1870.] Engineering— Civil and Mechanical. 535 



proprietors of the foreshore. From the official description of the 

 Victoria Embankment, it appears that the works and material em- 

 ployed comprise 144,000 cubic yards of excavation, 1,000,000 cubic 

 yards of earth filling, 140,000 cubic yards of concrete, 80,000 

 cubic yards of brickwork, and 650,000 cubic feet of granite. The 

 total cost of the works has been 1,260,000?., and the amount paid 

 for compensation 450,000/. Beneath the roadway lies hidden a 

 portion of the London main sewage system, above which is a sub- 

 way, behind the embankment wall ; on the opposite side, the works 

 of the Metropolitan District Eailway have been carried on con- 

 temporaneously with the Embankment, and there are four stations, 

 namely, at Westminster, Charing Cross, the Temple, and Blackfriars, 

 accessible direct from the roadway. Communications will no doubt 

 shortly be completed between the Embankment and the several 

 roads leading southwards from the Strand, as without such connec- 

 tions this handsome new boulevard would be deprived of half its value 

 as a means of communication ; according to an existing Act of Par- 

 liament, however, the right to make such connections is prohibited. 

 Chatham Dockyard Extension. — For some time past extensive 

 works have been in progress for the extension of Chatham Dock- 

 yard. They are being executed upon 380 acres of land, and com- 

 prise, amongst other works, the reclamation of a marshy tongue of 

 land known as St. Mary's Island, which was formerly submerged at 

 high water ; in addition to which the scheme includes the construc- 

 tion of a series of three extensive docks along the line formerly 

 occupied by St. Mary's Creek, and the erection of workshops. The 

 reclamation of St. Mary's Island has necessitated the erection of a 

 considerable portion of embankment and river-wall, the latter con- 

 sisting of a brickwork face with concrete backing ; the island was 

 then raised, by means of spoil tipped upon it, to a level well above 

 high-water mark. The first basin, next Chatham Eeach, has an 

 area of 22 acres ; it will be used for repairs, and is furnished on its 

 south side with four large graving docks, the first stone of which 

 was laid on 21st April, 1868. The middle, or factory basin, 20 

 acres in extent, will be provided with factory buildings on the 

 southern side, including fitting and erecting shops, boiler shops, 

 smithy, foundry, stores, &c. ; whilst on the northern side will be 

 the camber for a floating dock, a docking platform, and ten slips 

 for laying up frigates, with the necessary worksheds. The third, 

 or fitting-out basin, into which vessels entering for repairs will pass 

 to be dismantled prior to going into the other basin, or, if leaving, 

 they will be rigged and receive their supplies and stores, is 33 acres 

 in area. The repairing basin, with its graving clocks, and the com- 

 munication with the factory basin, are expected to be opened in 

 April next. The factory basin will probably be opened by the end of 

 1871, and the works of the other basin are also in a forward state. 



