New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-04

THE CEREMONIES SOMEWHAT MARRIED Bi hAiN'
But ENTHUSIASM RAN HIGH-TREMENDous
CHEERING WHEN THE GATES WERE uN-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF THE LON
DON AND SOUTHWESTERN coMPANYs
GREAT ENTERPRISE
Southampton, Aug S.--The ceremonies of opening
the new craving dock to-day were ;omewhat marred
BY the heavy rain which fell throughout the fore
noon, spelling the decorations and making every
thing as dlsagreeabe possible for the thousands
OF visitors. In the afternoon, however the rain
ceased and the weather became pleasant strong
wind soon dried the numberess flags, banners etc,
and the crowds hronged all the docks EXCURSION
boats, filed with passengers. arrived from almost
every direction, and the enthusiasm OF the people
particularly those OF Southampton, was at hign
pitch The Royal yacht Osborne. with the Prince
OF Wales and his party board. arrived at l 80
p. m. The yards OF the Indian troopsnlp Cnve were
manned with bluejackets, and Royal salute was
fired. The Mayor and the members Oh the cor
poration bearing the silver oar The Insignia OF the
Admiral OF the Port. welcomed the Prince OF Wales,
the Duke OF York and Princesses Victoria and Maud
on their arrival. Chairman Patal of the Dock
Committee presented address TO the Prince OF
Wales who. at 2:Os D. m. unlocked and opened the
gates OF. the craving dock amid the deafenins
The Mayor Of souhampton then delivered % aaa an ao
dress to which ,ne prince Of Wales rePe1 M bk nEenS
York ard the other distinguished guests, including
Sir William Harcourt and sir h.inard Mepster; ra
the highest terms Of the dock ana the enterprise
which prompted It's h Inv bsr,y IN setb
ampton, did not land. but renamed on 9oaIo I .re
Noyal on asb Of whch the Of the Prince and
those Of the London and southwestern ts naii"sy =,
Company were set IN diamonds were presented 10
the Prince OF Wales.
The new dock belongs to the London and South
which bought the docks
about fou, years ago, paying s.5cooO0 to the old
cornora,ion The new dock opened yesterday Is the
largest single drydock in the world. being $50 feet In
length on the noor and constructed that II neces-
sary Il could be made 80 feet longer The entrance
has a width Of 81 feet inches at sill level and 81
feet at cope. The deck width is liz feet inches.
The immense traffic which Will be carried on at the
new quays on the Itchen wharf (where in the COM
ing season the North German Lloyd and Hamburg
American steamers vii, discharge passengers) VIII
be conveyed by road and rail across the entrance o,
the new dock immense casson has been
bull, for the purpose recess has been PROVIDED
for the reception OF the caisson while docking or
unlocking steamers Hydraulic capstans are pro-
vlIed and also large travelling crane. capable OF
lifting a load OF thirty tons from the centre OF the
dock The caisson stop and suice faces are OF Corn
sh granite patent axed. the walls OF the inVert OF
Portland cement concrete. faced with brickwoTK.
with the alars and the steps OF granite The walls
are founded hfty-three feet and the bottom Of the
invert nfiy-nine feet below cope level. Inc ne"
cock has been reclaimed from the estuary by
chalk -nclosng bank.
AT nigh water neap tides the dock has a capacity
Of IL $1,000 gallons. whicn, with a ship IN. can De
empt-d in two hours less by two OF Gwynnes
pumps. capable OF delivering ll2.CD gallons MN
ute the discharge being through two cuverts eieht
feet by six feet nine inches. the valves ana sulces
being worked by hydraulic power
The Itchen QUays almost completed pas
senger station Is provided. and the train being made
I'D on the wharf enables the traveller TO step from
the steamer have his baggage examined by the
cistoms officials get into his car and steam direct
by special train to London, which Is reached IN
about hour and hall f-s..--.-..... 80
There arc four other drydocks. the largest OF
which is 500 feet in length For the purpose Of coal
Ing tho liners the company has erected large coal
hoist the ten-ton railway cars being emptie1 into
boxes containing about z.5Og pounds each These
are carried wagon bodies. and when required for
shipment the coal is taken alongside the boxes,
which are lifted by cranes, the contents emptied
into hoppers placed abreast and over the coal ports
In the STEAMER. while by hydraulic arrangement
the coal Is gently pushed forward into the bunkers
The docks and sheds are lighted by Electricity
Powerful ydraulic cranes are provided on each
quay miles OF hgh-pressure piping being distributed
throughout the various wharves and quays. There
are about twenty-five miles OF rails within the
dock, ami each warehouse has tracks laid. so that
al whatever quay steamer may De berthed a train
Is ready alongside TO convey mails and passengers
the trunk line to London The International Line
steamers iand passengers at the Express dock.
which is eighteen and half acres In extent