Towns > Helensburgh > 1875 - Battrum's guide and directory to Helensburgh and neighbourhood

HELENSBURGH GUIDE. IS
plan it is to be regretted, was afterwards departed from, and
in consequence some of the best feuing lots were compara-
tively spoiled for want of proper access.
In 1846 a Police Act was obtained, under which the
affairs of the town are now managed. The governing offi-
cials were increased in number, and the powers conferred
on them enlarged, so as to enable them to carry out modern
ideas of improvement and order. Almost simultaneously
with this Police Act, gas was introduced into the burgh.
The streets formerly were badly kept and ill-drained, and
not lighted at all. They are now, after nearly twenty years'
indefatigable effort on the part of the corporation, nearly all
in good condition, and though not so well lighted by any
means as they ought to be, and might be, they are better
than most of country towns.
One great drawback to the prosperity of the place for
many years was the want of a good harbour. The original
plan of the town included a harbour. A provision of £1500
was made by Government towards its formation, on condi-
tion of an equal sum being raised in the locality ; but as the
sum on the subscription list, though it reached £1100, never
attained to £1500, the matter was allowed to drop. This
was before the era of steam navigation, and long before col-
lecting money in aid of any useful object was reduced to a
science. The pier, originally a stone dyke, for landing and
embarking passengers from steamers, by small boats, was
lengthened and increased by degrees. It was under the
management of a committee of subscribers till 1834, when
a piece of ground to the south-east of the pier was, through
the enterprise and liberality of Provost Smith, purchased
from a Mr Henry Taylor for the Helensburgh Town Coun-
cil. In order to turn this acquisition to account, Provost