0» ^ -'v •iu^ «a.. % IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT.3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 ipM Ilia '"■ IM |||||22 12.0 1.8 U ill 1.6 v: 4C-^ V ^> :\ V \ ^9) V ^ \ WrS o' ^ 'w ^ r\ >*" 33 WIST MAIN STRUT WIBSTERN Y I4S80 (716) a73-4J03 ■4^ signifie "A SUIVRE ", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmAs d des taux de reduction diffArents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichA. il est filmA A partir de Tangle supArieitr gauche, de geuche A droite. et de haut en bas. en prenant le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 w iTI"^ ON SITES FOR A GH AVINGDOCK. IN TlIK HAKHOIH OF UX EBIX'. Messrs. Kinipple & Morris, '• fh -M ? S .{ \VV>TMINSTEK - l.oNDON - KNOLaND. "m ^ .AlbAONOU, J (if tlic rtnrboiir of Quctcc. Gkntlkmkn. Ill ucx'onhincf with your iiistnictions of the 2(')tli of AugUHt. wo havi' thi' honor to inroriu you tluit we have carefully extunined va- rious l(K'iilitii's which hiive hcen ineutioued to ua, as (dlfcrinfj; facilitiet* for the construction of a (Jravinn' Dock, as well as other Hites which, on inspection, and examination of the llarhour of (^uehec. would suggest as l)eini: nnue or le.ss favoralile for sucli a work. \V<' would rcnnirk that \\v (in anticipation) commenced examin- ing the ilarliiuir of C^iehec as to the hest site for a (Jraving Lock, ten f his large ex- perience and intimate knowledge of the tides and currents of the Hiver .^1 Lawrence, to guide us in the .selection of a site for the (having Dock. Mefore proceeding to repiM't on the variouH sites e.vniniiied. we think it desiralile lorvour inforination and consideration of this im- portant tjiieHlion. to stale lirietly sonu' of the conditions recpiisite in a /T '> favorable site for a Graving Diitk. Ijotii as regiinli? its locality and its construction. Aktici.k 1. Tf tliiM'e is a site on nny rioviTiiinent Lund or pro- perty belon;j;injr to tlu- llarlMjur CoMimissioni-'rs uliifli 0:1 cidsc cxitini- nation offers advantages for the const riiet ion of a (iraving Dock, it i)honld, of course. Iwre tiie piet'eri-nce iil)()\i.' all others, jtrovided that the engineering dillicnlties are not of siicii a character as to outweigii the advantage of obtaining the m'l'i-ssary hind IVcc ot' cost, and fur- ther that the site is in otiier respects suitiihie AnTici.i; 'J. From cnnversnti. A site bavin,;: a rock foundation is of course generally preferable to any other, and it will be a I'mtber ad\ antaue il' the dip or stratification ol the n,ck lie from the Iii\t,r inland. AliTKl.i'; li It is very desirable that the site should permit el' lln' exti'iision of the woiks inland at any futuri- time without incniriug an nndiu' outlay. AltTlci.j; 7. Looking to the i|ueslion of the cost of the Dock, it will be of advantage if tin' g<'neial coidiguration of the land be suidi, that the e.\ca\ated material I'rom the back or rear [lortion of the Dock, be sidlicient or nearly so, to lorm the baidvs round the front p' (if fNi'ciiiiii^ till' works. Ainici.t; '.). Ill till sc'loctioii of n site upou which to o .nstruct a (iraviiijf Dock, it i.s (U'^iralik- that it should l.c- (ihiccil in such a position wlicic it wmiM lio iiossihlc to er 'ct a '.'oll'iT-dam in about tweiitv-five or twi'iitv-six fc.-t i.r water at lliuh water, and thus save tiie lieavv cost ol" ldasliii;i- or ciiltin-- a cliaiinel way lliro i-;li a sliallow IWrcsliorc"; or in other words so Iohl' as tlie entrance wnrki are connnenced at a peiiit where the Miek or hottoni is at I -ast two or lliieel'e..t iM-lowthe levid .if the (ill ;~wliicli would eiialde a coller-diuu to he erected at the ler.st cost, and on removal would -ive the r.'(iuired depth outside the chl. and lurtiier would allow of the Dock iinim-diatelv on its coinple- lion and removal of the colli rdaiii. to lie used, without resortin--- to (he expense of hlastiiij:' out the clianiiid-wa y or approach to the Dock below low water mark. Ahtici.k Id. If the ,^'enera! level of the land 1) > a!H)V lii-h water in Ilk it will !>;• ad vaiitajiviais ; lor in the first pl.ce it will save a con- .-idirable expenditure in the lorniiiifr or inakiiifr up ii j;reat width of firoiin.l all miiiid the I)(;ck. which would be ncce.s.sary ii' the site were covered with water to the extent ol" four or live feet' or more at liiL'h water, and liirllier it would allow the inner portion of the works to be proceeded with diiriiiij: the cimstruction of the ("oner-dam. Al.'Tin.K II. [ nle.ss there are stroiic: reasons to the coiitrar\. we are of opiniiui that a (iravinj;- Dock should, if possible, be wil'hin a reasonalde distance fioui the centre of busines.s. AuTicr.i; |-J. 'I'lie safety of the temjiorary works from the ;;etion oilloatin- ice wl:e:> lie' h'iver is idearin^; it.self, must not be overlook- ed ill cuiK-ideiiiig the selection of a site for the (^ravin^' Dock. We tiii>t tin- forcioiiiir particulars will be found of some service ill coiisiilerinir. and makiiiii' clear the tbllowiiig desi;ription of the se\ eral sites exiiiniiied : In examininu; tiie Harbour of Quebec for a site suitable for ii Craving Do.'k. we have iii^p ■c(ed both sides of t!ie Kiver. from \V(df's ('o\.'dii«ii to til,. Island of Orleans. Startiim- iVoin Wolf's (' .\e. on (he Quebec side of the Wiver. and workiii,-' tow.irds , he India Wharf, we llnd with one or two excepiions, to be referrel to bereifier. there is no room oi site for the construc- fioi; of a D.iek without goiiiij into deep watiu-. and ('iitailinu- very -lea! ('xpeii.; ' in temporary conslrnctive works; and where there fs siillici. 'lit space ill a moderate depth of water witha flat foreshore lunninu inland, there w.iuld still be considi'iable expense (thoujrh to a le-s de^.>ree) in coll'er-daminin^ or sliutnn,ii- out the water from the whole of (he works d'lrinu' their execution. Any site selected be(vveen the above mentioned points would ol course entail the purcliasinn' of valuable shiplaiildiiifi or other proper- ty: fiutlcu' a Do(k in this part of (he Kiver would have the disad- vantage ,.f bein^- eloM'd in wilh -olid ice every winter, atul would also be devoid ofanv b'ailway coiinnunication On the i'oint Levis side of __ I — the River, startinjr iVom llailloWs (\>v.Mmtl workiii-r towards Henry's , upper wharf we (in. I t.eavlv an i.lenticnl state ..f things eMstini-- as on the opposite side, hoth as Veiiards .le.-p and slialh.w water, the pnr- chasin- of vahial.le pn.pertv. and the closin- in of the l)o( k in winter with si.lid iee. A Dock on this side will iiave Railway eonunnmcation il'the i.rop.wed extension of the (inmd Trniik he earned out. Tlierefore a site seh-rted on eith' r side between the points indi- cated mnst, asalreadv stated, entail n.nsiderahle expense in siiuttinji ont the water dnrini: the eonstruction of the Doek : the outlay (.n temporarv works hein-- of eourse nnprotluetiv e. so to speak, j-realeon- sideration should he -iven tos.-eure a site where the eoht ol temporary works w.mhl he as s.nall as possible. Sni.po.^e for illustration the selected site was at lla.Uow Cne. where you have a ll:.t loreshoiv rnnniii"- out lor soni.- distance from ti.e shore to low water mark and covered at hi-h water to th- extent of tour or live leet. or more, the whole of the sites on mU sides w.Hild hav to he shut in Irom the Kiver ; So-ne consideiai>ie cxj^ense woidd also have to he incurred in niakin- up -round f(.r some width all round the .hrk. upon winch to erect the nece.ssarv imildiiiL's. and pn.hahly .iary, causing a large additional and useless outlay, besides the cost of the extra five feet in height of coffer-dam. From what has l)een stated there ai)pears to be no room for the length ofdock re(,uired, at this Harbour, without going iutoan nniieces.sar\ depth o!' wati-i'. involving in so many ways a useless ex- penditure of money. Further the Dock if pliiced in this Harbour would cause the re- moval of ine or two wharves, and conseciuently be destroying u.seful works which would luive to be purchased as well as land. (JLE.NBL'ILME (JOVE SITE. There is iiere a large area of flat rocky foreshore apparently un- lucupied, and w liicli at first sight, might ai'tpear to be a suitable place for a (Graving Diick both as regards its positi(m and construction, l)Ut on closer examination a number of ad ver.xe circumstances present them- selves We found on taking soundings, at the time of low water, that at a distance of about one hundred and fifty feet out from low water nuirk, there was only on an average about six feet in depth of water; to obtain the required twenty-five (U* twenty-six feet depth of water at high water, it would be neces.sary for the coffer-dam works to be comuieuced nt a pcunt in the River from about two hundred to two hundred iind fifty feet from low water nuuk ; this would involve the I' I — (i — oniistriictioii of II jrrcut It'ii;j:tli ofcod'cr-ilani of full hoiulit. Mini roisc- (jiieiit t'Xpoiise lu sli it out the \V!it«'v diirinj: tin- exi'oiitioii ol tlu' works. A Mito wlioiv tlu' lt;ii;;tli ol" oon'or-iliim would not ONceetl tliroi' or four Imiiilred feet \vi' sliould ronsidi-r souio.vlnit lavoraldc in this reHpuct. The dcsiraliility of tin.' worlvs hcinir ooninu'iin'd iit alxiiit tlu' dis- tance from low water niarlv as stated aixive. is to avoid (as iiieiitioiied in tlie first part of this report, article '.•) the irreat expense ol lila.xtinjr under water to form an ajiproach or ehanind-way to tlie Dock. A (iravinjx Dock Imiit on this site would he closed all the winter; the dill's in the rear would prevent any extension of the Dock, except at considerahle I'ost. and would of course necessitate as in most other cases the purchasinjr of property, which we |)resume wouhl l>e of some value. This land would enahle tiie Dock to he; cor.striicted on a rock foundation, and have lailway a 'oniodation in the event of the (Jrand Trunk extension heing carried out. We should nii'iitioii that this site would involve the makinu: u|» oijrround all round the Dock at great cost for the erection of huildin,i:s and workshops. After due consideration we find we cannot recommend this site, — though possi'ssiiig one or t wo favorahie featuri's - as thi- most siiit- ahle for the ct)nstriictioii of the (Jraxing Dock. The next spot whicli lias occu|iieil our at tent ion. is (he pro])erty lying within two rocky proiuoiitori 's on tlie I'oint Levis side ol' the liver, and known, we are iii!'(iriiied : as. "'0IIARL.\N1)'S SmiMUlLDLNi; YAUD." We were attiacted lo this >ite as lieiiig somewhat siiitahle I'or a Graving Dock from the ciiciim.-iaiice tliat the general hvel of tlie land inside the promontories was williin a few feet of t!'e level ol high water. >o that wiih a coiiiparativtdy small amount of emhankiiig, till' water could he kept niu from tliat jiortioii of the work to lie coii- structeil within the s.iid promontories, and havi' the iiirther I'.dvaii- lage ol the inner or rear part of the Dock heing proceeded with, while the nece.ssiirv temporary works in the river were constructing. On testing the foreshoiH- hy sounding as in the ca.-ie _of Cileiihiir- nie (.'o\e. We found almost the sanu' stati.' o' things to exist, vi/,. that of little depth of water at low water, sonu> distance out: the com- paratively small incliiiatio : of the hottoiii would iii'i-essitate the collei- dani works ln'iiig commeiici'd at nhoiit two hundred I'ei't out in the river hefore thi' retpiired di'ptii of twenty-live or twenty-six feet at Iiigli water is reached, unless hlasting under water s resorted to. to form an approach or channel-way to the Dock l-'rom many empiii'ies. we learn there is generally open ice at this point all the winter; the solitl ice ol' hattiire coiiiiiiencing to make at ahoiit -Mi', nriinel's wharf, forming rapidly on the north shore or Heauport Hats, and taking a curved direction to the I'oint at the Island of Orleans. l>uc- lunkahvun.hl.. L.t.nv : .,, vxtonsion of, he works i, ,1.; •enr nt a Iu.m.v ,„.... .•: ,.1.1 I... ..ani.-l ..,.t at a nH.-k-n,.. est : thm- n's Sa' Tills down t. Mcssr; ..Imours lower wharf, with re.iranl to its s-itahilitv Cr th. eonstrn.-- tion ( ' t I,. (.ravinu: Doek. . As n.enlione.l in th- previous p .rtion of this repor. wo attaeh .ome Mnportan.e to a >,t.. wImmv there is jrenerallv spJakin. open iee ••11 tlM- Winter; d.R. .■onsHlerat.on of eonrse hein- .riv,.n tootle, .m-- n.ms,a,H.es Th. ad vanta,,,- of ha vin, open ic w.;; exemplihed th s was'ahh :"'■ " T";"r "";?•"'-'—>'• tl.e Allan line ,lf steamers eo.ld ! ■■! r^' '..''"'"'" <<>^- -•>".' two weeks or nu.re before she tonid fid p. ) the l{i\ er. •takn,^^ sound. n.rsol th. .-iver. we fi.,d that aeeordin-.^ to tl,e ■ ''; -f ■ -l""' works (.V .eason of the sn.all inclination of the ' ^ '"'""" '" "' p'.nn.eneed at a point fron, aho.,t one In.ndred and s^ruie thj. pn,p..r .h.prl, at h.w water and avoid all llastintM,, fo.-n.i,,.. ■•;;';;';;"^'1^^"> -Mpproaeh to tl.e Ooek throno-h a shallow foresho.v. altri' the ..■i.iovai ol the ooller-daiii. " ^^i'l l'^' -l.vious that the ivu.arks p.evionslv made in reference > iH- •u.,Mrn.. t.o, ol wo. ks on a Hat fo,.esho,v at 'other sit.s alreadv all ded to ...ust ol ..ecess.tv applv in this ease: F,„. i„.st.nce the • ^^••'I'l '^' the .a.,ue .■os, ol ionn.„. , ..ofVe,-,lan« tor shutting, out of the ''''"' "■•"" >''^' ^^ ''"'>■ "I '""• w.,rks du.i... th^ir exec.tion: The ahove tempo, :n'y works would take a considcahle time to <•. s n.ct. h,., , a s.tc eo.:ld he ,o..nd wl,e,e the inner portion , the nva e,„ works can I..- carr.e.i on si,nultaneouslv will, the tempo- .a.> works. n.u,.h t.ti.e would he save.l: furtheV aGravin-.' Dock .-.,.„, .c,..d onthisslHuv would entail considen,hle expense i lor, ;:;: 7VT"''""" '"■• ^''—-^i"" -"'n.- ..ecissarv hnidin^; — s — Again a roadway or approach from the shore would hav*^ to Ite made ^o the Dock at some cost. The Grand Trunk extension as now laid out, does not extend along the Indian Cove shore, therefore a special branch would have to be made to the dock, if built liere, should Railway communication be considered desinible. As in the case of the other sites already adverted to, the ques- tion of the purchase of valu.ihle property would have to be taki-u into consideration, if the Dock were constructed anywhere on this shore between the points mentioned. For the.se and other reasons, we are not of oitiuion that a site an} where between the bel'ore mentioned points, would be the best that can be .selected for the coustructiou of the Graving Dock, at the least possible expense ISLAND OF ORLEANS. We h-ve examined, and given some consideration as to the Md- visability of the Graving Duck ijeing constructed on the Island. The first objection which arises, is of cour.-e that of the great distance, which a dock built on the Island would be I'rum the centre of businetis, and the serious inconvenience, an.d loss oi' time to parties having to visit the dock; this in our opinion is a greiit drawliack to the Island Ijeing .selected as the site for the Dock : — Many dillicullies will at once suggest themselves wlieu we come to consider the work- ing of the dock after it is l)uilt ; such aS getting shi[)wrights and other men just when wanted from the main land ; the loss of time tlierel)y incurred. &c. The uniount of labour required at a D(.ck is uncertain and tluctuating. and it could iiardly lie ex[)ected that men of this class would live on tl;e Island doing notliing, probably half their time, with no opportunity of getting other work, and .solely on the chance of their doiny: so at the dock. For many reasons we tliink it may l)e considered that a work of such magnitude should l)e situated on the main-land wiiere every facility can be obtained to nu'et, in all res[)eets. the varied require- ments of a tiraving Dock. As far as we are able t(> judge, without boiing. we .should not anticipate any .serious Engineering dillieulty it the Dock were ))ro[)osed to be l)uiU on a site immediately to the Fast id' the lamliug Stage, but in the l>ay still further Fast, tiie cost would he very great fioiu being hemmed in by tiie dill's in the rear, and great deptli of water at the entrauc. Land for the Dock would have to be purchased. We are not of opinitui for the reasons stated, that tlie Island id" Orleans is tiie site that should he ciiosen for the Dock SAM) HANK SITE, KIVEU ST. CHARLES. The sand lianU .at tlie moiil li of tlie liver St. tJharles has been — 9 — cbn.siilt'rt'd iiiul tlh)uglit l)v many parties a la orablosite for the cun- riti'iK'tioii of the Graving Dock . Fioiii horiiigs iiiiide some ti'iie ngo hy Mr. ■Synioii.s, we learn that tuis hiuik is eoiniHJseil entirely ol' open and running wand- to a dei)th varying iVoni twentv to forty feet Ijehjw low-walM- mark. Upon such it I'onndation we need hardly say it would he highly I all the neces,*ar\ land being obtained at a very small expense; as pri'\ionsly mentioned the iei' :dwa',s f(UMus early on the north shore, and would shut up the dock till the winter We think it will be already ini'vrred witiujut^ e.\tending our remarks further, that the cost cd" constructing a Graving Dock at the mouth of the St. •'bath'S. would be vi-ry largely in excess of one built on a siti' having a good rock foundation, and tlu'refori' we do not con- sider this sand bank the best site that can l)e sidecti d for the Dock. SITK AT HKArPOUT FLATS. : / As there appeared to be some dillercnce ol'opiiiioti as to the nature ol' constitulion O'f this Hats, wi' tlionuht it desirable with the view of setting the (|iicstion at rest toaseerlain iiy bore holes, what was below I he sui face, \Vi' have sunk in ditU'ient jiarts eight bore holes going down to adept ol'si.xtcen lee: bidow low-water h'vel. ami we found in each case nothing but sand ; Several of the holes were bored directly iinddT our supervisi(Ui. and till' others under a tru«tw(uthy man ; the h'ligest time it took to get the tool down to the depth ol'sixteeu feet, was twenty juiiiuteh, and in some c.ises it was i'\i'n less, we oiirsid\es were able to force the tmd down without an\ ditlictiltv wluitwver. . , I V:rn , ! _ _10 — We think it very likely that the depth .)f .sand over the'se (hits IS probpl)ly about the .same as that on the hank at the mouth of tlie jKiver St. Charles. We mi-ht remark that the depth of sixteen feet to whieli the boring- tool was smik was more than neoe.sNirv to ascertain whether or no a suitabble foundation could be obtained for the purpose of con- structing a Graving Dock. The bore holes extended from the Rivtr St Charles to about lieauport Kiver. We could not for a. moment advi.se the attempting the consti nction ot a Graving Dock on these Hat.s, for the rea.-ons proviouslv stated when cunsidenng the .,uestion whether the Graving Dock could be on the sand bank at the month of the River St. Charles, and which rea.sons we think unncces.sar\ to repeat. The cost of constructing a Graving Dock either on the.se flats or at the mouth of the River St. Charles would be enormous, probabiv amounting to hfty or sixty per cent more than on a rock foundation." . <'APK UOCGK COVK A site has been pointed out to us on land of considerable extent to the East ol the Cape Kouge River which, we are informed, j's re- served by the Dominhm Government of Canada, and is thought can be Qbtained Iree ol expense. " We have examined this .site, and find tiiat it offers noadvanta-es over, many others whirl, could be selected in the Harbour of Uuebee ior con.structiMg the Gniving Dock at a moderate cost : The shore at thi.s point i.. very shallow eonsequentlv f be entrar,.'e works would have to he .o.nmeiued. to.secuiea deptii of ei'dit feet of water at low-water, .s.mie lour hundred feet .mt Inmi low-watermark ,Und neres.Mtatn,g a full tide coller-dain t<. enclo.se the whole of the works trom 'he n\er ilui ing eonstriiclion. The distance of this site fr.mi the Citv. assnuiin- the land is obMuned Ireeol co.-t. d(es u.-t in our opinion "counterbalance the incon- venience ot the dock being s.. far away IVom the centre of busiiie.s.s. . We therefore leel that we cannot recommend this site, as beimr all things considered, the most suitable for the Dock. "' SITE HKTWEEN THE G«)\ KHXMKNT WIIAHF AND MR. i'AT- TUN'SSAW MILLS. ON THE POINT LEVIS SIDE OF TilL RIVER ST LAWHEXCE. 't I ,, We now wish to draw the attention of the Commissioners to the above Mite, which on cl.Kse examinath.n an.l careful study present, ||,e most favorable cniulKi.ms. for the construction of the "(Jraviug Dock ;.., "'Ml wV<:h hjr the rea.sons about to be adduced we beg respectfuliv to .,, MUbniit, should m our opinion he the one selected. — 11 — Wti li:,vo stiUtMl i„ the first porfon of this report under Articles 1 to 11 iiR-l.i«ive, h)r tlio si.ko ofootnparison, some of the more impor- tant coii.hti....« requisite in a good site for the construction and locatiou o\ a uravmg Doek. We learn tin- above site is land beloiifrinjr to the Dominion Gov- ernment ot Canada and therefore we presume can be obtained free of cost, and therefore avoids any outlay in the purchase (,f valuable pro- perty. Mr. latton holds this ground from the Dominion Government ot umada as a yearly tenant As already mentioned, there is generallv sneaking open ice at tliis spot all the wuit-r. . Entire command can be had over vessels at this point bv reason of tolerably slack water ibr faciiitatin.L' the operation of Dockin.' and nndocking. ' Siiould Railway communication be considered desira])Ie at anv time, this will be secured if the extension of tlie Grand Trunk i< con- struct. 'd as laid out. The Graving Dock at this site would be founded on rock with the advantage of the stratilicatiou dipping inwards towards the land wlueh mean.-- probably the saving of monev in keeping works free of vater during construction. Any I'xten.sion of the Dock landwards, would not incur anv verv undue outla\ . Witliout going intoealciilations, and subject to the e\act position ol Hie Dock being (Lxed. we may sav -eneral'iv that ir will not re.iuiie any very gr-at amount of extramateri.il f.u- (illiii!-- up ttie Ironr or entrance portion of the works beyond what mav be obi.diied from excavations from the Dock. I^ess exp^Misr \\\\\ !„. incurreii in eoiVer-dammini: or shut tin"- nut <'l the water Iroin the works. ,l„ring their execution than at anv t'l iier site Ihis site allords the oppiU'tunity of e.mstructinir a con..r-w-water to form an a|M)ro,;cl. .u- <'liaiine|-way I i the dock, saved : ('apt. l^iyli.d.l states in his W(n'k on the Tides and curn-nts of liie luverM. !,awrence. fbr the use id'j'ilots. that the low-water level IS lower in the Ri ver in th,- month of \ugust.bv about two feet' than at any oIIum- tune of the year; We look all our principal sound' m-s at low-water spring tides in Ihis m-mth. when tile I'iver was h.w' Hie seven leet to levelof rock below low-water, will give, atordinarv — 12 — low-v ater, twenty or more overcill at higli water iie.ip ti(l«^s, oralKnit twenty-five feet at lugli-w^vter spriiijr-tides. Nearly one-half of the laiul at this site \.heri' the Dock would be built, is above high-watermark, this afl'oicis tlu' oi'portiinity of the inn 'r portion of the permanent works being proci-eiU'd with wliilt the coft.r-dam is being constructed ; for expediting the completion of tlu' works, and if hereafter deemed advisal)le, an inner cotler-diim could be made at no great cost, whereby two-thirds of the permanent works could be uone on "ith. Again the level of the land at tlie back of the site l)eing above high water mark, no lilling or nuddng up of ground for this portion would be required, for the ejection of tiie necessary buildings and workshops which could be placed here. This site for the construction of the Graving Dock, will we think be considered within a reasonable distance from thcf centre of busi- ness. We believe there woidd be little or no danger to the temporary works from ice, seeing that at this point the river is generally open all the winter, and further the present Government wharf wouhl no doubt afl'ord some protection. I miglit be asked whether there would be any danger to vessels from the reef of rocks near this point at the time of docking, we have tested, and examined (lie mouth of the entrance of the proposed Dock l)y soundings in all dii'ections. and nowhere did we liiul a less depth than nine feet at low-water and this only at one spot, whicii probablv is local ; the aviMiiue depth being ten to eleven 1\ el: as the cill of Dock is pioposed to be .-exen I', et l>elo\v < rdiiiary low-v,'iiter. or about twenty-live fei t at high water springs, it iscliaV that il ii vessel run get into the dock witli this depth over cill. ol' (onrse it is free from danger outside at tiie entrance, ii' there is a depth of twent\ -seven or thirtv feet of water. The landing barge at tlie Governnieiit wharf would he interfered with during the constiiiction of the dock, and other provision would have to be nuide for tiie landing of passengers: furlliei' some little inconvenience may occasiouully arise to the Ferry Dock, should she hajipen to wish to get to the " Barge ju.-t at the tiin undocking of a vessel. ol ilcicKl or We feel tliat possibly some expression may be desired of us, as to the site which we ciuisiiler the ne\t liest lor the construction of the Graving Dock: Putting aside the question of the purchase of land, we beg to say that in our opinion indiiin (Jove is the next site we should select for the building of the Graving Dock cliii'ilv for the reason of there being open ice at this part of (lie Hiver all tlie winter; The cost of a Dock on the tlat foreshore at Indian Cove would not be greater than one built on any of the low lying foresliores d.'scribed in this report We understand the experiment is shortly to be tried of testing the practicai)ility ol navigating the Hiver St. Lawrence i:) winter: this is a matter upon which we eaiiiiot venture an opinion : We me- — 13 ~ rely alliuli! to it here as being an index o ' tlie bent of men's minds and perhaps l)e a forecast of what may come to |jass sooner or hiter : tiir- ther it might be aslied in tliis (piestion to have any weight or bearing upon the subject now under ronsiderafion. We hiive made all the necessary surveys and le\els ot'the site adjoining the (ioveriiment wharf in accordance with this report, from wiiicii the detailed drawings and specifications can be prepared, as soon as we receive instructions. f•■ -lii' ..a i. «i **rill ,1, w i;si \ii\sTi:j; cii AmiIkiJs. London, Greenock, SI IM'LE.\IK\T.\IIY K El' OUT. LAMPSON'S COVE -LOWER SITE. 'I'll tlic I'lV-iJciit ,iik! t'oiiiiiii<-ii'ii'Ts (>f tlic H:irl>(; operati(^Ms, and finding eonsiderable depth of water opposite one '{)f the lower wharves, eondjined with the extensive sliiplmildinfi- business whieh appeared to be carried on at this part of the Cove, we consider the u[)per part of '.he Marl)()Mr the more suitable. l?y plaeinji' the l)o(dv at an angle with the stream and shore as in the former case suiFicient length is obtained for the dock. The lower side of Dock is pnt in a line with the upper i)art of the uppennosl block (.mm- sketch) « .0 O BLOCK. y but lbi> block ii uui,\ e\cntually be l()uud uece.-s!u\ to remove / It) rage cieptii ivi uii^ siiv; 1.^ ...jw«. ...p founil by borinirs ten feet below low-water UMel. At. this site no lavorable eugineeviu, teatures .n- to b. Ibuu.l tor the o:mstrueti..n of the Doek over any of the others .'.esenb.-l The whoh. of the works wouhl have to be sh..l in fro.n the Kiv.,-. Some ..x,.en.e will be ineu.re,! in reno.vin, exi^.in, ^^harv.s. (iridiron. i^e. (honn.lall n.nn.l Ooek will ha v e to be made n,.. Then' is no room lor any i-\1ension of works. No baek gronnd above High w.ter n,.on whieh ,o eounnen.-e work while colVfr-dam is eonstrnetinu-. W, understand that the Tow Boat Company havo a U-as. of this property, with s.-vn yeiirs nne\pired. W. hav. in.Md-ntiaiy referred to the extension ol shipbnildin. iiiid other biisim-ss carried on here. It is aln.ost suprrrions tbr us to say that this site '>;;'-?7'J'"^ "'■^|i;; ..IvantagJsof tbat'at the (iov^rnment wharf on the I'.nnt LeM> snle oi' the KiviT. As decided ve.l.rday we shall subndt an estin.ate of the cost ol building a Cntving Peek at this spot.