Jan., 1892. 
THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION AT CARDIFF. 
11 
growing town of Cardiff. At the beginning of the century 
this town had only a population of 1,000, and in 1840 10,000, 
whilst at the present time it numbers no less than 132,000 
inhabitants. This unprecedented increase is entirely owing 
to its position as the natural outlet for exporting the coal 
raised in the S. Wales coalfield ; and, in fact, I see that, for 
tonnage of export, it is this year the first port in the 
kingdom. At Barry, which is included in the port of Cardiff, 
the increase of population has equalled that of some of the 
American frontier towns of which one occasionally hears ; 
for whereas three years ago, when its dock was constructed, 
its population was under 300, it now exceeds 16.000. 
Cardiff is situated at the mouth of the two rivers, the 
Taff and the Bhymney, and it was on the banks of these that 
the coal and iron brought down by canal was formerly 
shipped. When, however, railways began to bring down 
these productions in larger quantities something more was 
needed, and the father of the present Marquis of Bute under¬ 
took the construction of an artificial dock, which has proved 
the forerunner of the splendid series now to be seen there. 
The docks at Cardiff, including those at Barry and Penartli, 
have a water area of over 250 acres; but what struck me 
most was the extensive network of railways connected with 
them, and the highly ingenious arrangements for the rapid 
discharge of coal into the ships. At the Bute Docks the 
railways run at the quay level, but when the trucks approach 
the ship-side they are raised up on a hydraulic lift, and also 
tilted up by the same agency. At Barry, on the contrary, 
the trucks are brought along elevated railways, and run by 
gravitation on to the platforms overhanging the ships, where 
they also are discharged by hydraulic power. This arrange¬ 
ment permits of the shoot platforms being able to travel a 
short distance along the edge of the quay, thus enabling 
loading to go on simultaneously at several hatchways in the 
same vessel. In fact, it is not uncommon for a vessel to enter 
with the one tide, be loaded, and go out again with the next, 
a celerity which does not give unqualified satisfaction to 
the sailors, as curtailing their time ashore. Hydraulic 
power is extensively used at this dock for the various motions 
required. Six large accumulators are kept charged with a 
pressure of 6001bs. to the inch, and, to supply it to the 
travelling cranes, telescoping tubes are used. The dock 
gates are opened by direct-acting rams, supported on gimbals, 
and the ponderous iron bridges over the entrances are moved 
by the same agency. 
As usual, a number of factories were thrown open to the 
