II 



waggons and see the simple and expeditious method 

 used for discharging the waggons directly into the 

 hold of the fine steamer Peter Jebsen, under charter 

 for San Diego in Southern California the full cargo 

 of nearly 5,000 tons (including fuel) was placed on 

 board in the short space of twenty-eight hours. Ly- 

 ing at the wharf was also the noble specimen of col- 

 lier steamer San Mateo, waiting her turn to take up a 

 carg-o of 4,500 tons for San Francisco, while in the 

 offing, and at the ballast wharf, were several sailing 

 vessels, part of the fleet engaged in the coal trade. 

 Near at hand, at her own landing place, is the com- 

 pany's steamer Mermaid, used for towing and shifting 

 vessels and barges, and ready, at a moment's notice 

 to steam to Victoria or across the Straits to Van- 

 cou\ er, or to proceed up the Eraser River, as the case 

 may be. Looking again at the loading of the steamer 

 it appears to be carried on as rapidly as possible no 

 waits between waggons. As fast as one is discharged 

 and switched off, to join a train of empties, another 

 waggon is sent to the chute, down which the coal 

 runs in a stream, and yet, by an adjustment of the 

 chute, much breakage is obviated. At suitable dis- 

 tances off the wharves, are large mooring buoys be- 

 longing to the company ; they are held in position 

 by heavy cables and anchors. To these, vessels can 

 moor and swing off and on to the wharf, as may be 

 needed. The water at these wharves, (as at all the 

 wharves of the company on other parts of their es- 

 tate) is deep enough to accommodate the largest ves- 

 sels likely to frequent these seas. The Dominion 

 Government dredger has been doing great service 

 during" the past six months right in front of the 

 wharves, and along the north and south channels of 

 approach there is a minimum depth of thirty feet at 

 low tide, and the dredger is still at work. 



Mr. Robins, the Superintendent, with a view to 

 further expediting the loading and dispatch of vessels 

 resorting to the company's wharves, is having an 

 elevated railway laid upon substantial trestles con- 

 structed so as to gain a height of about forty feet 

 above high water, and about forty feet distant from 



