The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-10-03 00:00:00

DOCK SPACE

A report from the surveyor on the present state of the
docks was then read. Mr. Hartley called the attention
of the committee to the length of time which had elapsed
since the docks were let dry, and proposed certain days
on which he should be allowed to run them dry in turn,
for the purpose of clearing them. He said they ought
not to be allowed to ternain longer than three years with-
out being inspected. The report stated that for the twelve
months ending July 1824, the number of vessels that en-
tered the port was 10,001, tonnage 1,180,914. For the
same length of time ending 1843, the number of vessels
was 16.606, tonnage 2.415,278. In 1824, the dock space
was 501 acres; in 1813, it was 96i acres, and when the
Albert dock was completed, it would he 106 k acres: yet
notwitstanding this, the surveyor was of opinion that a
further extension of dock space was desirable.
Mr. Evatis said they should not he hurried into con-
clusions, and thereby act prematurely, for if they went
to Parliament before the expiration of the two years which
they were allowed, they would be compelled to go for
what were called open docks, and not those with ware-
houses. There was a larger per centage in the increase of
dock room than in the tonnage. But, when they looked
at the year 1842, they would see that there was a vast quan-
tity of steamers, and their tonnage was not correctly given
in ; still they would find that the facility with %illicit they
went in and out, compared with the square• rigged vessels
which they had supplanted, would, in a great degree, form
a very large portion of the increase of tonnage. One of
them would measure 400 tons. Now, a square-rigged
vessel, even if she were going coastwise, would be in her
berth three weeks or so ; but the steamers were often in
their berths not many more hours than tne square-rigged
vessels were weeks. He thought therefore, that they ought
not to be hurried, by any statement like that on paper, to
any precipitate or premature measures.
In reply to a question:from Mr. Ntcot, Mr. HARTLEY
said the docks had not been cleaned in consequence of
their being so constantly filled with ships.
Mr. EVANS said he forgot to add that they were now
getting on with the Albert Dock and basin, and taking
these into account with the increased depth of the ad-
joing docks, he expected the docks would be relieved to
an amount equal to four or five thousand tons a year. He
did not want to negative any research into their wants,
hut he would call on the committee to look at it not as
an affair cf instant and urgent necessity.
The CHAIRMAN said it was only right for Mr. Hart-
ley to bring before the committee his views ; it was for the
committee to adopt them or not as they liked.
Mr. ROYDEN spoke of the necessity of cleaning the
docks.

Mr. RIPLEY was quite satisfied that the Albert Dock
would do as much work as any two docks; and if they
had warehouses on the margin of the Prince's dock in-
stead of sheds, they would be of great service.
Mr. AIKIN was satisfied Mr. Ripley was within the
mark, when he said the Albert Dock would do the work
of two docks. Here (Mr. Aikin) would be disappointed
if it did not do the work of three docks. He was almost
sorry that this subject had been brought before them,
until they had ascertained the good that would arise out
of the warehouses on the margin of the docks. When
that good was found out, the demand would be not for
new docks, hut the cry would he for the same convenience
in all the docks. By building warehouses round the
docks, they would give more accommodation than if they
doubled the -lock space.
Mr. Mem. said warehouses round the docks would
not give additional accommodation to steamers, nor much
facility as regarded the timber trade. There were other
branches of trade in the same position, and he appre-
hended Mr. Hartley's statement related to dock space
alone.

Mr. SrlAr:ro said that, allowing they should want more
dock space, it became a matter of consideration where
they could get land for that purpose. lie said that they
were now making land for the Corporation up to Beacon's-
gutter, and he thought that they ougot to buy that, for
in fourteen or fifteen years they would ask a great deal
more for it than they would now.
The report of the surveyor, as to the extension of the
dock space, was allowed to lay on the table for a week.