40 



Guide to Belfast. 



Having thus sketched the history of the Linen trade, a 

 short description of a representative mill may be given. 

 The York Street Flax Spinning Co.'s concern is one of 

 the largest and best-equipped of flax mills, and is one of the 

 "sights" of Belfast; it is also the oldest of its kind, having 

 been started in 1830. Since the foundation of the present 

 company in 1864, the works have been greatly enlarged by 

 the purchase of other premises, including a bleaching-green 

 and a mill, and now all the operations necessary to convert 



VdRK STREET 



the raw flax into the finished web are carried on. The 

 visitor enters the main offices, and follows each stage of the 

 manufacture as he makes the tour of the numerous buildings 

 and rooms. A huge block is given over entirely to storing 

 flax and stock linen, no less than six floors being required 

 for the former. Technically, the raw flax becomes "line" 

 after being hackled and dressed, the waste product being 

 "tow." There is an unexpectedly great variety in the type 



