121 



across the mouth, with openings for entrance and exit, a float- 

 ing breakwater is substituted, and the roof might extend 

 over a part of the dock only, and not over the whole. 



At a time like the present, when such vigorous efforts are 

 made to bring other places into competition with Liverpool, 

 as ports for passenger traffic, every feasible plan for improving 

 our local accommodation deserves consideration. Every acci- 

 dent or delay which results from defective arrangements here, 

 will tell with fatal effect upon the traffic ; whilst the great 

 facflities provided at Greenock, Fleetwood, and other places, 

 for stepping from the railway carriage into the vessel must 

 give them the preference with the travelling public. With 

 the alteration here proposed, not only will people be able to 

 drive in vehicles into an enclosed shed, and enter their vessel 

 without exposure to the weather, but, when the tramways are 

 laid along the docks, carriages from the Bury railway, in 

 Great Howard-street, and from the North Western, in Water- 

 loo-road, may be drawn by horses alongside the steam ves- 

 sel, and all the trouble, loss, and annoyance attending the 

 double removal of luggage avoided. The Prince's and 

 George's Docks would be reservoirs, from which means may 

 be obtained for removing the sdt, from time to time, as it 

 accumulates. 



The cost of constructing such a basin would doubtlessly be 

 considerable ; but still not excessive as regards the accommo- 

 dation. Had the money which has been expended in the 

 Great Landing Stage, and in the double way bridges, been 

 reserved for this purpose, it would defray a large portion of 

 the expense. If such a basin is required, as I believe it is, 

 the sooner it is undertaken the better, in order that no more 

 money may be unnecessarily sunk \ at any rate, before any 

 additional stages are provided for the northern ferries this im- 

 portant subject should be carefully investigated. Much Liver- 

 pool money has been needlessly expended, that is, wasted, by 

 our precipitate manner of engaging in undertakings of magni- 



