The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-03-07 00:00:00

NEW DOCKS AT BIRKENHEAD.

A PROPOSAL for the construction of extensive
new docks at Birkenhead has been made by Mr.
Laird, and by Messrs. Clayton and MiKeverigan,
Messrs. Clover and Royle, and in reference to the
projected works the surveyor has prepared the an-
nexed report, which was read at the Council Meet-
ing, on Wednesday, and remitted back to the Fi-
nance Committee, with a view to being carried
into effect :
Report upon the plans, estimates, and specifications sub-
mitted for the works proposed to be constructed upon the
Corporation Estate at Birkenhead, viz., upon land between
the Monk's and Birkenhead Ferries, intended to be leased to
Mr. John Laird, and upon land north of Monk's Ferry, to
be leased in moieties to Messrs. Clayton and M'Reverigan,
and Messrs. Clover and Royle respectively.
The area of land to be leased to Mr. Laird is upwards of
35,000 yards, of which about 13,800 will be reclaimed from
the river by the construction of the proposed works.
The works proposed according to the plans now submitted
are, upon Mr. Laird's land-
-Ist. A larze graving-dock, the working length of which is
410 feet upon the floor or blocks; the width for 306 feet of the
length being 88 feet, and for the remainder of the length 60
feet; the surface of the cell and blocks being two feet below
the level of the old dock sill. The width of the entrance is 84
feet. This it is proposed to close by a caisson (of which the
plans are submitted) instead of gates, by which the length of
the duck is practically increased about 30 feet, and a con-
siderable saving of expense obtained.
The dock will accommodate a paddle-steamer of larger class
than any yet in existence, or would take in at one time two
vessels of 1,700 tons and one of 700 tons respectively.
2d. It is proposed to construct three other building docks
or slips, of the respective.
Lengths of 400 feet, and widths of 71& feet.
350 ~ 61
57 300 it , 56 f t
These may be used for the pnrpose of building on an even
keel, from which the ships may be floated when fully com-
plete for sea, or may be used for repairing when extensive
repairs are necessary, the entrances being closed by timbers
inserted in vertical grooves and strutted, to resist the pres-
sure of the outer column of water. The sills of those docks
will be level with the old dock sill.

The space between the graving-dock and the last-named
docks, extending to 200 feet frontage, will be occupied as
storage ground, and by three ordinary launching slips,
thereby affording all the accommodation required for those
purposes in a large building establishment.
This plan appears to the surveyor to develop the utmost
resources of the lan.l, and would constitute a shipbuilding
establishment of most extraordinary magnitude and of un-
equalled capabilities, in which nine or ten large class vessels
might be in
.progress of construction or repair at one time,
and which might at any future period be divided into two
occupations if necessity required.
The area of the land to be leased to Messrs Clayton and
M'Keverigan and to Messrs. Clover and Royle is upwards of
31,000 yards, of which about 14,700 will be reclaimed from
the river by the construction of the proposed works.
The works proposed according to the plans now submitted
are,—two graving-docks, the working length of which are
respectively 360 feet, and 345 feet upon the floors or blocks,
of the same widths and depths of sill as that proposed by Mr.
Laird, with entrances of like width, namely, 84 feet, and
provided in like manner with caissons instead of gates.
It is also proposed to construct on each moiety two other
building docks similar to those proposed by Mr. Laird, of the
respective lengths of 280 feet and width of 60 feet, and 200
feet and width of 50 feet, to be used, as before stated, for
building ships, which may be floated out ready for sea, or
for the repair of vessels which may require a considerable
time for the operations. the facilities which would be afforded
for these operations by this peculiar mode of construction,
appearing to be fully commensurate to counterbalance the
extra expense to be incurred in the construction of the
works. The only question which occurs to the surveyor re-
specting the arrangements of these two last-named yards is,
whether it would not be better if thb smaller of the last-
named docks were abandoned, and an ordinary launching-
slip substituted, which would increase the available storage
space without destroying their capabilities as building-yards;
but the surveyor offers this suggestion with diffidence, espe-
cially as the amount of cost would not be thereby much
diminished; and be considers the authors of the scheme
better authorities upon the subject than himself.
The estimates for these works are as follow :
For the works upon the land, to be issued to Mr
Laird, in round figures
And for the other two portions respectively, £20,000
each, or

Total .170,000
Having carefully considered the above estimates, the sur-
veyor is of opinion they are founded upon prices at which the
work could be executed by a competent contractor, but do
not admit of reduction. They comprise the whole of the
works stated in this report, but do not make any provision
for sheds or other buildings, which, therefore, under the
resolution of the committee, confirmed by the Council, would
have to be borne by the lessees. who would also be responsi-
ble for any excess in the cost of the works comprised in the
plans now submitted beyond the maximum sum to be deter-
mined upon in the first instance, which maximum would be
the amount of the tender for the works now proposed for the
sanction of the committee and Council.—The specifications
have been prepared in a satisfactory manner.