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RENNIE'S DOCKS AND HARBOURS. 



PART VII. 



now it floats down with every tide vessels of thousands 

 of tons burden, capable of wrestling with the storms of 

 the Atlantic. Watt, Smeaton, and Golborne had been 

 consulted at different times, and various improvements 

 were suggested by them. Watt laid out a ship-canal 

 from Glasgow to the sea. Smeaton proposed to con- 

 struct a dam and lock at Marlin Ford, so as to allow 

 vessels drawing only four feet of water to pass up to 

 the quay at the Broomielaw. The clearing out of the 

 channel by artificial means was, however, found the most 

 effectual method of opening up the navigation of the 

 river, and at length all other plans gave way to this. 

 Golborne had run out jetties at various points, by which 

 the scour of the tide had been so directed that consider- 

 ably greater depth had been secured. Mr. Eennie 

 examined the entire river below Glasgow in 1799, and 

 the result was his elaborate report of that year. He 

 recommended numerous additions to the jetties, as well 

 as many improvements in their direction. He also 

 advised that a system of dredging should be com- 

 menced, which was attended with the best possible 

 results ; and the same course having been followed by 

 succeeding engineers, the Clyde has now become one of 

 the busiest navigable thoroughfares in the world. The 

 plan which he shortly after prepared and submitted of 

 a range of commodious docks along both banks of the 

 river at the Broomielaw, showed his sagacity and fore- 

 sight in an eminent degree ; but unhappily it was con- 

 sidered too bold, and perhaps too costly, and was not 

 carried out. 1 



1 Mr. Rennie proposed to form two 

 docks on the Broomielaw side of the 

 river one 1350 feet long and 160 

 feet wide, with two entrances, and 

 another 900 feet long and 200 feet 

 wide; with a third dock upon the 

 Windmill Croft, on the south side of 

 the river, 300 feet long and 200 feet 

 wide; the whole presenting a total 



length of quayage of 6120 feet, besides 

 a river quay wall 1150 feet long. 

 This magnificent plan, proposed more 

 than half a century since, viewed by 

 the experience of this day, shows how 

 clearly Rennie anticipated the com- 

 mercial growth and manufacturing 

 prosperity of Glasgow, for which these 

 projected docks would have afforded 



