Towns > Dundee > 1809-1912 - Dundee directory > 1910-1911

REVIEW OF A CENTURY. 17
to a small shop west side of Vault, where the business was con-
ducted for many years. About 1818 Mr Chrystal, who retired, was
followed by Mr Robert Bell, and that gentleman remained in office
during several mutations. Mr Bell's successive premises, after
leaving Vault, were — Trades' Hall, soixth side ; corner of Castle
Street and Seagate (since occupied by Messrs James Keiller &
Son, Limited) ; shop, 7 Reform Street ; and latterly at Pillars,
ground floor, east side of entrance to Town House. In 1860 a fine
structure was opened in Albert Square. Mr Bell having resigned,
Mr William Gibb, who had been his associate for many years, was
installed in his place. In 1895 the handsome edifice at the jiinction
of Constitution Road and Meadowside was erected. Mr Gibb, it
may be pointed out, was succeeded in the postmastership in due
course by his son, Mr George H. Gibb, who in turn was followed
by Mr William H. Bryson and Mr William Taylor, the latter at
date (1910) beino- still in office.
Reverting to the subject under review, in 1818 Mr Alexander
Colville published the Directory of that date from his office. Key's
Close, Nethergate. The site is marked by Whitehall Street, east side.
This Directory showed considerable improvement both in technique
and adaptabilitj-. In every respect it was superior to its predecessor,
the details being more copious and the arrangement good. As far as
could be gathered from meagre references, the affairs of the Burgh
were not all that might be desired. This arose from prolonged
national unrest, which had systematically drained the country
of its wealth and depleted it of w^age- earners. Between the dates
of the publication of the two Directories the population
had marked time, and still stood at 30,000. A work of some magni-
tude at this period was in an advanced stage. In 1815 the line of
our fine docks was projected, and in 1825 Dock Street and King
William Dock were evolved. Earl Grey Dock was an undertaking of
later years. Despite adverse conditions, manufactures showed a
good deal of progress, and the export value of coarse linens and
osnaburgs was reckoned at £200,000 annually. No better proof of
the general depression, however, could be afforded than the fact that
shipping had only increased by three vessels in nine years. Still,
apart from these deterrents, there were on the surface of things
symptoms that changes, far-reaching and sweeping in their ultimate
influence, were being foreshadowed. Steam was making its impress
upon mercantile economics, and indicating that before many years it
would become a potent factor in those laws which regulate the pro-
duction and distribution of wealth and the relations between capital
and labour. Spinning mills, actuated by that power, were rapidly
springing up, and about this date eighteen were either finished or
were in course of erection. Education, too, was forging ahead, and
the youth of the town had excellent opportunities of acquiring a
sound scholastic training. Most of the streets — many of them of
Oriental narrowness — are described as neat, the latest opened being
characterised as "spacious and elegant." Finance, statutory
regulations, especially those applicable to the Tay Ferries, and civic
and harbour administration, each have their proper place, and much
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