—————— oO =r 
Transactions. 109 
street were many, and huge turf stacks encroached on the public 
way. More objectionable to the pedestrian than the piles of 
“‘divots” were the heaps of refuse, emitting odours not akin to 
those of “ Araby the blest.” If the sanitary condition of the 
place was unsatisfactory, the authorities could not justly be held 
responsible, as not infrequently they ordered cleansing operations 
and passed Acts forbidding the placing of “ashes,” &c., on the 
street. On 31st October, 1717, they dealt comprehensively-with 
the whole question of the improvement of the town. 
‘* The said day they enacted and ordained that the hail middens with 
the turf and peat stacks be removed off the town streets, and the hollow 
places where the same stood or lay be filled up by ilk ane of the inhabitants 
to whom the same belonged, and the street be filled up before. everyone’s 
door to the middle of the street under the penalty of ten pounds money 
foresaid, to be paid by the transgressor in case of default. . . . The 
said day it was enacted and ordained that any that build within the burgh 
shall for hereafter always build the principal part of the building fronting 
to the forestreet of the burgh in a straight lines and that they plant timber 
for their yards in the terms of the Act of Parliament, and whoever does 
otherwise that his work be stopt by the Dean till he comply therewith.” 
The first improvement effected in Annan last century was the 
building of a bridge across “the drumlie river,” The old ferry 
boat belonging to the burgh having become perilously rickety, the 
Magistrates and Council, in 1700, decreed its destruction, and 
instead of purchasing a new one they ambitiously commenced to 
build a bridge, hoping to be aided in their undertaking by the 
Marquis of Annandale, who had more than once rendered them 
financial assistance. Hampered in their operations by want of 
funds, they made slow progress, and at one time it seemed likely 
that the bridge would never be completed. On 3rd November, 
1702, the Council finding that for half-a-year the men engaged in 
the work had received no wages, and considering that “the 
Marquis of Annandale his chamberlain, refused to clear and pay 
off what was resting to the said workmen,” resolved to ask their 
Commissioner to Parliament to approach “my Lady Marquis of 
Annandale,” begging her in her lord’s absence to grant orders to 
satisfy the workmen, and offering any security available. The 
help desired was cheerfully given by Lord Annandale, and five 
years later a grateful Council unanimously agreed that, “for the 
great and good services done by my Lord Marquis to the burgh,” 
his tenants should be exempt from the duty exigible on farm 
produce “brought through the said burgh, and liberties thereof.” 
