59
In addition to these, the Pacific Mall
Steamship Company and the Boston Tow-Boat Company have large steamers frequenting the Fort, the following being the dimensions
of the largest!-
Length.
Mongolia
615' 0"
Breadth.
85' 0"
Load draft.
33' 8"
Manchuria
Tremont
505' 0"
59' 0"
89' 0"
Shawmut
It will thus be seen that, though not re-
-quired for vessels trading to wuropean forts, on the dimensions
of which the Suez Canal has a restrictive effect, it is necessary,
on account of the trans-Pacific trade, to provide for the largest class of steamers likely to be built and the scheme has been de-
-signed with that object in view.
it is intended in the first instance to con-
-fine operations to the area shown on the pian entitled "irst Section of Schene", the estimated cost of which is $585,000. The
reciamation will be protected by a mound of rubble, finished on
the outer face with a pitched slope, where junks and lighters can be loaded or discharged. The shallowness of the water pre-
-cludes the possibility of berthing any steamer near the reclair- -ed area and, until some of the deep-water berths shown on the complete scheme are provided, all cargo brought to or by the rail- -way will have to be delivered by lighters. This is a common prac- -tice at the present tire, comparatively few steaners going along- -side a wharf for the purposes of icading or discharging cargo
into the existing warehouses.
As funds become available, the complete
scheme can be carried out in sections. The entire work, inclusive of the First Section, but exclusive of equipment, is estimated to cost $9,576,000 or about £1,000,000 sterling. in view of the
immense