The Washington herald., 1909-10-24

Plans are on foot for the extensive
Improvement of the port OF Melbourne,
Australia. According 10 information re-
ceived by the Department Of Commerce
and Labor. the project includes the con-
ntruction Of new piers. dry docks.
wharves, coaling facilities. and deepening
the channel Of the Yarra River De-
scriptive Of the general plans. Consul
John F. Jewell. Of Melbourne. says:
II is recognized that such improve
ments are needed in order 10 cope with
the Increasing tonnage Of the port. more
particularly with the view of adequately
accommodating vessels OF the largest
size. and for the second time during the
past four years the government Of the
state has appointed committee TO deal
with the matter and report upon the best
means Of bringing the existing accom-
modation into proper condition and at
the same time providing for the future.
This committee has taken a large
amount Of evidence and reviewed many
schemes. including that Of q dock 800
feet wide and over mile long running
inland from the bay toward the River
Yarra, but the cost was found 10 be too
great
FRvOrs n Railroad Pier.
The scheme most favored by the com
mittee IS the construction Of a new mod
ern railway pier not far from the exist
ing pier at Port Melbourne. at which the
largest vessels now berth. and that the
same time improve the river Yarra chan
mel and the wharf accommodation
upon IT,
At present vessels OF 5000 or 5000 tons
only can come up the river. larger yes
sells usually berthing at the railway pier.
Port Melbourne three miles from the
city. and reached therefrom by rail The
accommodation at this. the principal
pier Is admittedly not what ii should
be In a port OF the importance Of Mel
bourne. the imports and exports Of which
are valued al $50 0OO.00O a year.
Il is proposed that the base of the new
pier viii be close 10 the railway station
az the foot Of the railway pier referred
TO, but 1t viii radiate outward at an an
gle which will bring the head well awav
from the head Of the Railway Pier. and
the cost is estimated at E252. 900 CSl 226.-
35S- 1t is TO be 1.750 feet long, 220 feet
wide. with four berths each 800 feet long.
with thirty feet of water at low tide.
while the remaining so feet will be
available for vessels Of light draft.
The pier will have four railway tracks
on each side. a crOss-Over traverser. and
other conveniences. so that the work OF
. loading and discharging trucks can be
carried on at each berth without ham
pering OF interfering with the work at
other berths Down the center Of the
pier viii run an elevated platform ninety
feet wide. with an overhead shed Of one
or two stories sixty feet wide This
platform viii run he full length OF the
pier on each side OF the shed for
width Of fifteen feet.
Trains VIII Run 20 Pier.
Special trains will run onto the pier
and discharge their passengers on these
platforms. Overhead movable foot
bridges will be provided, one for each
berth. so that passengers viii 20 direct
from the platform onto the ships decks
without having 70 cross the railway
tracks. as AT present. The shed above
the platforms will be available for stor-
age OF goods. and Will be divided into
inward and outward" sections IN
ward goods can be loaded direct into
trucks and outward" goods direct INTO
the ships holds. Provision has been
made or the plans for the installation
of electric cranes. but the cost OF these
has not been included in the estimates.
since the need for them is not felt at
present most vessels carrying their own
hosting gear.
Before the final adoption OF this pro-
posed pier the committee dealing with
the matter recommended that the In
spectOr general OF the public works de-
partment Of the state. Mr. Davidson. be
sent 10 Great Britain 10 inquire into the
latest methods Of harbor accommoda-
ton in that and. II necessary. other coun-
tries. and that officer has now left on
his mission
An important phase OF the mission 10
England Of this officer is his authority
from the government of Australia 10
confer with the admiralty authorities OF
Great Britain as 10 their dry dock re-
Quirements IN Australia with the view
Of making the provision in the improve
ments IN the port Of Melbourne. not only
for the requirements OF the navy vcs-
sells OF that country. but OF the navy
shortly 10 be established by Australia.
The inspector general of public works
is expected TO return In February next.
when Il is anticipated that the pier dry
docks and Othcr propOsed works will ar