PORT OF LONDON.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 6687, 9 August 1919, Page 1

PORT OF LONDON.

RECENT EXPANSION. During tiro war the Port of London Authority 'has been spending money somewhat 'lavishly, so as to hold its own in the eager competition for the shipping trad» of the world after the war. Several millions have, been expendedl in enlarging the already gigantic docks which run from! the Tower down to Tilbury, but it must be rememibered that the outlay will be borne by the shipowners using the port, and not by the taxpayers of the country. Within a few months the 'biggest mercantile vessels afloat will be able to steam- up the Thames, and be docked practically hi the heart of Loudon, instead of having, as hitherto, to be dealt with, nearer the sea. Prior to the war about 1000 ships passed Gravesend daily on their way to and from London. Then the past accommodation scarcely met the 'demand, but such strides have since been made that all requirements will henceforth be more than satisfied.

The. greatest work of all is that known as the South Albert Dock. No less than :!,500,000 cubic yards-of soil have had to be excavated. More than 70,000 tons of cement audi 500,000 cubic yards of gravel have 'been needed for concrete walls. When completed the dock will bo 64 acres in extent, with an entrance lock SOft tons, 100f"t wide, and nearly 42ft deep below 'high water at neap tides. The lock will 'be divided into two compartments, 550 and 250/ feet long, by three pairs of steel gates, controlled by hydraulic machinery. It is so designed as to be capablo of extension to 910 ft, by means of a floating caisson. Vessels like the Aquitania eould then be admitted' with the utmost ease. Both the lock and the passage communicating with the Albert Dock are practically I finished. The dock proper will have a depth of 3Sft of water, and contain berthing accommodation for 15 large vessels, together with transit sbcdsi of ample capacity and modern appliances for the. Tapid handling and discharge of cargo. On the south .side three sheds, with a floor area of il acres, are so far constructed that one of them is already in use. Seven reinforced concrete jettics, 120 ft long, have been built parallel with the quay wall, the intervening space of 32ft being left for barges. Ships will 'berth alongside the jetties, which will m equipped with electric cranes capable of transferring cargo either into barges lying 'between the jetties and the qua}' or directly on to the quay itself. At the extreme western end there will: be a dry dock 750 ft long, 100 ft wide, and 35ft deep over the keel blocks. It will accommodate a vessel of 25,000 tons, and is furnished with cranes strong enough to lift anything up to 25 tons from the centre of tho dock. 'Air compresses are installed to work pneumatic tools for snip repairing purposes. Under the quay surface are pumps which can empty the dock of water in three hours. The work, commenced in 'August, 1912, has been much delayed by the war, but last summer special facilities were granted by the Government, and the operations are now proceeding with all possible speed. A considerable number of workmen's dwellings had to be. demolished by the creation of the new dock, and these have been replaced by the' Authority at a cost of £76,000 Over 200 houses have been built on garden city lines. The work is now being carriedl out by the Port Authority dcpartmcntally. During the excavations a great many curiosities have been brought to light after countless years of burial. Such things as shells and pots are being preserved at the offices of the Port Author'ity, but a most interesting vessel, supposed to have been originally used in religious ceremonies, has been presented to the London Museum.