
intermediate fine day, and some gleams of sunshine, the
succeeding downfalls have neutralized their effect, and de-
feated the hopes of the husbandman. The crops, which are
for the most part above an average in yield, are, however,
not yet irredeetnable,though a considerable breadth of wheat
is laid. Should the weather take up soon, and we be fa-
voured with a drying breeze and cloudless sun, nearly the
whole may be gathered in fair condition. Luckily, the tem-
perature of the week, with the exception of \i ednesday,
when it rained almost incessantly, with the thermometer at
62°—has not been so warm as to cause the ripe wheat to
sprit. At the time we write, (Friday night,) the sky still
wears a watery and gloomy appearance. The effect of the
rains up to Tuesday, was a slight rise on wheat in cur corn
market, as will be found by the circular of Messrs. Scott,
and Co.
A railway is projected between York and Scarborough, for
1 which Mr. Stephenson is surveying a line.—Sunderland
Herald.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.-TuE2D AY.