166 REPORT—1850. 
Colton Trade.—Let us now look to only two of the staple manufactures of Glas- 
gow, viz. cotton and iron, as a further illustration of its progress; and first, let us take 
only two departments of the cotton trade—cotton-spinning and power-loom weaving. 
The first steam-engine in Glasgow connected with cotton-spinning was erected in 
1792; but it was not till the beginning of the present century that any considerable 
quantity of yarn was spun in Scotland. At the present moment the extent of this 
trade may be imagined, when it is stated that the number of spindles employed in 
cotton-spinning connected with or dependent on Glasgow, amounts to about 1,800,000, 
and that the cotton consumed will amount to nearly 45,000,000 lbs. or 120,000 bales. 
The power-loom was first introduced to Glasgow in 1793, by Mr. James L. Robert- 
son, who brought two from the hulks on the Thames. In the following year forty 
looms were fitted up at Milton; and in 1801, Mr. John Monteith had 200 looms at 
work at Pollokshaws, near Glasgow. In 1831, the power-looms in or dependent on 
Glasgow had increased to 15,137; and in the present year the power-looms belong- 
ing to the city, or connected with it, number about 25,000, producing the daily average 
of 625,000 yards of cloth. 
Tron Trade.——Although the cotton manufacture, in all its various combinations, 
was to a certain period justly regarded as the staple trade of Glasgow and neighbour- 
hood, it is problematical whether or not the iron trade may not now be looked upon 
as equally important. From a document furnished me by Mr. Barclay, who lately 
published a pamphlet on the statistics of the Scotch iron trade, I find that the num- 
ber of smelting furnaces around Glasgow in 1830 was only 16, each producing an 
average of 2500 tons of pig-iron per annum, or a total of 40,000 tons; whereas, during 
the year 1849, there were 79 furnaces, each producing about 6000 tons, or 475,000 
tons per annum, showing an increase of more than ten times the amount in the course 
of less than twenty years*. The manufacture of malleable iron in Scotland is of more 
recent date, not having been properly commenced till 1839, and no note of the quan- 
tity made having been kept till 1845, when it appears the production was estimated at 
35,000 tons. At present there are in operation five malleable iron-works near Glas- 
gow, and one in Ayrshire, making the number at work in Scotland six, while the 
production at present is estimated at 80,000 tons, or more than double in five years. 
Gas.—There is nothing connected with a great and growing city which marks its 
progress more palpably than its consumption of gas. By merely glancing over the 
annual returns of each of the various gas companies of the empire, it were at once 
easy to predicate, with some degree of accuracy, the progress of its various towns. 
Previous to 1817, Glasgow was dependent, like all other places, on oil or candle for 
light. During that year the first gas-light company was instituted, which was fol- 
lowed by another company in 1848. On the 15th September 1818, the streets Were 
first lighted with gas, and immediately thereafter it began to be used in dwelling- 
houses and factories. The street lamps lit with gas in 1835-36 numbered 2888, and 
in 1840, 3801; whereas at this time (1850) they amount to 7358. The present an- 
nual cost paid by the police for lighting the city streets is £3913 7s. 3d., irrespective 
of what is paid by the bridge and harbour trustees for the bridges and harbour. In 
1840 the quantity of gas consumed in Glasgow and suburbs, irrespective of that 
burned by a few manufacturers who made their own gas, was 173 millions of cubic 
feet; whereas at present the consumption, irrespective of the gas made at one public 
work, amounts to 441 millions of cubic feet! 
Water.—The next great point in the city’s progress to which we would call atten- 
tion is the supply of water. Prior to the year 1806, Glasgow was but indifferently 
provided with water. It depended at that time wholly for its supply on twenty-nine 
public wells (the greater number of which still remain), a few private pumps, and 
what could be drawn from a spring at Willow-Bank, and which was carted to the city 
and sold from door to door. About that period, however, the Glasgow Water Com- 
pany was formed, which was soon followed by the Cranstonhill Company. These 
companies, now united, have, up to 1850, expended on their works and in laying pipes, 
£440,047 6s. 10d.; and derived last year, say from May 1849 to May 1850, a re- 
venue of £31,093 9s. 7d. The daily supply of water by this company amounts to 
9,673,000 gallons, of which a portion is raised to the height of 245 feet. ‘This com- 
pany now limits its supply to the north side of the Clyde, the population of which may 
* In 1849 the blast furnaces in Scotland were 113 in blast, and 31 out of blast; the 
quantity of iron produced is estimated at 690,000 tons, 
