558 REPORT—1896. 
channel, and widening again to 1,100 feet at the southern extremity, 
where, however, width has only been won by excavation of the steep, 
rocky banks. The river wall fronting the Estate is continuous for 
six miles from the mouth of the river opposite New Brighton to the 
southern extremity of the developed portion of the Estate. 
The enclosure thus effected with most of the works thereon, and the 
expenditure incurred thereby, have been authorised from time to time by 
Acts of Parliament. 
Beyond this enclosure additional adjoining land and foreshore have been 
secured further south, and will admit of dock extensions when the necessi- 
ties of trade demand increased accommodation. The total area of the 
Board’s Estate on the Liverpool side is 1,105 acres, of which 950 acres are 
developed, the remaining area being brought only into partial use for dock 
purposes. 
The first dock erected in Liverpool, already referred to, was towards 
the centre of the system as now existing, on the site of the Old Pool, and 
was constructed, under an Act obtained in 1708, from designs of Mr. 
Thomas Steers, an eminent engineer of that day. It was only four acres 
in area, and afforded accommodation for 100 small vessels. It was filled 
in about seventy years ago, and the group of buildings forming the Custom 
House, Post Office, and Dock Offices has been built on its site. 
The earlier docks were all constructed in the vicinity of the Old Dock, 
but nearer to, and running parallel with, the river, and some of them 
exist to this day, partly in their original form. They were designed and 
carried out by Mr. John Foster and his son, who were then the Surveyors 
to the Corporation. 
In 1824 the late Mr. Jesse Hartley took charge of the engineering of 
the Dock Estate, the business of which was in those days administered by 
the Corporation. Mr, Hartley occupied that honourable position with 
singular success for the long period of thirty-six years, and died in 1860. 
During the latter portion of his useful life he was assisted by his son, 
Mr. John Bernard Hartley, who succeeded him as Engineer, but who, 
owing to failing health, was shortly obliged to resign. 
Undoubtedly the prominent position of Liverpool among the commer- 
cial centres of the world is largely due to the practical knowledge and 
ability of these eminent engineers and the success of their achievements, 
at a period when the science of engineering was but imperfectly under- 
stood. This is universally acknowledged both in and out of the profession. 
In 1861 the author of this paper was appointed Engineer, and has 
remained so ever since. It is, however, but right to say that for the last 
six years Mr. A. G. Lyster has designed and carried out all the new works 
subsequent to those of the Canada, Huskisson, and Sandon improvements, 
which are the last with which the author has been prominently con- 
cerned. 
The Hartleys designed and carried out most of that group of docks 
extending from the Prince’s to the Canada on the north, and from the 
Salthouse to the Brunswick on the south, including the fine blocks of 
Albert and Stanley warehouses, for the storage of general produce. These 
docks all present features of great similarity, having been constructed to 
suit the special classes of shipping and trades which in those days were 
located in different positions along the Estate. They now require no 
special description. 
