Scotland > 1868, 1878 - Slater's (late Pigot & Co.'s) Royal national commercial directory and topography of Scotland > 1861

2Lanaifc$f)tre.
GLASGOW, &c.
plater's
between the north and south sections of the city ; it is
one of the finest bridges in Europe, with a span of
420 feet, the chains rest on handsome piers, with
columns of the Grecian Ionic character in cast iron.
The southern bank of the river now rivals its com-
petitor on the northern side, its wharfs, sheds, and
shipping being nearly as commodious and animated;
and the former village of Gorbals has grown into
a noble and extensive town. The river, between
the opposite quays, has not onlv been widened
but it is progressively being deepened through the in-
strumentality of dredging machines, so that ships of
upwards of 1,000 tons burthen now discharge at the
Broomielaw. The city is great Iv indebted to the late
Mr. Spreull, who, during the period he held the office of
city chamberlain, exerted himself for the accomplish-
ment of this important object: the present spirited
river trustees are vigorously acting upon his sugges-
tions. The mud raised by the machine is conveyed
down the Clyde in flats, and spread where the shore is
low and swampy, by which process the batiks of the
river are raised, and a rich soil is deposited. A diving
bell is also employed, as an assistant in the subter-
aqueous operations.
The main line of street running t.ast and west, is
nearly two miles in length, and eighty feet wide, assu-
ming at different points the names of Gallowgate,Tron-
gate, and Argyle-streef. Noble houses and handsome
shops, with few exceptions,range on both sides through-
out the entire line. The street which runs from north
to south is about a mile in length and fifty feet broad,
bearing successively the names of Castle-street, Kiik-
street, High-street, and the far-fumed Sail market,
anciently the abiding place of ' Bailhe Nicol Jarvie,
and moiiy mair baillies.' The point of intersection
of these two lines is called the Cross, and may
be termed the nucleus of the citv. Here stand
the Town Hall and the Tontine Coffee-room (or old
Exchange) with a fine piazza in front ; opposite to
which is an equestrian statute of King William 111,
presented to the city, 1736, by James M'Crea,Esq.tben
governor of Madras, and a native of Glasgow. Parallel
with Argyle-street, towards the north, are three other
splendid streets, named Ingram-sueet, St. Vincent-
street, and George-street, crossed by others of uniform
elegance. But Buchanan-street, which pas-es in a nor-
thern direction from At gyle-street, opposite St. Enoch-
square to the station of the Caledonian railway, is the
handsomest business street in the citv. Parallel with
this is Queen-street, in which stands the Royal Ex-
change, witii the equestrian statue of the Duke'ofWel-
iington in front,unsurpassed for grace of style and truth-
fulness of expression. Sauchiehall-street, which runs
from Buchanan-street westward nearly a mile, by the
elegant erections at the western end, ranks among the
finest streets in the city, the shops on the southern sirie
are very handsome and attractively stored. The archi-
tectural taste displayed in i he western section of the
city is of the first order, to which the two fine squares,
George and Blythswood, add a graceful magnificence.
Blythswood-square occupies an elevated site and the
superior style of the mansions around it indicate that
this neighbourhood has been adopted as a favourite
place of residence by the opulent. The houses are ali
of stone, and the construction and arrangement of the
streets impart to this vicinity a resemblance to a portion
nf Bath— several superb crescents adjacent strengthen-
ing the similitude. The old town lies to the east of
the Trongate, extending to the Clyde on the south, and
to the cathedral on the north. At the baek of the ca-
thedral is a rocky eminence called the Merchants' Park,
upon the summit of which, on a fluted Doric column,
fifty-eight feet high, is placed a colossal statue of the
illustrious Scottish reformer, John Knox ; appropri-
ate inscriptions are sculptured on the four sides of the
pedestal; this proud monument, so attractive from its
from an original painting in the Glasgow University,
The surrounding grounds have beentastefnlly planted*
and formed into a cemetery, named the ' Necropolis,
and the stranger will be highly gratified by a visit to
this interesting spot. The view from the summit of
the hill is pleasing and commanding, access to it is by
a handsome bridge, beneath which is a waterfall. The
monument to Lord Nelson, on Glasgow Green, is a
simple obelisk, 143 feet in height, surrounded by a
protecting railing; the four sides of the pedestal record
the birth, achievements and death of this naval hero,
and the fact of this being the first memorial, sculptured
to his memory impi esses a high idea of the public
spirit of the citizens. The 'Green,' of which it is so
conspicuous an ornament, is Glasgow's pride; neither
encroachment nnr injury, can be committed upon it
with impunity; its motto is the same as that of the
naiional thistle, — 'Nemo me impune lacessit.' This de-
lightful promenade, from its extent, its verdure, and
its plantations, may be denominated a park, the Clyde
washes its southern margin, the prospect towards the
south-east is beautiful and extensive — woods and vil-
las in the foreground, and the hill of Dychmont, with
the loftier and more distant one of Tinto, in the dis-
tance. Here, during the summer months, may be wit-
nessed the national game of golf, and often is the
Green animated by military evolutions. The delightful
sward is, however, appropriated to usefulness as well
as pastime — Scotia's bounie lassies frequently comet t
a portion of it into a bleaching ground, for contiguous
to this recreative rendezvous is the public washing-
house, in which everv convenience is provided for the
detersive process ; there are other similar establish-
ments in different quarters of the city. Statues of Her
Majesty and of Sir Robett Peel add two additional
embellishments to this city. The statue of Sir John
Moore (who was a native of Glasgow) stands in the
centre of George-square, and is much admired as a
work of art. Conspicuous amidst the throng of
elegant buildings which adorn the City of Glasgow aie
the Banking Establishments, many of which are archi-
tecturally beautiful, and all are proud testimonials to
the commercial enterprise of this port, of which they
are representatives. There are several corn mills in
and around Glasgow, upon a scale of great magnitude.
No stranger can perambulate Glasgow without noticing
its admirable pavement. The material being granite
of almost indestructible hardness, Glasgow may be
deemed one of the best paved cities of Europe. The
city is plentifully supplied with good and cheap gas by
two extensive companies— the Gas Light Company,
Virginia street, established in 1817, and the City and
Suburban Gas Company, Miller-street, formed in 1843.
The Glasgow New Water Works: — The works lately
inaugerated by Her Majesty at Loch Katrine are on a
scale which makes them important as an engineering
feat even in these days of Great Easterns and Saltash
Viaducts. Between Loch Katrine and the Mugdock
Service Reservoir, eight miles from Glasgow, there are
13 miles of tunnelling, 3| miles of iron piping, and
9| miles of aqueduct. There are in the whole work
70 distinct tunnels, upon which 44 vertical shafts have
been sunk for facilitating and expediting the completion
of the work. The first tunnel commencesimmediately
upon the acqneduct leaving Loch Katrine. It is 2,325
yards in length, 600 feet below the summit of the hill,
and has been worked in addition to the open ends by
12 shafts, 5 of which are neaily 500 feet deep. This
tunnel is through gneiss and mica slate. The last
tunnel is at thesoutheni extremity of the aqueduct,
just before it enters the service reservoir. It is 2,650
yards in length, almost wholly through whinstone, at
a depth of 250 feet below the summit of the hi)!.
Besides these, which are the two longest tunnels, ther j
are, at intermediate places, others of 700, 800, 1,100
and 1,400 yards iu length. The rock tunnelled through
position and magnitude, was raised in the year 1825. i was in many parts ot the most obdurate description
Contiguous to this is another, similar in character but. For several miles along the side of Loch Chon, when
of inferior dimensions, erected more recently, to the ■ the work passed through a succession of ridges of mic:
memory of M 'Gavin, the formidable opponent of | slate largely mixed with quartz veins, the progress did
popery, and author of ' The Protestant.' The statue I not exceed 'thiee lineal yards in a month, although th'
of Knox i^ 250 feet above the level of the Clyde, and is: work was carried on day and night. In the Loci
a conspicuous object at a great distance; the artist I Katrine tunnel, and generally through the mica slate
was Mr. Forrest, of Lanark— the likeness was taken j the ordinary average progress was about five yards in i
a. I month. In drilling the holes tor blasting the rock, b
790 vo