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Barbour； and Combe； employs 1500 highly…paid mechanics； and ships
off its iron machinery to all parts of the world。 The printing
establishment of Marcus Ward and Co。 employs over 1000 highly
skilled and ingenious persons； and extends the influence of
learning and literature into all civilised countries。 We might
add the various manufactures of roofing felt （of which there are
five）； of ropes； of stoves； of stable fittings； of nails； of
starch； of machinery； all of which have earned a world…wide
reputation。
We prefer； however； to give an account of the last new industry
of Belfastthat of shipping and shipbuilding。 Although； as we
have said； Belfast imports from Scotland and England all its iron
and all its coal；＇21＇ it nevertheless； by the skill and strength
of its men； sends out some of the finest and largest steamships
which navigate the Atlantic and Pacific。 It all comes from the
power of individuality； and furnishes a splendid example for
Dublin； Cork； Waterford； and Limerick； each of which is provided
by nature with magnificent harbours； with fewer of those
difficulties of access which Belfast has triumphed over； and each
of which might be the centre of some great industrial enterprise；
provided only there were patriotic men willing to embark their
capital； perfect protection for the property invested； and men
willing to work rather than to strike。
It was not until the year 1853 that the Queen's Islandraked out
of the mud of the slob…landwas first used for shipbuilding
purposes。 Robert Hickson and Co。 then commenced operations by
laying down the Mary Stenhouse； a wooden sailing…ship of 1289
tons register； and the vessel was launched in the following year。
The operations of the firm were continued until the year 1859；
when the shipbuilding establishments on Queen's Island were
acquired by Mr。 E。 J。 Harland （afterwards Harland and Wolff）；
since which time the development of this great branch of industry
in Belfast has been rapid and complete。
From the history of this firm； it will be found that energy is
the most profitable of all merchandise； and that the fruit of
active work is the sweetest of all fruits。 Harland and Wolff are
the true Watt and Boulton of Belfast。 At the beginning of their
great enterprise； their works occupied about four acres of land；
they now occupy over thirty…six acres。 The firm has imported not
less than two hundred thousand tons of iron； which have been
converted by skill and labour into 168 ships of 253；000 total
tonnage。 These ships； if laid close together； would measure
nearly eight miles in length。
The advantage to the wage…earning class can only be shortly
stated。 Not less than 34 per cent。 is paid in labour on the cost
of the ships turned out。 The number of persons employed in the
works is 3920； and the weekly wages paid to them is 4000L。； or
over 200；000L。 annually。 Since the commencement of the
undertaking； about two millions sterling have been paid in wages。
All this goes towards the support of the various industries of
the place。 That the working classes of Belfast are thrifty and
frugal may be inferred from the fact that at the end of 1882 they
held deposits in the Savings Bank to the amount of 230；289L。；
besides 158；064L。 in the Post Office Savings Banks。＇22＇ Nearly
all the better class working people of the town live in separate
dwellings； either rented or their own property。 There are ten
Building Societies in Belfast； in which industrious people may
store their earnings； and in course of time either buy or build
their own houses。
The example of energetic； active men always spreads。 Belfast
contains two other shipbuilding yards； both the outcome of
Harland and Wolff's enterprise； those of Messrs。 Macilwaine and
Lewis； employing about four hundred men； and of Messrs。 Workman
and Clarke； employing about a thousand。 The heads of both these
firms were trained in the parent shipbuilding works of Belfast。
There is do feeling of rivalry between the firms； but all work
together for the good of the town。
In Plutarch's Lives； we are told that Themistocles said on one
occasion； 〃'Tis true that I have never learned how to tune a
harp； or play upon a lute； but I know how to raise a small and
inconsiderable city to glory and greatness。〃 So might it be said
of Harland and Wolff。 They have given Belfast not only a potency
for good； but a world…wide reputation。 Their energies overflow。
Mr。 Harland is the active and ever…prudent Chairman of the most
important of the local boards； the Harbour Trust of Belfast； and
exerts himself to promote the extension of the harbour facilities
of the port as if the benefits were to be exclusively his own；
while Mr。 Wolff is the Chairman of one of the latest born
industries of the place； the Belfast Rope…work Company； which
already gives employment to over 600 persons。
This last…mentioned industry is only about six years old。 The
works occupy over seven acres of ground； more than six acres of
which are under roofing。 Although the whole of the raw material
is imported from abroad from Russia； the Philippine Islands； New
Zealand； and Central Americait is exported again in a
manufactured state to all parts of the world。
Such is the contagion of example； and such the ever…branching
industries with which men of enterprise and industry can enrich
and bless their country。 The following brief memoir of the
career of Mr。 Harland has been furnished at my solicitation； and
I think that it will be found full of interest as well as
instruction。
Footnotes for Chapter X。
＇1＇ Report in the Cork Examiner； 5th July； 1883。
＇2＇ In 1883； as compared with 1882； there was a decrease of
58；022 acres in the land devoted to the growth of wheat； there
was a total decrease of 114；871 acres in the land under
tillage。Agricultural Statistics； Ireland； 1883。 Parliamentary
Return； c。 3768。
＇3＇ Statistical Abstract for the United Kingdom； 1883。
＇4＇ The particulars are these： deposits in Irish Post Office
Savings Banks； 31st December； 1882； 1；925；440； to the credit of
depositors and Government stock； 125；000L。； together； 2；050；440L。
The increase of deposits over those made in the preceding year；
were： in Dublin； 31；321L。； in Antrim； 23；328L。； in Tyrone；
21；315L。； in Cork； 17；034L。； and in Down； 10；382L。
＇5＇ The only thriving manufacture now in Dublin is that of
intoxicating drinksbeer； porter； stout； and whisky。 Brewing
and distilling do not require skilled labour； so that strikes do
not affect them。
＇6＇ Times； 11th June； 1883。
＇7＇ The valuation of the county of Aberdeen （exclusive of the
city） was recently 866；816L。； whereas the value of the herrings
（748；726 barrels） caught round the coast （at 25s。 the barrel） was
935；907L。； thereby exceeding the estimated annual rental of the
county by 69；091L。 The Scotch fishermen catch over a million
barrels of herrings a