Scotland > 1882-1915 - Slater's Royal National Commercial Directory of Scotland > 1886 - Slater's (late Pigot and Co's) Royal national commercial directory and topography of Scotland

LANARKSHIRE
GLASGOW
SLATER'S
The importations of tea during the years shown were as follow : —
1867, 6.149.9021bs ; 1868. 5,S36,5241bs ; 1SG0, 6,313,754lbs ; 1870,
6,626,4421 bs ; 1871, 6.937,5261bs ; 1872, fi,765,590Ibs ; 1873,
7,041,9911bs ; 1874, G,971,2871bs; 1875, 7,206,5031dh ; 1876,
6,957,5591bs; 1877, 6,6S5,5771bs : 1878, G,025,0241bs ; 1879,
5,61S,8981bs ; and in 1SS0, 5,49S,0561bs.
In shipbuilding, Glasgow deservedly holds a high position. Its
building yards are both numerous and extensive, and the vessels
constructed here, whether of timber, iron, or steel, have attained a
wide-spread celebrity. Specimens of them navigate every sea. There
â– were launched during the year 1884 by the various firms on the
Clyde, 332 vessels of an aggregate tonnage of 298,964 tons, as com-
pared with 4!7,8S1 tons during the year 1883. The exact hearing and
relation of the returns will, however, be best seen by reference to the
following table, which gives the amount of tonnage launched during
each of the last twenty-six years : —
Year. Tonnage. | Year. • Tonnage.
1884 29S.9H4
18S3 417,831
1882 395,149
1881 331,86s
1880 239,115
1879 173,438
1878 222'S53
1877 169,710
1876 174,S24
1875 211,824
1874 262,430
1873 232,926
1872 230,:!47
1871 196,229
1870 180,401
1869 192,310
1868 169,571
1867 108,024
1866 124.513
1865 153,932
1864 178,505
1863 123,262
1862 69,967
1861 66,801
18(50 47,a33
1859 35,709
The figures for 1S84 show a decrease of 11S,917 tons over the output
in 1883. The totnl number of men employed in the shipbuilding
yards on the Clyde, and its tributaries the Leven and Cart, and in the
engineering works connected therewith, a few years ago was estimated
at 50,000; not one half that number aro at present engaged therein.
A good proportion of the tonnage launched consisted of vessels
of steel. The opening of the Suez Canal caused an increased demand
for steam vessels. In 1869, the sailing tonnage built was 89,000 tons,
and of steam 85,000 tons. Next year the tables tinned, and steam
aggregated 138,000 tons, against 39,000 tons of sailing tonnage. The
high price of fuel led to a diminution of this proportion in 1874, '5,
*6 and 7 ; but during the past few years there nas been a gradual in-
crease in the number of steam vessels.
The merchants import to a large amount sugars, rum, wines, brandy,
timber, coffee, cotton, flour, &c, and numberless other productions of
the western world, particularly from Demerara, the Caraccas, Buenos
Ayres, the United States, Canada, Nova Scotia, &c. Their commercial
transactions likewise extend to the coasts of Asia and Africa, and are
of considerable consequence in many of the ports of Europe. Their
exportations comprise muslins, shawls, and every description of cotton
goods, silks, glass, soap, whisky, and the various manufactures of the
neigbonring town of Paisley, as well as the products of the adjacent
districts.
Of course the Clyde is the great highway for mercantile traffic.
The following statement of the number and tonnage of shipping ar-
rivals (steam vessels and sailing vessels combined) will give an idea
of the activity of the maritime operations of the port. In the year
1841 the numbers were:— Under 40 tons, 3,432 ; 40 to 60, 3,965 ; 60 to
80, 2.758 ; 80 to 100, 3.139 ; 100 to 150, 899 ; 150 to 200, 292 ; 200 to 250,
179 ; 250 to 300, 235 ; 300 to 350, yl ; 350 to 400, 73 ; 400 to 450, 63 ; 450
to 500, 18; 550 to 605, 69; 600 to 700. 3. In 1876 the corresponding
numbers were : — Under 40 tons, 3,579; 40 to 60, 2,822; 60 to 80,
2,110; 80 to 100, 1,436; 100 to 150, 852; 150 to 200, 392; 200 to 250,
515 ; 250 to 800, 402 ; 300 to 350, 430 ; 350 to 400, 491 ; 400 to 450, 428 ;
450 to 500, 416 ; 500 to 600. 239 ; 600 to 700, 67 ; 700 to 1,000, 140 ; 1,000
and upwards, 267. In 1879 the corresponding numbers were :— Under
40 tons, 4,461; 40 to 60, 3,096; 60 to 80,2,203; 80 to 100. 1,383; 100
to 150, 885 ; 150 to 200, 389 ; 200 to 250, 737 ; 250 toSOO, 474 ; 300 to
350, 335 ; 350 to 400, 501 ; 400 to 450, 448 ; 450 to 500, 423 ; 5U0 to 600,
290 ; 600 to 700, 81 ; 700 to 1,000, 158 ; 1,000 and upwards, 358. The
tonnage of vessels registered as belonging to Glasgow on the 31st
December, 1878, was 700,077 tons ; number of vessels owned, 1.180 ; con
sisting of :--sailing vessels, 564; tonnage, 375,557 ; steam vessels, 566 ; ton-
nage, 342,441 ; in 1880, the tonnage was 776,780 ; the number of vessels
owned, 1,207 ; composed of sailing ships, 570 ; tonnage, 367,216 ; steam
ships, 637, tonnage, 409,564. In 1S82, the number of sailing ships was
575 ; tonnage, 873,776 ; and of steam ships, 683 ; tonnage, 453,668.
Grangemouth is the port of the eastern entrance of the Forth and
Clyde canal through which sea-going vessels of considerable burthen
can pass to Glasgow or to the Firth of Clyde, and places beyond. The
length of the canal to Glasgow is 29 miles, and its entire length 35 miles.
The locks are 20 feet wide and 74 feet long, admitting vessels about 68%
feet in length, and little under 20 feet in breadth. The depth of water is
fully 9 feet. The toll for passing on the canal is one penny per ton per
mile for all articles except gunpowder. For the accommodation of
vessels too large to enter the canal, capacious wet docks and other works
have been provided, and there is now room for about twenty thousand
tons of shipping.' The depth of water in the river Carron, between the
port and the Frith of Forth, is about 20 feet at spring and 15 feet at
neap tides.
The railways converging on Glasgow are the Caledonian, the North
British, the Glasgow and South -Western, the Glasgow, Barrhead
and Kilmarnock joint line, and the Glasgow and Paisley joint
lino. The City of Glasgow Union Railway connects the North
British and Glasgow and South-Western Railway. The chief pas-
senger Btations in Glasgow are the Caledonian Central station,
Goraon street, head of Buchanan street, Bridge street, Eglinton. street,
Bridgeton and London road ; the North British, Queen street and Col-
lege Rqnire ; Glasgow and South- Western, St. Enoch square, and Bridge
street ; Glasgow, Paisley and Kilmarnock, St. Enoch square ; Glasgow
and Paisley, Brigde street ; and City Union, St. Enoch square, Main
street, Gallowgate and Bellgrove. It may likewise be mentioned here
that regular and frequent communication by steam boats is maintained
â– with Liverpool, Cork, Limerick. Galway, Dublin, Belfast, Londonderry,
the Western aud Northern Highlands, and all parts of the British coast.
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, &c.
? : The " Lord Provost " is the designation of the chief magistrate of
Glasgow, who is styled honourable; the subordinate 'functionaries are
ten bailies, the dean of guild, and the deacon convenor. There are 48
councillors— three for each of the 16 wards into which the city is di-
vided, aud the dean of guild and deacon convenor, who are councillors
by virtue of their offices. The principal officers connected with the cor-
poration are the treasurer, chamberlain, town clerks, master of works,
bailio of the river and Frith and Clyde and his depute, bailie of Provan,
procurator fiscal, and superintendent of streets and buildings. There
arc also t-.vo other bodies that exercise municipal privileges— the Mer-
chants' House and the Trades' House. The dean of guild belongs to
and is nominated by the former, and the convenor to the latter House,
by which he is aimointed. As illustrative of the onerous and varied
duties that devolve upon the municipal authorities, it may be stated that
the Corporation administers, solely or in part, 20 distinct trusts, that
the united annual revenue of these is in excess of £400,000, and that
the debts affecting these amount to more than three millions.
Besides, they have either complete or partial control of the finan-
cial affairs connected with the numerous charitable foundations,
schools, &c.
The police are under the direction of the honourable the lord pro-
vost, the magistrates, dean of guild, deacon convenor, and eighteen
commissioners chosen by the town council from among its own mem-
bers. There are five police districts — a central district, and one for
each quarter of the city. There are several courts held within the
jurisdiction of the city, the chief of which are the following: — The
Dean of Guild Court, held every alternate Thursday, at eleven o'clock,
takes cognizance of buildings and streets. The Sheriff Small Debt
Court, for debts not exceeding .£12, sits every Monday, Wednesday, and
Thursday. The Justice of Peace Small Debt Court, for the Lower Ward
of Lanarkshire, meets every Monday morning at ten, in the County
Hall, to decide claims of £8 and under. The County Court sits every
Wednesday for criminal offences, and Thursday for the recovery of
small debts. The River Bailie Court sits every Monday, Wednesday,
and Friday, and has marine jurisdiction between Glasgow Bridge and
the Cloch, near the mouth of the Clyde. The Sheriff Ordinary Court
sits every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, aud the Burgh Ordinary
Court every Friday, except during the vacation ; both adjudicate on
causes of any amount, however large.
The principal gaol, called the Northern Prison, which unfortunately
it has been recently found necessary to enlarge by the erection of a
considerable compartment in the rear, is in Duke street. The South
Prison is hi the rear of a commanding range of buildings, with its
frontage towards the river, near the Victoria Bridge ; there is a noble
portico in the centre, composed of a double row of fiuted columns. The
two justiciary halls are in the centre, arranged with the requisite con-
veniences for a court of justice.
Glasgow returns three members to Parliament ; the gentlemen now
sitting are Charles Cameron, Esq. ll.d. (L), Thomas Russell, Esq. (L),
and R. T. Middleton, Esq. (L). The total parliamentary constituency
in 1884 was 70,878 ; municipal constituency, 88,940 ; school board con-
stituency, 130,9i3.
RELIGIOUS EDIFICES.
The Cathedral^ or High Church, which ornaments the north-
eastern termination of the city, and is one of very few ecclesiastical
structures of ancient Scotland that have withstood the withering in-
fluences of time, the assaults of religious fury, and the sapping of
neglect, arose iu the early part of the twelfth century. John
Achaius, Bishop ol Glasgow, was its founder, and John Murdo its
supposed architect, the reigning King being David I., who witnessed
its consecration. A stone above the door of the choir tells us, in
Latin, that it was dedicated in 1197, St. Mungoor Kentigeru being
invoked as its tutelar patron. The figure of the edifice is cruciform,
From the centre of the building rises a square embattled tower, of
lofty octangular form, from which springs a spire. The length of
the choir from east to west is 320 feet, and the breadth is 63. Tho
height of the nave is 85 feet, and of the choir 90. The spire is 825
feet in height, aud the circumference of the whole building 1,100
feet. One hundred and forty seven pillars support tho pile, and its
wiudows number one hundred and fifty-seven. They vary in size,
aud some of them are exquisite in design. The building some few
years ago underwent a process of restoration and embellishment,
which, bringing out all the beauty of the original plan, makes it in
some respects one of the most richly decorated temples in Europe.
The windows have been filled with stained glass according to a con-
nected and harmonious plan. Those in the nave represent Old
Testament subjects, according to the order of biblical chronology;
those in the choir represent subjects from the teaching of the
Saviour. The work was chiefly executed in Munich. The cost of
the east window, the finest of the series, was defrayed by parlia-
mentary grant, that of the othors by donors, who presented or joined
in presenting separate wiudows by way of family memorials.
The Barony Church, contiguous to the Cathedral, was built in
1798, from a design by Mr. Adam; the parish connected with this
church is the largest in the city. The College, or Blaclcfriars Church,
in High street, is a plain building, erected in 1699, on the site of a
more ancient pile, called Blackfriars, which in 1666 was destroyed
by a thunderstorm. The Tron or L&igh Church, near the Cross,
was erected in 1794, and is a plain building, surmounted by a cupola.
A spire, built iu 1637, stands between it and the street, having a
clock and two bells. The name of the " Tron" was applied to this
church from a part of its steeple having been used as a weigh house.
The clock faces of this church are lighted externally by gas lamps.
St. Andrew's Church, which stands in a square of the same name,
was completed in 1756, at an expense of £15,000, and resembles that
of St. ,Martin's-in-the-Fields, London. The architect was Mungo
Nasmytn. St. Enoch's Church was erected in 1780, from designs
by Mr. Jaffray. The front, on which is the spire, is decorated with a
Doric portico, and has a light and handsome appearance ; it stands
in St. Enoch square, and is a graceful terminating object from
Buchanan street. St. George's Church, on the west side of
Buchanan street, fronting George street, is a handsome edifioe
with three-quarter Doric columns in front, the whole height of the
church. The steeple is crowned with a dome and obelisk, and is one
hundred aud sixty-two feet high. This church was finished at an
expense of £9,000. St. John's Church, in Graeme street, is one ef the
largest places of worship in the city, affording sixteen hundred
sittings; it was built during the residence here of Dr. Chalmers,
whose pulpit oratory attracted large congregations. The Gorbals
Church is situated at the east end of Carlton place, fronting the
river; it was completed in 1810, from designs by Mr. D. Hamilton.
The clock of this church, from its great elevation, is seen to a great
distance. St, David's Church, at the end of Candleriggs street, is in
the" Gothic style, and was built from the deigns of Messrs. Rickman
and Hutchinson, of Birmingham. CircuraJtances have rendered it