men of invention and industry-第64章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
vessels had been built in Scotland。 It was not until 1826 that
the first steamboat; the chieftain; was built in Belfast; by the
same William Ritchie。 Then; in 1838; the first iron boat was
built in the Lagan foundry; by Messrs。 Coates and Young; though
it was but a mere cockle…shell compared with the mighty ocean
steamers which are now regularly launched from Queen's Island。
In the year 1883 the largest shipbuilding firm in the town
launched thirteen vessels; of over 30;000 tons gross; while two
other firms launched twelve ships; of about 10;000 tons gross。
I do not propose to enter into details respecting the progress of
the trades of Belfast。 The most important is the spinning of
fine linen yarn; which is for the most part concentrated in that
town; over 25;000;000 of pounds weight being exported annually。
Towards the end of the seventeenth century the linen manufacture
had made but little progress。 In 1680 all Ireland did not export
more than 6000L。 worth annually。 Drogheda was then of greater
importance than Belfast。 But with the settlement of the
persecuted Hugnenots in Ulster; and especially through the
energetic labours of Crommelin; Goyer; and others; the growth of
flax was sedulously cultivated; and its manufacture into linen of
all sorts became an important branch of Irish industry。 In the
course of about fifty years the exports of linen fabrics
increased to the value of over 600;000L。 per annum。
It was still; however; a handicraft manufacture; and done for the
most part at home。 Flax was spun and yarn was woven by hand。
Eventually machinery was employed; and the turn…out became
proportionately large and valuable。 It would not be possible for
hand labour to supply the amount of linen now turned out by the
aid of machinery。 It would require three times the entire
population of Ireland to spin and weave; by the old
spinning…wheel and hand…loom methods; the amount of linen cloth
now annually manufactured by the operatives of Belfast alone。
There are now forty large spinning…mills in Belfast and the
neighbourhood; which furnish employment to a very large number of
working people。'20'
In the course of my visit to Belfast; I inspected the works of
the York Street flax…spinning mills; founded in 1830 by the
Messrs。 Mulholland; which now give employment; directly or
indirectly; to many thousand persons。 I visited also; with my
young Italian friend; the admirable printing establishment of
Marcus Ward and Co。; the works of the Belfast Rope…work Company;
and the shipbuilding works of Harland and Wolff。 There we passed
through the roar of the iron forge; the clang of the Nasmyth
hammer; and the intermittent glare of the furnacesall telling
of the novel appliances of modern shipbuilding; and the power of
the modern steam…engine。 I prefer to give a brief account of
this latter undertaking; as it exhibits one of the newest and
most important industries of Belfast。 It also shows; on the part
of its proprietors; a brave encounter with difficulties; and sets
before the friends of Ireland the truest and surest method of not
only giving employment to its people; but of building up on the
surest foundations the prosperity of the country。
The first occasion on which I visited Belfastthe reader will
excuse the introduction of myselfwas in 1840; about forty…four
years ago。 I went thither on the invitation of the late Wm。
Sharman Crawford; Esq。; M。P。; the first prominent advocate of
tenant…right; to attend a public meeting of the Ulster
Association; and to spend a few days with him at his residence at
Crawfordsburn; near Bangor。 Belfast was then a town of
comparatively little importance; though it had already made a
fair start in commerce and industry。 As our steamer approached
the head of the Lough; a large number of labourers were
observedwith barrows; picks; and spadesscooping out and
wheeling up the slob and mud of the estuary; for the purpose of
forming what is now known as Queen's Island; on the eastern side
of the river Lagan。 The work was conducted by William Dargan;
the famous Irish contractor; and its object was to make a
straight artificial outletthe Victoria Channelby means of
which vessels drawing twenty…three feet of water might reach the
port of Belfast。 Before then; the course of the Lagan was
tortuous and difficult of navigation; but by the straight cut;
which was completed in l846; and afterwards extended further
seawards; ships of large burden were enabled to reach the quays;
which extend for about a mile below Queen's Bridge; on both sides
of the river。
It was a saying of honest William Dargan; that 〃when a thing is
put anyway right at all; it takes a vast deal of mismanagement to
make it go wrong。〃 He had another curious saying about 〃the calf
eating the cow's belly;〃 which; he said; was not right; 〃at all;
at all。〃 Belfast illustrated his proverbial remarks。 That the
cutting of the Victoria Channel was doing the 〃right thing〃 for
Belfast; was clear; from the constantly increasing traffic of the
port。 In course of time; several extensive docks and tidal
basins were added; while provision was made; in laying out the
reclaimed land at the entrance of the estuary; for their future
extension and enlargement。 The town of Belfast was by these
means gradually placed in immediate connection by sea with the
principal western ports of England and Scotland;steamships of
large burden now leaving it daily for Liverpool; Glasgow;
Fleetwood; Barrow; and Ardrossan。 The ships entering the port of
Belfast in 1883 were 7508; of 1;526;535 tonnage; they had been
more than doubled in fifteen years。 The town has risen from
nothing; to exhibit a Customs revenue; in 1883; of 608;781L。;
infinitely greater than that of Leith; the port of Edinburgh; or
of Hull; the chief port of Yorkshire。 The population has also
largely increased。 When I visited Belfast in 1840; the town
contained 75;000 inhabitants。 They are now over 225;006; or more
than trebled;Belfast being the tenth town; in point of
population; in the United Kingdom。
The spirit and enterprise of the people are illustrated by the
variety of their occupations。 They do not confine themselves to
one branch of business; but their energies overflow into nearly
every department of industry。 Their linen manufacture is of
world…wide fame; but much less known are their more recent
enterprises。 The production of aerated waters; for instance; is
something extraordinary。 In 1882 the manufacturers shipped off
53;163 packages; and 24;263 cwts。 of aerated waters to England;
Scotland; Australia; New Zealand; and other countries。 While
Ireland produces no wrought iron; though it contains plenty of
iron…stone;and Belfast has to import all the iron which it
consumes;yet one engineering firm alone; that of Combe;
Barbour; and Combe; employs 1500 highly…paid mechanics; and ships
off its iron machinery to all parts of the world。 The printing
establishment of Marcus Ward and Co。 employs over 1000 highly
skilled and ingenious persons; and extends the influence of
learning and literature into all civilised countries。 We might
add the various manufactures of roofing felt (of which there are
five); of ropes; of stoves; of stable fittings; of nails; of
starch; of machinery; all of which have earned a world…wide
reputation。
We prefer; however; to give an account of the last new industry
of Belfastthat of shipping and shipbuilding。 Although; as we
have said; Belfast imports from Scotland and England all its iron
and all its coal;'21' it nevertheless; by the skill and strength
of its men; sends out some of the finest and largest steamships
which navigate the Atlantic and Pacific。 It all comes from the
power of individuality; and furnishes a splendid example for
Dublin; Cork; Waterford; and Limerick; each of which is provided
by nature with magnificent harbours; with fewer of those