BELFAST: 



ITS TRADE AND COMMERCE. 



By Alec Wilson. 



I^^^^^HE rise of Belfast into its present position as the 

 ¥/^^^! " Con^n^ercial Capital " of Ireland has been so 

 |v%jM' I rapid and remarkable, that it deserves to be 

 |||ls!=l<r5^U again emphasized, though it has been .already 

 mentioned in the preceding article. A century ago, Belfast 

 was hardly more than a village at the end of a tidal estuary, 

 navigable only by vessels up to 300 tons, which had to work 

 slowly along a difficult stream between banks of "slob." 

 There were many ports which looked more suitable for a 

 considerable over-seas traffic; and, in fact, it was not until 

 the advance of mechanical knowledge had produced the 

 power-loom and the dredger that Belfast's real history 

 began. It then became evident that the central position 

 in which the city stands as regards the North of Ireland 

 had marked it out as the depot for Ulster; but the 

 business aptitude of Belfastmen took their trade far beyond 

 the comparatively small duties of supplying their own 

 neighbourhood : and to-day, the linen, ships, ropes, tobacco, 

 and many other products of Belfast are famous the world over. 



Since 1841 a straight channel has been cut for a length of 

 four miles, a work of great importance, giving a waterway of 

 300 feet wide, with a present depth of 28 feet at high water. 

 There are a large number of steam cranes, lifting from 2 to 

 100 tons, the latter being erected alongside the Alexandra 

 Dock. This dock is 825 feet long and 85 feet wide at the 

 entrance ; it is thus among the largest in the Kingdom ; 

 but a still larger one is projected. The present area of the 

 docks and basins is about 136 acres, and considerable 

 extensions are in contemplation, to give proper accommoda- 

 tion to the many traders who find the existing quayage too 

 congested for their requirements. 



The Belfast Harbour Commissioners are spending large 

 sums of money in improving the harbour and docks. 



The MusGRAVE Channel, which will run from the north 

 end of the East Twin Island, constitutes practically a dupli- 

 cation of the Victoria Channel, and will be about i?, mile 

 c 



