Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/115

Rh GLASGOW. 107 GLASGOW. the Broomielaw vessels of from 800 to 1,000 tons may often be seen receiving or discharging their cargoes. The line of quays on the N. and 8. side of the river extend to about nearly 2J miles in length, and in addition to these there is a fine stone wharf 600 feet in length, for the accommodation of smaller craft above the Broomielaw bridge. The piece of water lying between this latter named bridge and the Victoria is denominated the "inner," as that lying below it is called the "outer harbour." Large improvements and extensions of these already important works are constantly going forward, under the direction of the Clyde trustees, who are a body formed by members chosen out of the corporation, the trades' and merchants' houses, the chamber of com- merce, and the shipowners of the city. It is their duty to manage everything connected with the river, such as its finance, the regulations for the sailing of vessels for business or pleasure, and the various other matters which naturally attach themselves to so important an office. There is, perhaps, no other river in the world which offers more inducements to the pleasure-seeker than the Clyde, and the consequence is, that the harbour and quays present an appearance, more especially in the Bummer months, not only of commercial activity, but of the most amusing bustle and excitement. Hundreds of steamers, conveying the citizens to their country mansions on the coast, excursionists and tourists on their various trips to the beautiful spots in the 'immediate vicinity of the city, or travellers and emigrants to foreign countries and more distant scenes, pass constantly to and fro ; and to any one who sails from Glasgow down to Greenock, the vast numbers of ship-building and engineering establishments which extend along the shores, the forests of masts on the river, the fleets of sailing and steam vessels and small craft constantly moving up and down the stream, will afford constant food for wonder and amusement. In 1863 the number of sailing ships arriving at the port of Glasgow was returned at 3,148 ; that of steamers at 10,555, their tonnage collectively being estimated at about 1,386,938 tons; while the harbour dues amounted to about 120,000, of which Bum nearly 95,000 has been expended by the trustees during the past year in dredging and similar operations for deepening and clearing the channel, in addition to the enormous sums which are also expended for new works upon m the banks. Another of the important elements in the prosperity of Glasgow is that of its capabilities for the acquisition of coal and iron, these minerals coming in great quantities from the whole district of western Scotland, where they abound, and the latter of them being dug and manufactured within a few miles round the city. Thus great facilities are given for those branches of industry in which iron is an important clement, and the enormous iron ship- building establishments which now exist upon the Clyde huvo all been called into existence by the ease with which iron is acquired and worked almost upon its' very banks. During the last year there were 31 sailing vessels all of iron, and 4 of wood and iron combined, launched on the Clyde, besides 67 screw steamers all of iron, and 2 of iron and wood. In addition to these there were 38 iron paddle-steamers, 1 iron ram, 2 iron steam various kinds. The tonnage of the vessels launched on the Clyde during the year 1863 amounted to 124,000, while that already in construction since the 1st January, 1864, lerably exceeds 100,000 tons, so that it is evident that the skill and enterprise which have already made the Clyde what it is, are still busily at work adding each year to its capabilities ; and there are at present mm, 1864), 15 deep-sea steamers being built for the ise of blockade-running. The vessels which arrive annually in the Clyde amount to nearly 20,000, with an tonnage of nearly 2,000,000 of tons, and the nis duties collected during 1863 amounted to 983,990 10s. 3d. Independently of the iron which is ' imed for the shipbuilding purposes of Glasgow,
 * i.-s, and a vast quantity of small tugs and craft of
 * ist iron which is produced there is no less astonish-

ing for its quantity, than it is famed, both at home and abroad, for its excellent quality. The aggregate of that shipped for railway purposes, and for articles of domestic use, amounted during the past year, without counting that used at home and that sent by rail, to close upon 85,000 tons, the whole quantity of iron produced amount- ing to 1,160,000, and that shipped away from Glasgow to 1,105,000 tons. Before the breaking out of the American war, the cotton trade was one of the great staples of the wealth of Glasgow, and about fifty mills for spinning yarn and thread were in full operation. Besides these there were many cotton- weaving mills and machines, and a vast population of hand-loom weavers, and various works for the manufacture of worsted, linen, silk, and mixed fabrics. To these branches of industry may be added linen, worsted, and carpet- weaving, the embroidery of muslin with needles, and that of silk upon woollen stuffs, in which latter trades more than 10,000 women are kept employed cotton printing, bleaching, and dyeing. In addition to all this, there are many other manufacturers in Glasgow who derive large incomes from businesses which although they do not stand prominently forward, nevertheless are carried on to a large extent, and form a considerable item in the prosperity of the city. Such, for instance, are the glass factories and the potteries, where not only the coarse red clay of the district is worked for the supply of the common articles of domestic use, but also the finest kind of porcelain is made from clay expressly imported for that purpose, and upwards of a million of pipes are turned out weekly for the use of tobacco smokers. We may also add to these the manufacture of tile drains, and all kinds of earthen bottles and vessels for containing the chemicals and spirits which Glasgow produces in such large quantities, upwards of 3,000,000 gallons of the latter having been distilled there in the course of the year. There are also extensive sugar refineries, timber yards, ale and porter breweries, boot and shoe factories, clothing establishments ; in a word, every article of human industry is manufactured here, and meets with a ready mart, not only for home con- sumption, but also for the vast export trade which is carried on at the port. From all this it results that Glasgow, possessing as she does within herself so many local branches of industry, and such various means of employment for her citizens, is still in a most thriving condition, notwithstanding the depression of the cotton trade; and there is every reason to believe that her progress, owing to the capabilities which she still enjoys for improvement, will bo almost as marvellous in future years as it has been in those that have gone by. The newspaper press of Glasgow employs a considerable number of hands ; the principal journals are the North British Daily Mail, the Herald, and the Morning Journal, published daily. The Citizen, the Saturday Evening Post, &c., appear weekly. They are all most respectably edited and conducted, and fully deserving the support which they respectively enjoy. The town is supplied with water from Loch Katrine that lovely lake in the Trossachs, rendered for ever memorable by the min- strelsy of Sir Walter Scott which lies at a distance of 34 miles from the city. The old water-works, which belonged to a joint stock company, were bought up by the corporation for the price of 674,000 only that portion of them which is situated in the Gorbals on the S. side of the river b6ing left in operation and the new works were commenced in 1866 by Bateman, the engineer appointed to carry them forward. In 1859 they were completed, and were opened by the Queen on the 14th October of that year. They bring into Glasgow 18,500,000 gallons of the purest water daily from an elevation of 360 feet above the level of the sea, by the mere force of gravitation. The cost of their construction amounted to 918,000. There are six separate police establishments in the city, each under a local superin- tendent, who is again in his turn under the superinten- dent of the central district, and there is also an efficient fire brigade. There are about 200 churches and places of religious worship in Glasgow, belonging to the Estab- lished Church, tho Free Church, the United Presbyterian