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down staircases, which in view of the fact that all carry baggage with them, might lead to difficulties.
As regards the regulating of inward ocean steamers from Singapore or else- where, it would be a simple matter for them to anchor in the quarantine ground until such time as passengers have been mustered and examined. As regards coasters employed almost entirely in the passenger trade, particularly to Swatow on which route piracies have occurred, there is no reason why such vessels should not embark their passengers at the depot in the same way as river steamers: this however, is a matter which can be decided as soon as the main issue has been determined.
The slight inconvenience experienced by Shippers in conforming with the rules will be more than set off by the increased traffic, inasmuch as the safer you make the transport, the more people will travel. It is recognised at the moment that passengers do not travel as often as usual between the Colony and Canton on account of fear of interference by pirates, but once the route is made safe and they are assured that no pirates will be able to board the vessel, confidence will be restored with resulting increase of revenue.
To turn again to the plan on the table, Sketch No. 1 shows the general view as from the Praya; it will be noted there is a concrete wall some 6 feet high (which should be much higher) surmounted by railings entirely closing the land side of the depot, entrance only being possible through entrance gates.
No. 2 shows the side elevation of the building erected on concrete piles together with general arrangement of windows, this of course is only a rough idea.
I would ask you to now consider Sketch No. 4 which shows the block plan. The general idea is to build piers in the manner indicated each of which will give three berths for steamers. The outer berth will accommodate a steamer 300 ft. long and the side berths somewhat smaller vessels. The length of vessels running to Canton at the moment is about 250/300 feet to West River ports and Kongmoon 190-250 feet. It is suggested that the steamers would load at their ordinary piers, and would proceed up to a berth assigned to them at an appointed time to embark passengers.
Should it be decided to erect the depot on the Praya it will of course take up sites where private piers are now situated, and to get over this difficulty the Govern- ment would have to erect Government piers at some other portion of the Praya for the use of Companies which have had to give way in the interests of the public generally, this again becomes a matter of arrangement calling for a certain amount of give and take on both sides.
To continue arriving at the berth the crew would be mustered on the upper deck, the ship thoroughly searched for possible stowaways, and the crews quarters gone through with a view to possible smuggled arms.
arms. Some hour or so before allotted time of departure, the passengers would congregate in rooms shown on Plan 3, regarding which I shall give particulars later. After examination they would pass down on to the ship alongside their particular rooms, and the vessel immediately proceed to her destination.
One of the advantages to my mind of this scheme of building, is that the Colony would not have to invest money in development which may not be required for some time to come, inasmuch as piers can be added as required for the expansion of trade. At the present moment the number of passengers river steamers arriving and leaving per diem are as follows:-Arrivals 8, Departures 7; and the number of passengers as given by the Harbour Office are, Arrivals 2,600, departures 2,577, or say 5,200 in all. It then becomes merely a question of how many berths should be recommended if it is agreed to erect the depot; roughly speaking we should allow for 10,000 passengers.
In sketch No. 4 you will find a buoyed area is shown. I have marked this out to 1,000 feet, and would suggest that this be made an entirely prohibited area for traffic both by day and night: this is a matter however, which would have to be thoroughly gone into with the Harbour Authorities: but without a prohibited area the whole scheme is useless. It would likewise allow steamers arriving and depart- ing to come up and swing, and so greatly facilitate their berthing at the depot. Each building would be equipped with signals effective both by day and night in order to