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the stratifications and remains. There is about 12 feet of alluvia 

 soil and this overlies sand and gravel ; beneath this is red sand- 

 stone, which becomes more solid according to the depth. The 

 solid rock is made use of for the dock walls, and the less solid is 

 made use of for the formation of the training walls in the estuary. 

 The gravel and sand are also available to the contractor ; indeed, 

 beyond the granite to which we have alluded, and freestone, he 

 had little need to obtain material outside the scope of his opera- 

 tions. 



On entering the large dock, the memorial stone laid by the 

 Prince of Wales was noticed. It is of polished granite, and con- 

 tains an inscription. The stone was laid on July 17th, 1885, 

 during the mayoralty of Alderman Forshaw. The dock will 

 cover 40 acres, and its dimensions are 1,000 yards by 200 yards. 

 The locks are each ninety yards by twenty yards. The height 

 of the dock walls is 40 feet, the width of them being at the base 

 17 feet 6 inches, and at the top 9 feet. The middle portion of 

 the dock has not yet been excavated, though the dock walls are 

 a long way towards completion, the coping stones being in some 

 places fixed. The bed of the dock is on the solid rock. There 

 are entrances provided for two graving docks, but at present it is 

 only intended to proceed with the construction of the larger one. 

 The new course dug out for the Eibble was then visited : its 

 width is about the same as the present channel. Considerable 

 labour and expense have been bestowed in preparing the bed in 

 a thoroughly even style, and so as to form a regular gradient 

 down to the union with the old course. For tlie purpose of and 

 in connection with the diversion of the stream, the Corporation 

 secured a large amonnt of land from Mr. Eawstrone, at the price 

 of £300 per acre. By this prudent action there has been obtain- 

 ed a large area suitable for sidings and warehouses. Quays are 

 being made for the accommodation of the httle coasting vessels, 

 the trade carried on by them forming an important element in 

 Preston commerce. The people of Preston appear to have been 

 unfavourably circumstanced in the matter of railway transit, and 

 they find it much to their advantage to encourage conveyance of 

 various articles of merchandise by small craft. As regards the 

 financial bearings of tlie question, we are informed that the assets 

 of the Corporation in respect of the scheme will amount to 

 £250,000. They possess a fringe of the river for many miles, 

 down to Freckleton : and they have a farm of 550 acres, which 

 yields a handsome revenue. The land which they own, and of 

 which they have lately become possessed by purchase or reclam- 

 ation, will be of considerable value in the future as building 

 land, &c. Even should the scheme prove an absolute failure 

 and unremunerative, it is calculated that the addition to the rates 

 would be 2s. 9d., bringing up the total to 7s. Id. in the £ — an 



