1 5 8 C O R K P R E S E N T .

E N G I N E E R I N G .

T h o u g h the manufac ture of machinery on a la rge scale in Cork is only now being rendered possible by the erection of a b i g w o r k s fo r Messrs . Henry F o r d & Son, L td . , there ha s long been a considerable degree of engineering activity in Cork and district, a s would b e expected, since the varied industries and commercial enter­prises of t h e neighbourhood demand the use of a f a i r amount of machinery, needing supervision, maintenance and repair .

S o long a g o a s 1841 it is recorded t ha t there w e r e in existence in Cork a t least nine Iron and Brass Foundries , do ing good work , a l so t ha t the Cutlery made in Cork acquired a reputation fo r superior quality, and t h a t agricul tural machinery and implements, specially adapted t o t he w a n t s of Ir ish fa rmers , were m a d e in i ts i ronworks.

Reference is m a d e t o var ious special enterprises in which Engineer ing is of pr ime importance in t he articles deal ing with P a s s a g e Docks, Rushbrooke Docks , Shipbuilding, Cork Electric L igh t ing and Power Supply, Rai lway facilities, Cork H a r b o u r W o r k s , etc. , bu t , apa r t f r o m these activities, Cork possesses several mechanical engineer ing w o r k s where a considerable amoun t of foundry , mill-wr ight ing , jobbing and general repair w o r k , a s well a s some manufac ture , is carried on. F o r instance, in t he Motor Engineer ing Shops, body-building en­g a g e s a fa i r number of h a n d s ; in the Railway workshops some new construct ion, particularly in car r iage building, is under taken, and some agricul tural machinery is also manufactured by a f e w local firms. These local firms have proved them­selves capable of deal ing satisfactorily wi th the considerable amount of Engineer ing work naturally called for b y t h e varied industries of t he district.

T h e possibilities of Engineer ing manufac tu re on a scale commensura te with the splendid facilities offered by the excellent wa te r f r o n t and river t ranspor t , a r e only n o w becoming realities owing t o t he enterprise of t he firm of Messrs . Henry F o r d & Son, Inc. , of Dearborn , Michigan, t h e manufac tu re r s of t he " F o r d s o n " t rac tor . T h e unexampled industr ial success of this firm, wi th i ts " s t a n d a r d i s e d " methods of production, and the excellent t rea tment of i ts em­ployees, makes it particularly welcome t o Cork . In November , 1916, fo rma l negotiat ions were entered into by th is firm, t h e C o r k Corporat ion, and the H a r ­bour Commissioners, a n offer be ing received f r o m the Company fo r t h e purchase of t he freehold of t he Cork P a r k g rounds and considerable land adjoining the r iver ; and in January , 1917, it w a s decided t o obtain Par l iamentary P o w e r s t o permit of t he sale of t h e necessary land which would enable the Company to erect buildings of a size demanded by the extent of t h e proposed output .

U n d e r t he agreements d r a w n u p between these bodies t h e Company acquired approximately 130 acres of land, hav ing a river f r o n t a g e of approximately 1,700 feet, t he Company ag ree ing t o erect buildings t o cost a t least ^ 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 , t o give employment t o a t least 2,000 adul t males, and t o pay a minimum w a g e of one shilling per hour t o them when employed in t he factory a f t e r completion.

T h e p lant be ing laid down by t h e Company is specially designed f o r t h e manu­fac ture of a n Agricul tural Motor Trac to r , well-known a s t he " F o r d s o n , " a 22 h .p . f o u r cylinder t rac tor , work ing wi th kerosene or paraffin, adaptable either f o r p loughing or a s a portable engine a r r anged fo r dr iv ing machinery b y belt drive. As is well known, t h e main fea®ires of t he " F o r d s o n " t rac tor lie in i ts efficiency, i ts l ightness, and adaptability, and it represents t he results of extensive t r ia ls covering a period of many years , every detail having been thoroughly tr ied and tested unde r actual f a r m i n g conditions.

T h e t rac tor is art iculated, i.e, it h a s n o f rame , g iv ing accessibility t o all p a r t s f o r m a k i n g adjus tments , t he motor , t ransmission and r e a r axle be ing assembled together in o n e rigid uni t . T h e casing, etc. , is of special design, and the pistons,

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I N D U S T R I E S . 1 59

gearing, etc. , a r e of selected Vanadium steel. Special devices a r e adopted t o keep out dus t and dirt , all moving p a r t s be ing enclosed.

I t will pull t w o 14 inch p loughs in t he stiff est soil, and maintain a d r a w bar pull of 1,800 pounds a t p loughing speed ; it can turn in a 21 foo t circle, and the over­all width is 5 feet 2 inches.

T h e demand fo r such f a r m t ractors , which enable l a rge a reas t o be b rough t under food production with t h e minimum of expense and labour, is g r e a t and will be universal a t t he close of t h e w a r .

T h e scale o n which manufac tu re is t o be under taken will b e appreciated f r o m the fac t t h a t t he p lant is intended t o provide all " F o r d s o n ' t rac tors t o t he continent of Europe. . , u-

T h e enterprise of Messrs . Henry F o r d & Son , L td . , in b r ing ing t o Cork this large scheme of t rac tor manufac ture o u g h t to, and will, create a n unprecedented industrial t ransformat ion in t he City and the South of Ireland generally. As a n Engineer ing centre Cork should therefore t a k e in t he near f u t u r e a fo remos t place among our g r e a t manufac tu r ing towns and cities, and, no doubt, other engineer­ing ventures will soon follow t h e splendid lead given by Messrs . Henry Fo rd and Son, Ltd.

GRAIN A N D MILLING.

Cork, owing t o i ts na tura l advan tages and t o the development of t he Por t , is the principal import ing and dis t r ibut ing centre fo r gra in in t he South of Ireland, and is well equipped fo r t he d ischarge of t he l a rge cargoes of whea t and maize which a re landed here f r o m all pa r t s of t h e world. Primit ive methods of handling have been gradually displaced, and wharf aocommodation provided t o meet t h e rapidly increasing size of t h e modern ship. Fo r ty years a g o the^ ave rage ship was bu t a f ract ion of t h e size of t h a t of to-day, yet, small a s w a s its d r augh t , it was unable t o come u p t o t he quays of Cork till it had been l ightened a t P a s s a g e by t h e d ischarge of port ion of its c a r g o into l ighters, a slow and expensive process. T o remedy such conditions the Cork H a r b o u r Commissioners embarked on a series of extensive improvement schemes. T h e channel w a s deepened by dredging, and wharf accommodation fo r vessels of l a rge tonnage provided, and , in 1884, ' the South Jett ies, a t which vessels wi th a d r a u g h t of 23 feet could dis­charge afloat, were opened f o r traffic. T h e development of the t r a d e m a d e the provision of increased g ra in be r thage necessary, and in 1903 additional deep water berths where vessels of 22 fee t d r a u g h t can d ischarge in t h e hear t of t he City, were opened f o r traffic a t Anderson 's Quay . T h e Cork City Rai lways and W o r k s Co. provided s idings t o t he South Jetties, which were completed in 1 9 " , and which link u p these ber ths wi th the Grea t Southern and W e s t e r n , and wi th the Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway systems, and similar connection with the Anderson's Q u a y b e r t h s is a t present under construction. I t will t h u s b e seen t ha t with the exception of machinery f o r d ischarge o n the quays, t he t r ade is now fully equipped f o r t h e handl ing of t he la rges t ca rgoes of g r a m , and it is t o b e hoped t ha t this much needed ad junc t will b e provided in t he near fu tu re , s o t a Cork may b e b rough t u p t o t h e level of t he mos t up-to-date ports .

T h e principal g ra in imports a r e whea t and maize, t he la t ter of which is almost entirely used f o r catt le food. T h e decline in t h e population of Ireland ha s na tu ­rally been reflected in t h e whea t imports , t hough the h igher s tandard of living of the present day h a s t o some extent counteracted i ts effect on imports . I n 1881 the population of t h e County Cork w a s 495,607, a n d in 1911 it had fallen t o 392,104, a decline of 103,503, equivalent t o nearly 21 per cent. I t is n o t sur ­prising, therefore, t ha t t he imports of whea t , which averaged 73,182 t o n s per annum fo r t he ten years end ing July 31st, 1894, should have fallen t o 6 ! ,569 tons in the following decade, b u t a sl ight mcrease (62,026 tons pe r annum) is recorded for the ten years ending July 31st, 1914- I n t h e s a m e P e r l o d s m a i z e I t I l p 0 r t S

M A R I N A MILLS, CORK.

JOHN FURLONG 81 SONS, LTD., Cork and Fermoy, F L O U R MILLERS 6 E X P O R T E R S .

telegraphic Address: "Furlong, (grk." telephone No.-Cork 146.

T. Hallinan & Sons, Ltd. ' cAvoncore cMilts,

cMidleton, Co. Cork. R E G I S T E R E D T E L . A D D R E S S : T E L E P H O N E N O . 1 M I D L E T O N .

" H A L L I N A N , M I D L E T O N . "

T. HALLINAN & SONS, Ltd. Glandalane Mills, FERMOY,

CO. CORK. R E G I S T E R E D T E L . A D D R E S S : T E L E P H O N E N O . 2 1 F E R M O Y .

" H A L L I N A N . F E R M O Y . "

Manufacturers of High-class

Bakers' ^ housekeepers' Flours.

J. & R. WEBB, Ltd. Quartertown Mills, MALLOW,

C O . C O R K .

R E G I S T E R E D T E L . A D D R E S S : T E L E P H O N E N O . 6 M A L L O W " W E B B , M A L L O W . "

^Manufacturers of High-class

Bakers' and Retail flours ^ and {Fjest Quality grades of MAIZE MEALS. J|

1 6 1

Registered telegraphic jlddress : telephone ^[o. "MacMullen, Cork-" Cork, 349.

Cork Steam Mills / T Established in 1830 by W i l l i a m Dunbar , in 1844

described in a local publication a s consisting of " O a t Mill (wi th t h r e e pairs of stones) w i th F lour Mill, w o r k e d by o n e steam eng ine of 35 horse p o w e r , constructed on most superior principles."

In 1854 t h e business w a s acqui red f r o m J o s e p h Dunbar by J . W . MacMul len , a n d in 1900 assigned

J . W. MacMULLEN & SONS LIMITED,

M A N U F A C T U R E R S O F H I G H E S T G R A D E S O F

F O R BAKERS' £r H O U S E K E E P E R S ' USE.

yllso Best (Wholemeal and all grades of Indian Jfteal.

fllMlls anb S t o r e s : G E O R G E ' S QUAY. M A R G A R E T S T R E E T .

DUNBAR S T R E E T . BUCKINGHAM P L A C E .

W H I T E S T R E E T . R U T L A N D S T R E E T .

© f f i c e s : 5 , GEORGE'S QUAY, CORK.

162

I N D U S T R I E S .

have shown a considerable increase, t he annual averages in t he corresponding periods be ing 61,329, 85,199 and 88,445 t o n s P e r annum. T a k i n g the t w o com­modities together , it will b e seen t h a t t he ave rage annual g ra in imports have shown a substant ial increase.

O a t s f o r m the principal item of g ra in expor t s f r o m Cork, and la rge quantit ies a r e shipped annually t o Eng land and F rance . In the yea r ending July 31st, 1914, the quanti ty exported amounted t o 20,000 tons .

T h e Milling t rade h a s passed th rough a complete revolution in t he process of manufac ture du r ing the last for ty years . U p t o the years 1875 t o 1880 the only method of manufac tur ing flour w a s g r ind ing by millstones, t he whea t being g round between two flat circular s tones. These were m a d e of a very ha rd silicate, the faces of which w e r e cu t in a series of a l ternat ing r idges and fu r rows . T h e lower s tone w a s fixed, while t he upper revolved, and t h e gra in , be ing fed f r o m the centre w a s ground into flour, b ran , a n d pollard, by this operation, t he b r a n and pollard be ing subsequently separated f r o m the flour by dress ing th rough silk machines. Buda Pes th w a s the first milling centre t o adopt t he use of metal rollers f o r gr inding, and the process, which w a s introduced there in 1840, w a s by 1870 in genera l use th roughout Hunga ry , and such w a s the superiority of t he process t ha t Buda Pes th became the g rea t e s t milling centre in t he world. T h e new process w a s one of gradual reduction, t he whea t be ing gradual ly g round into flour by pass ing it th rough a series of f r o m four t o seven sets of chilled-iron rollers, and the flour produced by this method w a s of a much higher g r a d e than t h a t produced by s tone gr inding . T h e introduction of this new method into Ire­land, between t h e years 1875 and 1880, caused a revolution in the industry, millers be ing forced to remodel their mills, o r t o b e driven ou t of t r ade by the com­petition of more up-to-date rivals. Cork w a s one of the first milling centres in Ireland t o adopt t he roller process, and w e have to-day a number of well-equipped mills in t he City and County, in which some 70,000 tons of whea t is milled annually, and , in addition, close on 90,000 tons of maize is g round . In addition t o t h e hands actually employed in t he mills, a l a rge amoun t of employment is given th rough the allied t rades which a re t o a g r e a t extent dependent on the milling industry. T h e offals, which f o r m about 30 pe r cent, of t he whea t milled, a r e a n important fac tor in t he feeding of catt le and pigs , and in us ing imported flour t he f a r m e r deprives himself proportionately of cheaper offals wi th which his fore ign competi tor is supplied. U p t o the year 1881 w e imported no b r a n , and in 1914 w e had t o import n o less than 6,427 tons . In the f o r m e r year flour formed only 3.75 per cent, of t he total imports of whea t and flour. I n t he lat ter year it had risen t o 19.35 P e r cent . T h e low f re ights a t which, in pre-war t imes, g ra in w a s b rough t in liners t o Liverpool f r o m Atlantic ports , g a v e the por t mills of Liverpool .a considerable advan­tage , and this, with a n inevitable amount of " d u m p i n g , " h a s t o a l a rge extent been responsible f o r the importat ions of flour. These conditions have been altered by the w a r , and it is certain t h a t f o r many years t o come these cheap f re igh t s will not b e available. I t will b e asked whether o u r local mills a r e in a position t o supply the additional demand on their resources which a s toppage of flour imports would entail, and it c a n b e shown by actual figures tha t , even wi thout adding t o their present capacity, our mills a r e in a position t o meet such demand. Should t h e demand still fu r the r increase, owing t o t he g rowing population which industrial development will entail, our millers, w h o have never been wan t ing in enterprise, can be relied o n t o m a k e such extensions in their plant a s a r e required under such altered conditions.

S H I P B U I L D I N G .

P A S T . — T h e P o r t of Cork f rom its na tura l advan tages is admirably adapted fo r shipbuilding. F e w countries in t he world possess a finer deep wa te r harbour .

A r r i v a l o f t h e " S i r i u s " a t N e w Y o r k , 2 2 n d A p r i l , 1 8 3 8 .

I N D U S T R I E S .

" l a n d locked f r o m t h e wild w a v e s r a n c o u r , " o r a finer r iver t h a n t h e sp read ing Lee. F r o m t ime immemoria l d o w n t o a b o u t 1867 Cork w a s a busy shipbui lding centre , a n d tu rned o u t sh ips second t o none in the i r d a y . T h e house flag of t he numerous C o r k Sh ipp ing firms w a s t o b e seen on t h e m a s t s of their vessels in a lmost all fo re ign por t s .

T h e first s t eamer buil t in I re land w a s launched on t h e L e e in 1815. S h e w a s built a t P a s s a g e , o n t he si te of t h e present rai lway stat ion, by Andrew and Michael

^ A d d r e s s y p r e s e n t e d t o L i e u t . R i c h a r d R o b e r t s , R . N . , b y t h e C o r p o r a t i o n o f C o r k , 2 0 t h J u n e , 1 8 3 8 .

Hennessy . T h e " S o u t h e r n R e p o r t e r " of 13th June , 1815, g ives t h e fol lowing account of her l a u n c h : —

" T h e first s t e am boa t ever buil t in I re land w a s launched a t P a s s a g e , nea r th is City, o n Sa tu rday , 10th inst . , amids t a v a s t concourse of people. S h e is named the 'C i ty of C o r k , ' a n d will doubt less p rove of g r e a t utility t o t he inhabi tan ts of Cove, C o r k , P a s s a g e , e t c . "

T o C o r k enterpr ise a lso is d u e t h e dis t inguished honour of send ing t h e first s teamer across t he Atlantic f rom E u r o p e t o Amer ica—the " S i r i u s , " which sailed

C O R K P R E S E N T .

f r o m our por t on the 4 th April, 1838. She w a s commanded by Lieut. Richard Roberts , R . N . , whose family still reside in Passage .

T h e first iron s teamer built in Cork w a s by Messrs . R . J . Lecky & Co. , in 1845, for t he Mediterranean t rade . S h e w a s followed by several o thers , and a t their premises w a s a l so built f o r t he Cork H a r b o u r Commissioners t he mos t powerful Dredge r of t h a t day in t he United K ingdom. She had a chain of buckets on each side, a n d did very good w o r k in deepening the river. T h e firm also satisfactorily carried ou t important Government contrac ts .

At t he late M r . P i k e ' s yard , amongs t others , were built f o r t h e Cork Steam-Ship Company, fo r their Continental a n d Cross-channel t rade , t h e " G a n n e t , " " P e l i c a n , " " C o r m o r a n t , " " F a l c o n , " " D o d o , " " O s p r e y , " " B i t t e r n , " and " I b i s . " These ships were built du r ing the period f r o m 1848 t o i860, their g ros s t o n n a g e vary ing f r o m 600 t o 1,170 tons , which compared very favourably wi th the tonnage of t h e ships of t he mercantile mar ine of t h a t day . T h e premises of M r . P ike were mos t extensive, t he complete ship, including boilers, engines, etc. , w a s built here, a scene of unceasing industry be ing presented in every depar tment of the establishment.

A

" C o r m o r a n t , " b u i l t i n C o r k , 1 8 5 3 .

On the introduction of iron shipbuilding the building of wooden ships prac­tically ceased a t all t he principal por ts , including Cork. I n the construction of t he la t ter t h e t imber w a s available locally, bu t on t h e advent of iron shipbuilding all t h e iron and coal had t o b e imported a t a prohibitive f re igh t , wi th t h e result t ha t local firms found it impossible t o compete with the shipbuilders across t he Channel w h o had the materials practically o n the spot .

P R E S E N T . — O w i n g t o the g r e a t development of shipbuilding and of t r ade , f re igh t s were gradual ly reduced, and the d isadvantages of be ing obliged t o im­por t coal and iron became less and less compared wi th the unequalled advan tages of t he P o r t of Cork. Hence the success of t he shipbuilding yard of t he Queens-town Dry Docks Shipbuilding and Engineer ing Company, L t d . , and the develop­ment of t he Government Dockyard a t Haulbowline.

Passage and Rushbrooke Docks.—The former were built by t h e late Henry Brown and Wil l iam Craig , and were formally opened by the late Queen Victoria on her visit t o P a s s a g e W e s t in 1832, and the two dry Docks were named respec­tively the Royal Victoria D o c k and Albert Twin Dock.

I N D U S T R I E S .

T h e Rushbrooke Dock w a s built by the late Jossph Wheeler in i860. H e pre­viously w a s a n extensive shipbuilder in Cork, w h e r e he built a la rge number of sail ing ships for local and other owners .

Af ter some t ime the P a s s a g e and Rushbrooke Docks passed into the hands of the late Sir John Arnot t , f r o m whom they were again subsequently purchased by the Channel D r y Docks Shipbuilding and Engineer ing Co. , L td . , in 1898.

I n 1910, the M a n a g i n g Director, Mr . Oliver Piper , senr. , purchased t h e Docks himself, and continued t o w o r k them until March, 1917, when h is interest w a s purchased by Messrs Furness , W i t h y & Co. , L td . , of Liverpool.

T h e P a s s a g e premises a r e extremely well si tuated for ca r ry ing ou t repai rs t o t h e la rges t ships of t he mercntile mar ine and other vessels, and prove of g r e a t advan tage t o E a s t and W e s t bound ships in distress f r o m the Atlantic, be ing a s they are, together wi th the Rushbrooke Dock, t he only dry docks f r o m Dublin down, and r igh t on the very threshold of t he Atlantic t r ade route . Adjacent t o the w o r k s a re three l a rge granar ies , occupying a floor space of about 80,000 square feet , and capable of s tor ing la rge cargoes whilst vessels a r e be ing repaired.

T h e w o r k s a r e entirely run by electricity, and the place is exceedingly well equipped wi th the mos t modern machinery, including la rge fu rnaces suitable f o r bending angles 54 feet long a n d plates 40 feet by 6 J feet , l a rge and powerful rolls, and plate p laning machines for dealing with the w o r k a f t e r it leaves t h e furnaces . A railway car ry ing a 7 ton crane runs all round the yard.

A complete new fitting shop, equipped with the mos t up-to-date machinery h a s been built th is year, and the engineering shop is now able t o sat isfy the require­ments of a ship u p t o 12,000 tons.

T h e Royal Victoria Dry Dock is 365 feet in length , and i s capable of t ak ing in a vessel of 50 feet beam, on 18 feet d r a f t of w a t e r a t spr ing tides, and 16 feet 6 inches a t ordinary tides. I t is intended t o reconstruct this dock t o enable ships of very l a rge tonnage a n d d ra f t t o b e accommodated.

T h e Albert Dock is a t present in course of reconstruction, and when complete will b e capable of t ak ing in a vessel of 325 feet in length.

A t P a s s a g e W e s t there is a lso extensive whar fage , nearly half a mile in length, where vessels d rawing 20 feet , and in some cases 25 feet , can lay alongside a t low w a t e r ; while laying one off practically any d r a f t c an be obtained.

Extensive alterations a re also being carried ou t a t t he Rushbrooke Docks. W h e n completed the Dock will b e capable of t ak ing vessels u p t o 500 feet in length and 75 feet beam on a d r a f t of 25 feet .

T h e Company have recently erected a new slipway f o r t he use of smaller c r a f t plying on the river.

Extensive new w h a r f a g e accommodation is being added t o both Docks, and a second new fitting shop will b e shortly erected.

A s ta r t h a s also been m a d e with shipbuilding. T w o b a r g e s 100 feet by 20 feet , and each ca r ry ing u p t o 330 tons, have been launched a t Rushbrooke ^ a rd , and their places have been t aken by t w o o r more of t he s a m e class. I n addition t o shipbuilding and ship repair ing, a l a rge number of hands a r e constantly employed in boat building, this Company being the largest contractors for whalers, cut ters and small boa t s f o r t h e Admiralty, also supplying some of t he leading firms in the mercantile marine.

T h e important and extensive Government Dockyard of Haulbowline, situated in t he lower Harbour opposite Queenstown, can accommodate the la rges t battle­ships, and gives extensive employment.

Queenstown Dry Docks, S h i p M d i n y ^ Engineering Co.

LTD.

P A S S A G E W E S T , C O R K .

DRY DOCKS. Rushbrooke Dock - 435 x 60 x 16 Royal Victoria - 3 7 0 x 82 x 21

DRY DOCKS (under construdtion).

Rushbrooke New Dock 580 x 70 x 29 Albert New Dock - 330 x 55 x 18

W e can undertake any class of work, and our yards are ecfliipped with all the very latent improvements, enabling u s to carry out work cheaply and with the

be^l despatch. W e make a speciality of building Barges for Canal Work , River Work , or for

Seagoing purposes.

telephones : telegrams : 'Passage, I & 33. 'Docks, pushbrooke, 24. Passage West.

OLIVER PIPER, Junr., Manager.

. J 1 6 8

I N D U S T R I E S .

At Carrigaloe, o n the nor th b a n k of the river, boat building and repairs a rc carried out .

A company has been registered fo r the building of ferro-concrete ships in the harbour.

T E X T I L E S .

As pointed out in the Historical Survey of t he Commerce and Industr ies of Cork in this Guide, in order t o counteract t he effects in Ireland of t he commercial restrictions in t he catt le t rade, t he Lord Deputy , t he D u k e of Ormond, planted colonies of French refugees a t Dublin, Cork, W a t e r f o r d , Kilkenny, Lisburn and Portar l ington, and encouraged them t o set u p t h e industries of glove-making, lace-making, silk-weaving-, and the woollen and linen manufactures . " A t C o r k , " says Miss Murray , " the woollen manufac tu re w a s begun by James Fontaine, a Huguenot r e f u g e e . " H e w a s followed by some W e s t of England clothiers w h o set u p in t he neighbourhood of Cork and Kinsale. By 1695 the Ir ish woollen industry had become firmly established, and Irish woollen stuffs found a ready marke t in Spain and Holland. In 1698 the woollen manufac ture employed over 12,000 Protes tant families in Dublin, and 30,000 over t he rest of the country .

However , this industry, in common with others, did n o t escape the f ea r s and jealousies of English t raders . F r o m 1697 onwards the clothiers of t he W e s t of England sent petitions t o Par l iament complaining of the decay of their t r ade th rough the increase in t he Ir ish woollen manufactures . I n answer t o their petitions the Acts of 1698 and 1699 were passed, the lat ter prohibit ing perman­ently the expor t f r o m Ireland t o places o ther than England , of all woollen goods without a licence, and placing prohibitive duties on their importat ion into England . The high import dut ies closed the Engl ish m a r k e t except for friezes, and this marke t a s well a s t h a t of t he Continent remained closed to Ireland until 1779.

Despite t h e commercial restrictions, the woollen industry still continued t o sur ­vive on a small scale in several pa r t s of the country. Cork was , however, the la rges t centre of the industry. I t w a s here, in the neighbourhood of Rochestown, t h a t Mahony ' s woollen mills were s tar ted in 1751. Ar thur Young found in 1776 t h a t half the wool of Ireland w a s combed in the County of Cork . Three-quar ters of the wool produced w a s exported in yarns , and only one-fourth w a s converted into cloth for home use. H e est imated the value of t he annual export of woollen ya rn f r o m Cork a t ^ 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 . F o r e ight or ten miles round the City the manu­fac ture of worsted s tockings w a s carried on. Blarney w a s one of t he b i g centres of this local production of wool. T h i s little village owed i ts varied industries to Mr. Jeffreys, who began in 1765 t o establish the linen industry there. H e built three bleach mills whose 130 looms afforded cons tant employment fo r 300 hands . In addition he set u p the s tocking manufacture . In all he erected thirteen mills f o r the manufac ture of woollens and linens and fo r o ther industries. T h e linen industry w a s also carried on a t Clonakilty, where it had been established by Lord Shannon in 1769. H e r e some 94 looms were a t work .

Ireland emerged victorious in 1779 f rom her s t rugg le fo r f r ee t rade, and du r ing the twenty years f r o m 1780 t o the Union, t h e woollen industry, n o longer hindered in its exports , began t o revive. I n 1809 the woollen industry w a s carried on in Cork, Bandon, Clonakilty and Fermoy. Bandon w a s also the seat of a la rge cotton industry. T h e linen industry had i ts sea t lat Douglas , where in 1750 it g a v e employment t o 750 persons, and w a s considered t o b e the largest in t he Kingdom. I n 1809 coarse linen w a s manufactured a t Blarney, Fermoy and Bandon, a considerable quanti ty of t he flax used be ing g rown in t h e locality. Bleaching a s well a s spinning and weaving w a s carr ied on a t Innishannon and Dunmanway.

11

telegraphic ylddress :— "Tweeds, Douglas, Cork" telephone :—Douglas 12.

Woollen and Worsted MANUFACTURERS.

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NORROGH BROS. & CO. * •i •I

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LIMITED,

D o u g l a s flftllls, Co. dork, MANUFACTURERS OF

Fancy Worsted Suitings. Coatings. Trouserings. Clericals. Black and Blue Serges.

Saxonies. Friezes. Fleece Cloths. Cheviot Suitings. Dress Materials.

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LONDON OFFICE 4 , GOLDEN SQUARE, W 1.

1 7 0

I N D U S T R I E S . I 7 I

In the locality, be tween 1820 a n d 1823, the re we re 25,000 worke r s employed in and linen indust ry . I n 1853 there we re several mills here, e n g a g e d in w o r k i n g u p wool, t he m o s t f a m o u s be ing t h a t of Mahony of Blarney, whe re over 200 h a n d s were employed. T h e indus t ry cont inued t o thr ive, and in 1883 C o r k could b o a s t of twelve woollen fac tor ies in i ts vicinity. N e a r t h e close of t h e cen tury the re were f o u r l a r g e and several small woollen fac tor ies in t h e distr ict , wi th a l a rge home and expor t t r a d e in se rges , friezes, wors ted coa t ings , and homespuns . T h e firm of Messrs . Mahony of Blarney still kep t in t he fo re f ron t , employing some 550 hands . I h e linen and cot ton industr ies cont inue t o survive, b u t only on a small scale. Since t h e nineties Cork had become the centre of a th r iv ing c lothing industry . In addit ion t o a n u m b e r of l a rge d rape ry firms, t h e City could poin t t o t he fac to ry of Mess rs . T . Lyons & Co. , whe re 200 workpeople were e n g a g e d in the manufac tu r e of ready-made clothing.

A t p resen t the re a r e twenty woollen mills in t he City and County of C o r k . T h e principal ones in t h e immedia te vicinity of t h e City a r e those o f —

Messrs . Mar t in Mahony & Bros . , Blarney. Dripsey Wool len Mills, L td . , Dr ipsey . Messrs . M o r r o g h Bros . , L td . , Doug las . Messrs . O 'Br i en Bros . , L td . , Doug la s .

I n addit ion t o a considerable h o m e t r a d e these firms have a l a r g e expor t t rade , which is carr ied on t h r o u g h their a g e n t s in t h e principal cities of t he world.

Mar t in Mahony Bros . , L t d . , Blarney Mills, a r e wool merchan t s , wors ted a n d woollen y a r n sp inners a n d tweed manufac tu re r s . T h e y a r e t he oldest established and t he l a rges t firm of woollen manufac tu r e r s in t he count ry , g iv ing employment t o 600 hands .

In addit ion t o t h e usual woollen, c a rd ing a n d sp inn ing p lan t , a complete se t of wool c o m b i n g and wors ted sp inn ing machinery is installed, which enables t h e firm t o spin y a r n s of all qualities required f o r weav ing , a s well a s l a r g e quant i t ies of F inge r ing , K n i t t i n g a n d other Hosiery ya rns . I t i s t he only mill in Ireland so equipped.

Blarney tweeds a n d kn i t t i ng y a r n s a r e wor ld f a m o u s . Besides their ex­tensive h o m e t r a d e th i s firm h a s built u p an immense bus iness wi th Grea t Br i ta in , t he Colonies, t h e Uni ted Sta tes , and other fore ign marke t s . T h e firm h a s ex­hibited a t m o s t of t he wor ld ' s Indus t r ia l and Text i le shows , and h a s secured numerous medals , including those of Pa r i s , London a n d Philadelphia.

T h e Dripsey Wool len Mills, s i tuated 13 miles f r o m t h e City, had their or igin abou t 75 yea r s a g o in t h e conversion of a corn mill. I n 1883 a company w a s fo rmed which purchased t he mills, which in 1903 c a m e in to t he h a n d s of their pre­sen t owners , w h o a r e a l so t h e propr ie tors of t he Sal lybrook Wool len Mills in t he County . I n 191 o t he mills we re m u c h enlarged , addit ional bui ldings be ing erected and equipped.

T h e Dripsey Wool len Mills specialize in ladies ' cos tume cloths, and b lankets . I n addit ion they manufac tu r e tweeds , wors teds , r u g s , caps , flannels, fr iezes. T h e y have a l a rge h o m e t r ade , and a n expor t t r a d e w i th t h e Uni ted S ta tes , C a n a d a , China a n d J a p a n .

T h e woollen mills of Messrs . M o r r o g h Bros, a t Douglas , t w o miles f r o m the City, a r e s i tuated o n t he site of t h e sail cloth m a n u f a c t u r e of t w o centur ies a g o . F r o m t ime t o t ime different m a n u f a c t u r e s we re car r ied on here . T h e mos t notable addit ion t o t he mills w a s m a d e a b o u t 50 yea r s a g o b y a M r . Pollock a t a cos t of ^ 7 5 , 0 0 0 . In 1890, M r . J o h n M o r r o g h , f a the r of t h e presen t owners , t ook over t he mi l l s ; h e fitted u p new machinery and remodelled t he ent i re premises . All classes of woollen and wors ted cloths, viz. , tweeds , se rges , coa t ings , f r iezes and ladies ' d ress mate r ia l s a r e manufac tu red here . Super ior cloth f o r clerical sui t­ings i s one of t he firm's specialities. T h i s firm h a s a l a rge h o m e t rade , a n d an

i n i n c & W e a v i n c 00..Ltd.. M i L . L F I E L D . C O R K .

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SPINNERS of L I N E and T O W Y A R N S — W A R P and W E F T ,

AND MANUFACTURERS OF Fancy Ticks, Flannelettes, Shirtings, Sheetings, Zephyrs Apron Checks, Sun Blinds, Towellings, Bengal Stripes, Galateas, Dongaree, Regattas, Bleached Calico, Grey Calico,

&c.

I N D U S T R I E S . 1 / 3

expor t t r a d e wi th t h e Cont inent , t h e Colonies, and N o r t h and S o u t h America , a n d gives employment t o 300 hands .

T h e woollen mills of O 'Br i en Bros . , L t d . , Doug la s , s t a r t ed in t h e yea r 1882, n o w r u n 85 looms, a n d g ive employment t o 450 worke r s . T h e sp inn ing and weav ing fac tor ies a r e a t p resen t be ing en la rged . T h e commodi t ies specially manufac tu red a r e tweeds and wors ted sui t ings , overcoat ings , se rges , a n d clerical coa t ings . T h e i r h o m e t r a d e is, of course , extensive, a n d they have a good expor t t r ade wi th t h e Cont inent , C a n a d a , a n d t h e Uni ted S ta te s .

Cork City a n d County is t he chief s ea t of t h e woollen indust ry in I r e l a n d ; i ts f ac to r ies g ive employment t o a b o u t 2 ,000 hands . All these fac tor ies a r e s i tuated outs ide t h e City, in heal thy su r round ings , on cheap si tes , each with a good r iver , and wi th good t r ans i t facilities. T h e na tu ra l facilities a r e there fore unique f o r t h e f u r t h e r extension of t h e indust ry . T h e c h e a p land su r round ing t he fac tor ies h a s enabled t h e employers t o ca r ry ou t proper hous ing schemes f o r the i r worke r s .

F i n e and medium class wools a r e principally used in t he C o r k mills, a n d in addit ion t o t h e finer g r a d e s of I r ish wool, l a rge quant i t ies a r e impor ted , chiefly f r o m Austra l ia a n d N e w Zea land , and a lso f r o m Sou th America and Sou th Afr ica , a s well a s E n g l a n d . A l a rge port ion of t he home g r o w n wool is expor ted f o r u se in Eng land . T h e local factor ies , which a r e chiefly e n g a g e d in t he h igher b ranches of t h e woollen manufac tu re , impor t practically all t h e wors ted ya rn required f r o m the N o r t h of Eng land .

D u r i n g t h e w a r t he se Cork firms have been execut ing impor tan t con t rac t s f o r t h e Allied Armies.

T h e a v e r a g e annua l impor t s and expor t s t h r o u g h the P o r t of Cork f o r the yea r s 1912-14 we re a s f o l l ows :—

I M P O R T S . W o o l Y a r n

E X P O R T S . W o o l Woo l l en Goods Yarns , Unclassified Drape ry a n d H a b e r d a s h e r y . . .

T h o u g h a l a r g e p a r t of t he expor t s a n d impor t s of t h e C o r k Wool len Indus t ry is t h r o u g h the P o r t of Cork , a b y n o m e a n s inconsiderable por t ion of t h e t r a d e passes t h r o u g h the P o r t s of W a t e r f o r d , Ross la re a n d Dublin. T h e t r a d e in t h e h o m e m a r k e t is, of course , considerable.

T h e r e a r e t w o hosiery factories , one in t h e City a n d one a t Bandon, which manufac tu re mainly fo r local needs , b u t have a lso a n increas ing e x p o r t t r ade .

T h e C o r k ready-made c lothing industry is a n impor tan t one. I n addit ion t o a n u m b e r of l a r g e d rape ry f i rms e n g a g e d in t h e indust ry , t h e f ac to ry of Messrs . T . Lyons & Co. , L t d . , equipped o n t h e mos t up- to-date lines, g ives employment t o 200 workpeople .

T h e manufac tu r e of h a t s and c a p s is a steadily p rog re s s ing indus t ry in t h e City.

T h e C o r k Sp inn ing and W e a v i n g Co . L t d . , of Millfield, possesses t h e only Flax Mill in t he City, which gives employment t o over 1,000 hands .

Quan t i ty . Va lue £ Trade.

i , 3 5 0 , 0 0 0 l b s . 57,000 = \ 1 , 5 l 8 ; 533 lbs. 114,628 = f

i , 3 3 9 . 4 o 8 ibs . 65,460 2,275 c w t s - 44 ,74 8

316,193 lbs. 20,637 5,717 cwt . 110,879

T T 1

1 5

1 7 4 C O R K P R E S E N T .

Steps a r e being taken t o establish a Textiles depar tment in the Cork Municipal Technical Inst i tute , t o afford not only a theoretical but a full practical knowledge of the different processes in designing, cost ing and manufac ture . T h i s should prove of immense advan tage in t h e still fu r the r development of the impor tant woollen and other textile industries in t he South of Ireland.

T H E TIMBER I N D U S T R Y .

N A T U R A L A D V A N T A G E S . — T o use a word our American cousins have in­troduced, t h e City of Cork with i ts commodious harbour , offers a n impor tant commercial "p ropos i t i on" t o anyone interested in t he g r o w i n g or handl ing of t imber. Considered f r o m such a s tandpoint t he City governs a terr i tory—in addition t o a much wider a rea which it influences—containing roughly 3,900 square1 miles, o r 2,500,000 acres, in the South of Ireland. T h e geological format ion a s t o two-thirds of the a r e a is over limestone, and a s t o one-third t h e Devonian or old red sandstone, these being s t r a t a contr ibut ing t o t he production of a sur face soil congenial t o t he g rowth of numerous species of t imber trees. 1 here a re estimated t o b e about 100,000 buildings of one sor t or another , a f ac t which points t o a substantial and sustained t imber consumption a t home. 'I he popu­lation of t he same terr i tory may be set down a s 500,000, consist ing fo r t he most p a r t of a prosperous and well-to-do peasantry , whose capacity t o spend money, not only in t he necessaries, b u t in t he comfor ts and even ex t ravagances of life, h a s advanced steadily du r ing the last quar te r of a century. 1 his indicates a n ever increasing power of production, and a corresponding demand, a m o n g other th ings , for better houses and furn i ture—not t o mention pianos—and other t imber commodities. T h e r e i s in addition, of course, t he export t r ade of which the City of Cork is the centre. T h i s Cork hinterland contains 300,000 acres of mountain and was te lands awai t ing the only fo rm of development t ha t will realise t h e bes t commercial re turn, and alongside of it is a population able t o d o the work .

O n the other hand , t he City being the neares t European po r t t o the American Continent, offers a n advantageous centre f o r t he distribution of t he wor ld ' s products t o t h e United Kingdom and the Nor th of Europe. I t will be seen, therefore , t ha t it is a marke t offer ing opportunities for fu r the r immense development both in expor ts and imports , and an expand ing centre of industries where a s yet cheap building land is t o b e had adjoining the tidal wa te r s .

T h e r e can b e n o doubt t h a t t h e South of Ireland is pre-eminently suited by reason of its position, its soil, aspect , and climate, f o r t he g rowth of mos t of t he ha rd and sof t woods of commerce. F r o m the earliest t imes Ireland w a s known a s t h e " I s l e of W o o d s , " and in many was te places evidences of the ancient fores ts a re still apparent in t he " c o r k e r s " or t r ee s tumps yet preserved by the bogs . T h e reason t ha t these resources have not been developed hi ther to is a t t r ibutable t o a variety of economic and other difficulties which need not b e specified here, a s they have either ceased t o exist or have been largely alleviated ; bu t in any case they have now little relation to t h e intrinsic f ac t s s tated. Stat is t ics teH u s t h a t only 1.5 pe r cent of t he land in t he whole of Ireland is under t imber .

This , however, consists f o r t he mos t pa r t of woodlands planted more fo r t he s a k e of t he t rees than fo r the t imber, and only a small proportion represents planta­tions established f o r commercial purposes. These facts , therefore , m a k e it manifes t t ha t there is a field here fo r development in t h e production of nat ive t imber trees. F o r example, Scots pine can be seen g rowing no t thirty miles f rom Cork , with a d e a r bole of e ighty feet t o t he first branch and e igh t t o ten feet in circumference, and Ir ish o a k when properly g rown commands a t all t imes t h e t op price in t he marke t .

F o r some years pas t t he Ir ish Government have been acquir ing a r ea s of was te lands fo r t he ult imate creation of S t a t e fores ts t o be established on the mos t

I N D U S T R I E S . 175

modern principles, and n o doubt th i s good w o r k , in te r rupted a s it h a s been by the w a r , will b e developed indefinitely. A t present abou t 15,000 acres have been so acquired, of which a little over x,ooo ac res h a v e been p l a n t e d ; of t h e fo rmer area about 3 ,000 ac res a r e in t h e Bal lyhoura Hil ls in t h e no r th of Coun ty C o r k , and abou t th i r ty miles f r o m t h e City.

Such, broadly s ta ted , b e i n g t h e f a c t s a s t o t he s i tuat ion, it will b e desirable t o consider t he n a t u r e and ex ten t of t h e t imber traffic which ex is t s a t p resen t and i t s prospects f o r t h e f u t u r e .

U S E S O F T I M B E R . — T h e r e m a y b e some r eade r s f o r whose s a k e i t m a y n o t be undesirable t o recall h o w int imately t r ees a n d their produce enter in to o u r life. Besides t h e more obvious uses t o which t imber , and n o t h i n g else, c a n b e applied, such a s in bui ld ing const ruct ion, fu rn i tu re , e tc . , a n d a s a const ruct ional p a r t of shipbuilding, w a g g o n bui lding a n d s o fo r th , w e have come t o rely exclusively upon t rees f o r t he mater ia l of o u r newspapers , and indeed fo r nine-tenths of ou r paper products . F r o m t imber a lso w e ob ta in mater ia l f o r " s t r a w ' h a t s and silk s tock ings ; it yields u s v inegar , s u g a r , alcohol, t a r , dye-stuffs, oil, tu rpent ine , 1 harCoal, and , of course , India rubber , besides numerous o ther th ings , wi thout mentioning t he ha rves t of t h e f r u i t s and leaves of m a n y kinds .

I N E X P E N S I V E C U L T I V A T I O N . — T h e r e is n o p lan t known t o commerce less exact ing and s o lavishly gene rous a s t h e t imber t r e e ; i t a s k s f o r little o r n o cultivation, and occupies wi th i ts roo t s in t he major i ty of species, only a f ew perches of m o r e o r less valueless soil. If lef t unmolested it will a t ma tu r i ty yield several t ons of sound t imber , and down t o t h e l a s t t w i g , and t he las t cubic centi­metre of g a s , o r " s m o k e , " i t m a y b e utilised profitably in one f o r m o r ano ther . T h e secret of th is i s t h a t w i th i ts sp read ing canopy and i ts he igh t i t g a t h e r s t he larger por t ion of i ts nour i shment f r o m t h e a i r a n d sunshine, a process of fertiliza­tion which cos ts no th ing .

L O W B A S I S O F T A X A T I O N . — I t m a y b e no t ea here t h a t a m o n g o ther advan tages which Ireland possesses over E n g l a n d o r Scot land fo r es tabl ishing commercial o r o t h e r p lanta t ions is t h e m u c h lower r a t e a t which such l ands a r e taxed. I n Ireland t he r a t e s and t a x e s a r e based o n a s ta tu tory valuation of t h e was t e ' l ands—as w a s t e l a n d s — m a d e in t h e yea r s 1852 t o 1865, which in such cases was little more t h a n nominal , a n d h a s remained s o ever since wi thou t r e g a r d t o the va lue of t h e c rop of t imber . I n t h e s is ter countr ies , o n t he o ther hand , t a x a ­tion is based o n a R a c k Ren t , which h a s been defined a s " a n annua l r en t s t retched t o t he u t m o s t va lue of t h e t h i n g r e n t e d , " and m a y v a r y f r o m t ime t o t ime. T h e importance of th is is fel t in t imes such a s t h e present . I n Scotland a recent case is quoted in which t h e o w n e r s of a fo res t w e r e t axed a t 14/5 in t he £ , a n d ano ther instance w h e r e t he owner h a d t o pay a t a x of 23/- f o r every 20/- of valuat ion " i n order t o keep h i s w o o d s . "

R I S I N G P R I C E S . — N o t e should also b e t aken , in pass ing , of t h e steadily increasing value of t imber imported into t h e Uni ted K i n g d o m , which is exhibited bv t h e fol lowing figures:—The " S t a n d a r d " (165 cubic feet) in 1908 cost £ 8 16s. 6d . , and in 1914, £ 1 0 13s, o d . , o r say 21 per cent, increase in seven years . In 1916, o w i n g t o t h e w a r , t h e cos t h a d r isen t o £ 2 4 10s. 3d. , b u t let u s hope tha t th i s is only a pa s s ing phase , a l though a t t he s a m e t ime the re is little pro­bability of prices r ever t ing t o a poin t approx imat ing t h a t a t which t h e w a r found them.

T R A D E S T A T I S T I C S . — F I E L D F O R L O C A L M A N U F A C T U R E S . T h e Stat is t ics u p o n which t h e fol lowing resul t s re la t ing t o I re land a r e based we re prepared f o r t he present pu rpose by t he D e p a r t m e n t of Agricul ture , and b y t h e Secretary of t he C o r k H a r b o u r Board .

1 7 6 C O R K P R E S E N T .

T a k i n g a n a v e r a g e of t he las t five years , Cork expor ted annual ly over 23,000 loads (or tons)—practical ly her en t i re t imber export—of r o u g h t imber , i .e . , wi th t h e b a r k on, and in t he s ame period she imported per a n n u m a b o u t 100 t o n s of tool handles , 400 t o n s of lucifer matches , u p t o 600 t o n s of ra i lway sleepers, 600 tons of bar re l s taves , a n d a score o r m o r e of o ther i tems, a n y o r all, o f which m i g h t b e produced a t h o m e if these t r a d e s w e r e proper ly oganised . I t i s sa t is factory t o k n o w t h a t t he re is every prospect of th is b e i n g done. Aga in , the re w e r e over 300 t ons of fu rn i tu r e impor ted each yea r , probably n ine- tenths of which could have been manufac tu r ed a t h o m e wi th na t ive t imber a n d o u g h t t o have been so, a s u p t o t he middle of t he l a s t cen tu ry C o r k - m a d e f u r n i t u r e suppor ted a n impor tan t indus t ry a n d w a s widely f a m e d f o r i ts des ign a n d w o r k ­mansh ip . T h e to ta l t imber impor t s f o r t he th ree yea r s preceding t h e w a r w e r e t h e equivalent of 25,000 loads o r tons , a n d of th i s only a small f rac t ion consisted of fo re ign t imbers which could no t b e g r o w n in I re land . W e see, there fore , t h a t C o r k annual ly expor t s 23,000 t o n s of " g r e e n " t imber , a n d impor t s 25,000 t ons of m o r e o r less converted t imber . I n t h e la t te r c a se m o s t of t h e profi table by-products w e r e necessarily left behind in t he coun t ry of or ig in which they helped t o enrich.

I n t h e whole of I re land, t a k i n g t h e a v e r a g e of t h e t h ree y e a r s a l ready m e n ­tioned, t h e to ta l va lue of all t imber imported w a s ,£1,933,490, a n d t h a t of t he expor t s , £ 2 5 9 , 1 2 7 . T h e s e figures, t a k e n in conjunct ion wi th t h e rapid increase in t h e cos t of importa t ion a l ready alluded to , indicate t h e existence of a l a r g e a n d impor tan t field, of fer ing t o t h e en te rpr i s ing capi ta l is t amp le scope f o r revolu­t ionis ing t h e t r a d e in t imber a n d t imber commodit ies t o h i s o w n a d v a n t a g e a n d t o t h e benefit of t h e City of C o r k , t h a t be ing t h e only p a r t of I re land of fer ing unlimited accommodat ion f o r t h e expans ion of th i s indust ry , a s well a s b e i n g t h e na tu ra l a r t e ry f o r t h e impor t and expor t t r a d e of t he count ry .

W O O D W O R K I N G . — C o r k h a s a lways been one of t h e principal t imber impor t ­i n g centres in I re land. T h i s is n o t t o b e wondered a t in v i ew of i t s geograph ica l position, i t s unrival led ha rbour wi th i t s r iver a n d w h a r v e s capable of accommo­da t i ng t he very l a rges t c a r g o b o a t s af loat , a n d i t s splendid facil i t ies of t r ans i t f o r inland distr ibution by m e a n s of t h e fine ra i lway sys t ems of which five companies have the i r te rmini in Cork . T h e r e is a t p resen t in C o r k a t imber bus iness founded in t h e y e a r 1740, a n d worked continuously since t h a t t ime.

I re land impor t s m o s t of t h e t imber she requires , and every cont inent i s laid under contr ibut ion t o provide t h e requisi te supplies. The v a s t bu lk c o m e s f r o m Canada , N o r t h e r n a n d Southern S t a t e s of America , N o r w a y , Sweden, F in land a n d Russ ia , and a goodly propor t ion of t h e m o r e expensive t imbers f r o m Afr ica , Austra l ia , Ind ia and J a p a n , and in pre -war t imes f r o m Germany and Aus t r ia .

T h e a n n u a l impor t s exceed t w o million cubic feet , of which abou t 20% is dis­t r ibuted directly t o inland s a w mills. T h e remainder finds i ts w a y in to t h e dockyards and t h e City s a w mills, which a r e a s well equipped a s a n y in t he K i n g d o m . Joinery w o r k s , f u rn i tu r e m a k i n g shops , b o x and cooperage fac tor ies , e tc . , whe re over 2000 h a n d s a r e employed conver t ing t he wood in to t he mut i fa r ious requi re­m e n t s of a modern indust r ia l c i ty , a n d a province rapidly p rog re s s ing in every f o r m of agr icu l tu ra l indust ry .

H o u s e bui ld ing and decorat ion account f o r probably one-half t h e t imber im­por ted , a n d in m a n y of t h e fine bui ld ings of Muns te r , t h e skill of C o r k woodworke r s is appa ren t . A t present , o w i n g t o t h e terrible W o r l d W a r , all bui ld ing w o r k is suspended, b u t employment f o r mos t of t he woodworke r s i s provided in t h e m a k i n g of field service beds teads , c a m p a n d b a r r a c k fu rn i tu re , ammuni t ion and shell boxes of every descr ipt ion—consignments of which, via the fine serv ice of cross-channel s teamers , a r e b e i n g daily despatched t o all t he Allied f ron t s . F u r n i t u r e m a k i n g , f o r which Cork w a s f amous , abso rbs i ts sha re of t imber , b u t t h e o u t p u t f o r some

I N D U S T R I E S . '77

years ha s been restricted owing t o t he competition of cheap factory-made furni­ture f r o m other countries. The re is still, however, a marke t fo r high-class Cork-made work . Organs , in which the t imber and workmanship m u s t b e faultless, manufactured here, a r e exported t o t he mos t dis tant colonies.

T imber wrough t in Cork will be found on every sea, worked into t r ad ing ships, re-fitted a t the P a s s a g e and Rushbrooke Docks , and into ships of w a r a t t he Naval Dockyard in the Harbour .

Similarly the boxes and barrels turned ou t by Cork workers circle t he globe, car ry ing but ter , condensed milk, eggs , preserved foods, whisky, s tout , e t c .—th t unbeaten products of our land—to all countries.

Some of the home-grown t imbers a r e unexcelled fo r chair-making, cars , vans , lorries and such like. T h e quanti ty converted locally i s considerable, Cork-made vehicles be ing in good demand, while the faultless ou tpu t of Cork coach builders secures appreciative purchasers in many lands.

I t would be impossible to enumerate t he myriad shapes into which the imported and home-grown wood is conver ted—ranging f rom railway sleepers and w a g g o n t imbers t o s treet paving blocks, f r o m bungalows t o field ga tes , and fencing and implement t imbers of all kinds.

T h e immediate f u t u r e will see the r a n g e great ly extended, a s motor and o ther manufac turers a r e t ak ing u p large t rac t s of land on the river f ron t fo r t he erection of mammoth w o r k s ; and Cork Timber Merchants and Woodworke r s can be relied on t o m a k e the most of the improving situation.

ARTS A N D CRAFTS.

C O R K S I L V E R . — F o r several centuries t he City of Cork w a s noted fo r the skill of its c raf t smen in the manufac ture of silver. In t he Cork Records of t he 15th and 16th centuries were found several references t o goldsmiths, and there a r e a number of exquisite chalices and patens of this period preserved both in the City and County, tes t i fying the unique skill of t he goldsmiths and silversmiths of old Cork . This industry at tained t o considerable importance and prosperity in t he 17th and 18th centuries, and several of t he Master W a r d e n s of the Goldsmith Guild were elected Mayors of Cork. Af ter t he Union it rapidly declined, and before 1850 the Guild had ceased to exist. T h e only piece of silver w o r k between t h a t d a t e and 1910 t ha t is known t o have been made in Cork is a model of Shandon Church, m a d e for t he Exhibition of 1883 by the late M r . Clare, foreman jeweller a t Messrs . W m . E g a n and Sons, Cork. Dur ing th is period Cork w a s entirely dependent on imported silver, and the old tradit ions, which had existed fo r so many generat ions, of pr ide of c ra f t s ­manship and excellence of workmanship , disappeared absolutely. Of the score o r more of busy workshops, humming with industry, r ing ing t o t he sound of many-hammers , cheery with the sound of workmen ' s songs, not a ves t ige remained.

In 1910 the late Mr . Barry E g a n , head of Messrs . W m . E g a n & Sons , L t d . , who had been contemplat ing the revival of the Indust ry fo r some time, had a con­versation with Sir Ber t ram Windle , President of University College, Cork, w h o wanted a silver mace fo r t he College, t o be m a d e if possible in Cork, A" s t a r t w a s made, and premises which would admit of considerable development were taken . W o r k m e n were b rough t f r o m Dublin and the necessary machinery installed.

T h e mace in solid silver, jewelled and enamelled with the a r m s of t he chief t owns of the Counties assigned by the Act to the College, w a s made in t he various workshops belonging t o Messrs . E g a n . Very soon the f ac t t ha t t he firm were m a k i n g their own silver w a r e began t o spread abroad. In i g n the Coronation C u p in solid silver, presented by H i s Majes ty K i n g George V . t o the Cork City R e g a t t a Committee, w a s m a d e in these workshops, and many important orders for presentations, household silver, church plate, etc. , came f rom various pa r t s of the country.

R)ace of t l x Uniocrsltp College, Cork,

[ | 'S :

M a d e i n o u r Fac to ry in Solid Silver a n d E n a m e l s t o t h e O r d e r of S i r B e r t r a m W i n d l e , Pres ident .

The following is a List of Pieces recently finished, or in course of Manufacture in our Workshops.

Gold Chalice a n d Silver Gilt Ciborium

For B I S H O P O F D R O M O R E .

Gold Chalice For C A N O N M c M A H O N .

N E N A G H .

Solid Silver Sanctuary L a m p

For S T . P E T E R ' S C H U R C H , B E L F A S T .

Solid Silver Irish Loving C u p

For H . M . K I N G G E O R G E V. ,

P resen ted to Cork City R e g a t t a

Solid Silver Mons t r ance For F R . C R O F T S , O .P . .

D R O G H E D A ,

Solid Silver Yacht ing C u p

For L O R D B A R R Y M O R E .

Solid Silver Hur l ing C u p

F o r M O S T R E V , D R . H A R T Y , Archbishop of Cashel.

Makers of . . . C E L T I C B O W L S .

T E A & C O F F E E S E T S .

I R I S H P O T A T O R I N G S .

P R I Z E S & T R O P H I E S .

P R E S E N T A T I O N S E T S .

C O M P E T I T I O N S H I E L D S , &c., &c.

Old SiWer Pieces Copied and Faithfully Reproduced to Order.

Silver factor?—6 m a y l o r s r . , c o r k .

WM. EGAN S SONS, E c c l e s i a s t i c a l W t v r e l i o

3 2 PATRICK STREET, CORK.

m a n u f a c m r i n g j i c u i c l l c r s , LIMITED. a n d S i l c e r s m l i b s ,

E c c l e s i a s t i c a l W t v r e h o u s e m e n ,

I N D U S T R I E S . 1 7 9

I n ca r ry ing on their w o r k Messrs . E g a n a t once s a w t h a t the i r chance of pe rmanen t success lay in t h e product ion of art icles which would compare fo r ex ­cellence w i th t h e old C o r k Silver which to-day, h a v i n g out las ted t h e r a v a g e s of t ime a n d use, is s o valuable. T h e y realised f r o m the beg inn ing t h a t it would b e impossible t o compete wi th t h e cheap w o r k turned ou t by machinery in immense quant i t ies in Engl i sh factories . They , therefore , ben t their energies t o t h e p ro ­duction of art icles h a m m e r e d ou t by h a n d , per fec t in f o r m and o rnament , a n d of a s t anda rd t h a t would compare favourably wi th t he bes t of t h e an t ique w o r k . Silver manufac tu red in th is way , hardened a n d tempered unde r t he h a m m e r — a s it w a s m a d e one o r t w o centur ies a n d m o r e ago—res i s t s t he effects of t ime and use, while t he machine m a d e silver finishes in a s o f t s ta te , a n d a f t e r some years b r eaks down iaind i s fit only f o r t he mel t ing pot . W e have never lost t he c r a f t of the h a m m e r s m a n — t h e si lversmith proper—in I r e l a n d ; in E n g l a n d and else­where machinery h a s dr iven him o u t . A n Eng l i sh t r a d e journa l on th is subjec t s o m e yea r s a g o said, probably t h e only silver m a d e to-day t h a t will be fit f o r use in 4 0 y e a r s ' t ime is t h e I r i sh hand m a d e w o r k ; all t he res t will have broken down a n d vanished i n to t he mel t ing pot . I re land, i t said, i s t h e las t h o m e of t h e silver­smi th proper .

Mess rs . E g a n have steadily developed their w o r k , and not only a r e they m a n u ­f ac tu r ing all c lasses of household ware , cups , shields, church plate , a n d repro­duct ions of old I r i sh silver, b u t they a r e extensively e n g a g e d in t he m a k i n g of ecclesiastical meta l w o r k , and t he renewing , re lacquer ing and rep la t ing of old w o r k of every description.

T h e founder of t h e firm, M r . W m . E g a n , employed one of t h e las t of t he old C o r k s i lversmi ths ; t he presen t genera t ion of t he firm is bui ld ing u p a n e w school of c r a f t s m e n w h o will b r idge t he pas t , a n d hand on t o f u t u r e genera t ions of c ra f t smen the t rad i t ions of a n indust ry t h a t once w a s a source of f a m e a n d pr ide t o t h e City of C o r k .

C H U R C H E M B R O I D E R I E S , V E S T M E N T S , &e.—The firm of Mess rs . E g a n & Sons , Cork , h a s been e n g a g e d in t h e embro ider ing a n d manufac ­t u r i n g of church ves tmen t s and a l t a r requisi tes f o r a considerable per iod. Until some yea r s a g o th is indus t ry w a s on a smal l scale, g i v i n g employ­m e n t only t o a f e w m a k e r s and embroiderers . T h e n o n e of t he members of t h e firm, ju s t re turned a f t e r several y e a r s ' experience of t h e indus t ry o n t h e Cont inent , realised t h e possibilities here , and a t once took s teps t o develop t h e indus t ry in Cork . An impor tan t order w a s obta ined f r o m t h e R i g h t Rev. Mons ignor Ar thu r R y a n of T ippera ry fo r a se t of ves tments in Celtic h a n d embroidery o n cloth of gold . T h i s o rder w a s executed s o successfully t h a t m a n y o the r s quickly followed, the firm be ing able t o increase i t s staff a s required f r o m t h e s tuden t s of t he School of Ar t . I n 1914 t h e mos t r emarkab le se t of ves tmen t s t he firm ever under ­took t o m a k e w a s commenced, a n d fo r o v e r t w o yea r s near ly th i r ty exper t needlewomen were busily e n g a g e d in p roduc ing a series of embroideries ' t h a t a r e pe rhaps unequalled in these is lands. T h e s e ves tments a r e n o w in u s e a t t he Collegiate Chapel of t he H o n a n Hoste l , Cork . I t is t o t he en thus iasm a n d t h e good­will of Si r J o h n R . O'Connel l , M.A. , L L . D . , Dublin, f o r I r i sh a r t and c r a f tmansh ip t h a t the creat ion of these ves tments is due . T h e y a r e a n expression of Celtic a r t in needlework t h a t is unique. Beauty of f o r m , weal th of detail , go rgeousness of colour, a n d solidity of w o r k a r e all seen in these ves tments , and will serve a s models of I r ish ecclesiastical a r twork f o r m a n y genera t ions . T w o of these ves t ­men t s shown a t t he recent exhibit ions of Ar t s a n d C r a f t s in Dublin, in Belfas t , a n d in C o r k we re m u c h admired .

As well a s these ar t icles of ar t is t ic c r a f tmansh ip , th i s firm h a s been paying a t tent ion t o t he more usua l requirements of th i s b ranch of i ts w o r k . T h e ordinary ves tmen t s used in t he Church a r e embroidered chiefly b y machinery .

i 8 o CORK P R E S E N T .

a n d all th i s w a s of course done on the Continent. Some years ago , a f t e r a variety of experiments, Messrs . E g a n & Sons installed their first machine, driven by a small motor , and this proved s o successful tha t they quickly p u t in several more. F o r several yea r s before the w a r impor tant orders w e r e executed, no t merely fo r all pa r t s of Ireland and Grea t Bri tain, b u t also f o r America and Canada . T h e result w a s t ha t when w a r b roke ou t , a n d imports f r o m F rance were becoming scarce and more difficult t o obtain, the firm were fully equipped f o r supplying all requirements. The i r machines a r e w o r k i n g fully loaded all t he work ing hours of t he week, and they look forward t o very impor tant developments a f t e r t he w a r . They were the first house in the United Kingdom t o install and work these machine embroideries for cheap vestments , and their effor ts have been at tended with most successful results. These embroideries on Ir ish poplin, turned into finished ves tments in their own workrooms, enable Messrs . E g a n a n d Sons t o compete on equa l t e r m s with any p a r t of Europe f o r t he ord inary require­ments of t he Church.

Besides ves tments this Cork firm a re m a k e r s on a l a rge scale of all manner of Church fittings and embroideries, such a s lace albs, surplices, o a k a l tars , pulpits, b r a s s candelabra, gongs , thuribles, sanctuary lamps, medals in gold and silver, which they supply in l a rge quanti t ies t o all p a r t s of the Kingdom.

T h e development of the depar tment of Applied Ar t of t he Municipal School of Ar t ha s given a g rea t stimu.Xs to' enamelling, metal work ing , wood carving, and lace mak ing .

Twenty yea rs a g o the majori ty of t he medals, celtic crosses , brooches, badges , clasp , etc. , sold in Cork, bore a foreign ha l l -mark ; to-d&y ninety pe r cent, a r e designed a n d manufac tured in Cork .

T H E B E D D I N G I N D U S T R Y . 1 t is n o t generally realised t ha t the ave rage m a n spends a t least one-third of

his life in bed, in renewing t ha t energy which is necessary t o keep him fully efficient a s a fac to r of production, and in mainta ining h i s general heal th. T h e Bedding Indust ry is, therefore, one of g r e a t importance.

Cork h a s a lways been the seat of a flourishing- Furn i tu re Trade , and this sperity h a s naturally been reflected upon the allied manufac tu re of bedding

; t h e preparat ion of the r a w materials fo r t h a t purpose. T h i s is a n industry ^ Cork h a s developed extensively in recent years , SO' much so, indeed, t h a t in recent requirements of the Admiralty and the W a r Office l a rge contracts were

ared here in open marke t .

C U R L E D H A I R . — T h e cleaning and cur l ing of c rude horse hai r t o m a k e it fit ji t he mos t sani tary bedding is quite a n a r t in Itself, b u t t he excellence of t he Cork

product h a s l ong been recognised. I t is nearly 100 yea rs since the first sp inning machines were introduced by Booth & F o x of this City. In the interval t he o u t p u t of this industry ha s steadily increased year by year , till now, when it is a l a rge and impor tant one fo r Cork, considerable t r ade is be ing done with Canada , United States , a n d even with South America.

Very substantial w a g e s a re paid in this branch of t he industry, a n efficient spinner earn ing in pre-war t imes £ 2 10s. t o £ 5 per week.

F E A T H E R S . — C o r k is by f a r t he mos t important centre in Ireland f o r t he puri­fication of fea thers . T h e Cork firms hav ing established a highly efficient organisa­tion fo r t he collection of fea thers in the r a w s ta te , obtain in Ireland about 75% of the total quanti ty they require, the remainder be ing imported. T h e annual ave rage value of this import is £ 7 , 0 0 0 out of a total Irish import of £ 1 0 , 0 0 0 . S teps a re being taken by the local firms in conjunction with the Depar tment of Agricul ture

I N D U S T R I E S . 1 8 1

t o develop the Poultry T r a d e in Ireland, and this should largely increase the supply of Irish fea thers .

T h e sor t ing and purification of feathers is carried o u t in a highly scientific manner , under t he most sani tary conditions. F o r the production of Down the most up-to-date machinery ha s been extensively introduced.

T h e total yearly export of prepared fea thers f r o m Cork i s £ 4 0 , 0 0 0 . These feathers find marke ts readily on the Continent and in t he Colonies, while some of t he finer fea thers a r e specially supplied t o F rance for millinery purposes.

D O W N Q U I L T S . — I n years gone by the manufac ture of D o w n Clothing w a s a g r e a t fea tu re in Cork—indeed Sir George N a r e s ' Polar Expedit ion in t he seventies w a s fitted out by Cork, a t least t he clothing p a r t of i t—but fashion, a f t e r a time, a s is not unusual with it, " s c r a p p e d " the Down clothing proper . There is one th ing, however, t h a t h a s withstood fashion and time, and t h a t is t he Down Quilt, f o r which Cork m a y claim full credit . I t w a s here, in t he y e a r 1841, t ' -^t t he late Mr . John Fox , fa ther of t he present principals of t h a t house, p a t e n t c ' e venti lat ing eyelet, which a t once secured the goodwill of the Medical F Someth ing akin t o the D o w n Quil t had long been sough t f o r : somethii a t combined l ightness and wa rmth , and allowed f r ee ventilation ; and the sim ut ingenious device invented by this resourceful man admirably m e t these e-ments. T h i s pa ten t eyelet, small a s it is, ha s b rought millions of pounds ' k , and h a s given, and is still giving, lucrative employmen;t t o hundreds of w s.

N o r h a s Cork, with the pass ing of the pa ten t r igh t s fo r these quilts, re ied the lead then established. I t can boas t t ha t its local factory h a s t he l a r g ime and expor t t r ade of any similar factory in t he world. Cork-made Down Q a re well-known in Canada , in t he United States , and South America. U r u g u f a r away, bu t th rough the firm named Cork t rades with it, a s well a s with tl t r g e r cities in the g r e a t Argentine Republic, hav ing a direct representation a t the pital, Buenos Aires.

W a d d e d Quilts a r e also manufactured here t o meet the demands of . jme market .

Very la rge quantit ies of Down a re exported f r o m Cork t o the Unite S ta tes and Canada, and the city h a s commercial relations with mos t of the la rge Arrierican bedding factories.

W I R E M A T T R E S S E S . — T h e facility which Cork possesses for t he import of t imber becomes of g r e a t importance iwhen w e come t o consider t he W i r e Mat t ress Manufacture , a s it enables t h e manufac turers t o proevre the various hard-wood t imbers required a t low prices. In t he same way the steel wire utilised in this industry is imported unde r mos t favourable conditions f r o m England .

T h e mos t up-to-date machinery ha s been introduced fo r t h e weaving of these steel wire fabrics. T h e mat t resses thus produced a re supplied t o the home marke t , where they a re in considerable demand. Indeed, more than half t he Irish t rade is in the hands of the Cork manufac turers . .

C U R L E D H A I R A N D S T R A W M A T T R E S S E S . — T h e r e is a l a rge ou tpu t in this manufac ture , the fibre fo r which comes f r o m Algeria, t he cocoa-nut f rom Ceylon. T h e curled hai r is largely derived f rom local sources, the rest being imported f rom South America in the crude unfinished condition.

BRUSHMAKING. F o r well over 100 years Brushmak ing h a s been carried on in Cork . In t he fifties

t he Var ian family—the then principal manufacturers—transferred their works t o Dublin, and the t rade in Cork w a s carried on by the firm of O'Sull ivan, Maylor Street , and the old workmen who remained. As the latter died, the t rade w a s gradual ly lef t in the hands of t he Maylor Street firm, which is still in existence.

W. 8 H. M. Goulding L T D .

Factory

THE GLEN, CORK.

manufacturers ana exporters of SULPHURIC ACID SUPERPHOSPHATE

(all grades).

COMPLETE FERTILISERS for all Crops.

ALSO A T DUBLIN, BELFAST, ^ ^ LONDONDERRY AND WATERFORD.

Telegraphic and Cable Largest Makers A d d r „ s - -

"GOULDING CORK." A.B.C. Code.

in the United Kingdom. i

182

I N D U S T R I E S . i 8 3

Seven years a g o Messrs . Har r ing ton Bros, opened a new brush factory, equipped with a complete plant , including h igh power machinery.

F e w t rades in t he South of Ireland have m a d e such sat isfactory progress in recent yea r s a s the brush industry. T h e local manufac turers have captured a la rge portion of t he Irish t rade. T h i s p rogress h a s been made notwi ths tanding keen competition f r o m the best m a k e r s in Great Britain and the Continent, and the difficulties of s t a r t ing a new industry o r organis ing a n old one o n modern lines in competition with old established firms.

A survey of t he sources of supply of t he principal varieties of t he r a w materials is interest ing. Bass (Piassava), largely used in ya rd a n d street brooms, is obtained f r o m W e s t Africa, Bahia and Palmyra . Other fibres come f r o m Mexico, Ceylon and Madagascar . Bristles a r e received f rom Russia , China, India, and Poland. Before the w a r t he principal bristle marke t in t he world w a s Leipzig, bu t now London is the centre, and is likely t o remain so. Home-grown timber is largely used, bu t t he bet ter class brushes require t he importat ion of satinwood, rosewood, mahogany , ebony, etc. , which a re obtained f r o m world-wide sources.

Conditions in t he Irish brush t rade have been considerably affected by the war . R a w materials (bristles, fibres, &c.) have great ly advanced in value, and even a t t he higher prices a r e very difficult t o obtain. These d rawbacks have been neutral­ised to some extent by the non-importation of cheap class brushes f rom the Conti­nent, and manufac ture rs a r e confident they c a n keep these o u t a f t e r t he w a r , now tha t t he public have discovered t ha t t he higher-priced Irish article is more economical on account of i ts long wear ing qualities.

1 he local factories cater fo r practically all t he varied requirements of the public, and will, without doubt, secure the t r ade fo r machine and o the r special brushes required by the l a rge industries n o w be ing established in Cork.

T H E CHEMICAL I N D U S T R Y .

F E R I I L I S E R S . — A s m i g h t be expected in a country s o largely dependent upon agriculture, t h e manufac tu re of Fert i l isers is a n important industry. T h e Cork Factory of W . & H . IM. Goulding, L td . , the la rges t manufac ture rs in t he United Kingdom, is situated a t " T h e G l e n . "

Bones, bruised or broken, w e r e probably the first artificial manure u s e d ; bu t about t he beginning of the nineteenth century it w a s found t h a t fineness of divi­sion rendered bones more easily assimilated by plants . T h i s fine division w a s chemically at tained when Leibig introduced the t rea tment of g round bones with sulphuric acid.

L a r g e quantit ies of bones collected throughout Ireland, a f t e r hav ing their valuable g rease extracted, a r e g round and dissolved by sulphuric acid, and sold a s bone manures . Bu t the supply of bones falls f a r shor t of the requirements of modern agr icu l ture ; and the enormous deposits of tribasic phosphate of lime in the United S ta tes and Nor thern Africa, t hough of little value a s m a n u r e in their na tura l s ta te , a r e converted into superphosphate by the action of sulphuric acid, whereby the tricalcic phosphate , which is insoluble, is converted into mono-calcic phosphate, which is soluble, and, therefore, readily available t o plants . Upon this conversion f r o m t h e insoluble fo rm t o a soluble s ta te h a s been buil t u p this chemical industry, which in these works t r ans forms the r a w phosphates into upwards of 40,000 tons of available plant food per annum.

T h e demand f o r these fertil isers in Ireland h a s g r o w n rapidly within the last fev/ years , largely o w i n g t o t he w o r k of t he Depar tment o f ' Agricul ture and Technical Instruction in inst i tut ing, th rough the County Councils, a series of experimental plots th roughout Ireland, showing the beneficial results obtainable by their use, in increasing the yield t o a value f a r in excess of the actual cost of the fertil isers employed.

I n these experiments, confirmed now by several yea r s ' experience, it h a s been

M A G N E S A

THOMAS JENNINGS, CORK.

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I N D U S T R I E S .

shown t h a t t he application t o m e a d o w hay of superphosphate , n i t rogen compounds , a n d po tash , m e a n s a n increased crop, equal t o a profi t of abou t £ 1 pe r acre , a f t e r deduc t ing t he cos t of t h e m a n u r e . Similarly in t he ca se of t he po ta to c rop , s o largely g r o w n in I re land, i t h a s been clearly shown t h a t , on land g r o w i n g a n a v e r a g e c rop of 3 t ons 12 cwt . pe r acre , wi thout m a n u r e s , t he yield can b e increased t o over IO tons pe r acre , g i v i n g a n es t imated profit , a f t e r p a y i n g f o r t h e manures , of £ 8 10s. od. pe r s t a tu t e acre . In t h e g r o w t h of o a t s and b a r l e y ' a profit of 30s. p e r ac re is shown f r o m the use of these chemical fert i l isers. I n m a n g o l d s t he re is a g a in of \ £ 6 10s. od. pe r acre , and in iturnips a yield of 25 t ons per ac re can be secured, a s a g a i n s t 4 J t ons wi thout manure .

T h e increased c rops which t h e soil of I re land m a y b e m a d e t o yield unde r p roper cult ivation, a n d wi th t h e l iberal u se of these ferti l isers, c a n scarcely b e realised. 1 h e consumpt ion of artificial m a n u r e s is g r o w i n g y e a r b y year , and is only limited b y t h e ability of t h e f a r m e r t o purchase them. T h e I r i sh f a r m e r , a s a genera l rule, unfor tunate ly labours u n d e r t h e d i sadvan tage of insufficient capi ta l t o enable him t o cul t ivate his land intensively, a n d t o obta in m a x i m u m c r o p s ; b u t s igns a r e no t w a n t i n g t h a t , unde r t he guidance of t h e Depa r tmen t , I r i sh agr icu l ture will rapidly advance, a n d in t h a t advance n o t t h e least of tiie cont r ibu t ing forces will be t he ass is tance rendered b y t h e increased and intell igent use of fert i l isers, such a s a r e produced a t th i s fac tory .

I h e f ac to ry itself is equipped wi th all modern improvements . T h e bas is of t h e bus iness—the manufac tu r e of sulphuric acid—is carr ied o n o n a l a r g e scale, about 500 t ons of sulphur ic acid be ing produced weekly. T h e acid p lan t a t th is w o r k s is thoroughly up-to-date, a n d well wor th a visit by anyone interested. T h e acid is produced f r o m pyri tes imported f r o m Spain , t h e residue, a f t e r b u r n i n g off t he sulphur , be ing re-shipped t o Eng l and , whe re t h e copper contained in t h e cinders is ext rac ted .

1 h e phospha te of lime, which ar r ives f r o m Afr ica a n d America in c a r g o e s of 4 ,000 t o n s o r upwards , i s g r o u n d in specially cons t ruc ted mills t o a n impalpable powder before b e i n g t rea ted a n d dissolved by t h e act ion of sulphur ic acid. I h e resul t ing m a s s , a f t e r m a t u r i n g , is w i thd rawn f r o m the dissolving-pits and pulverised t o a fine powder , ei ther f o r application t o t h e l and by itself, o r in conjunct ion wi th n i t rogen compounds and po ta sh , which a r e mixed wi th the super­phospha tes by t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r s in t h e propor t ions which exper iment a n d experi-. ence have proved t o b e m o s t efficacious f o r t he different c rops f o r which they a r e intended.

Gouk- ing ' s M a n u r e s a r e well-known t o f a r m e r s in Eng l and , Scot land, and a b r o a d A considerable quant i ty is expor ted every year , principally t o t h e W e s t of E n g l a n d , b u t by f a r t h e g r ea t e r por t ion is reserved f o r t h e w a n t s of t he f a r m e r s in M u n s t e r a n d t h e S o u t h - W e s t , w h o practically depend on th is source of supply, th i s b e i n g t h e only fac to ry of t h e kind in t h e Province of Muns te r . T h e fac to ry giv?.s employment t o abou t 300 m e n .

A f u r t h e r en la rgement of these ex tens ive w o r k s is a t p resen t be ing carr ied o u t in o rder t o cope wi th t h e g r o w i n g demand fo r these m a n u r e s in t he Sou th of I re land.

Su lpha te of ammonia , manufac tu red a s a by-product a t the local G a s W o r k s , i s a l so in extensive demand a s a chemical manure , t he va lue of t h e annua l ou tpu t be ing ove r £ 5 , 0 0 0 .

T h e lime used in pu r i fy ing t he g a s is a l so disposed of f o r agr icu l tura l purposes .

C A R B O N A T E A N D C A L C I N E D M A G N E S I A . — F o r several genera t ions back Carbona te and Calcined Magnes ia of a n exceptionally p u r e charac te r have been produced on a l a r g e scale in C o r k by t h e firm of M r . T h o m a s Jenn ings , a t t he Victoria Cross W o r k s . Indeed, i t m a y b e t ruly said t h a t his b r a n d s hold a premier position in t h e t rade , and have a world-wide reputa t ion. T h e s e com-

12

HARRINGTONS I L T I X I

Sbandon CDcmical, Color, paint ^Varnlsl) Works : : Cork.

MANUFACTURERS OF 4 FPurc Cbcipicals % FOR ANALYTICAL, SCIENTIFIC AND SCIENTIFIC AND TECH NICAL PURPOSES

FOR MANUFACTURE OF PAINTS. Dry Colors

FOR MANUF/

Mixed Paipts Distetpper Varpisl^es Priptip^ Ipl^s.

DRY 6? PASTE FORM.

Telegrams : tTXCAQNESIA, CORK. Code, 4th Edition, A.B.C.

i 8 5

I N D U S T R I E S . 1 8 7

p o u n d s a r e l a rge ly u s e d f o r medic inal a s well a s technical p u r p o s e s ; a n d t h e h o m e a n d e x p o r t t r a d e of t h e firm i s very considerable .

F I N E C H E M I C A L S . — U n d e r t h i s heading- m a y b e included va r ious p r o d u c t s m a n u f a c t u r e d by Mess r s . Harr ingf tons L t d . , a t t h e S h a n d o n Chemica l W o r k s , C o r k .

T h e o r i g i n of t h i s i ndus t ry i s in te res t ing , a n d i t s success o u g h t t o b e a n induce­m e n t t o o t h e r s n o t t o b e a f r a i d t o s e e k p a s t u r e s n e w . T h e p r e s e n t p r inc ipa l s of t h i s firm, w h o s e fami ly h a s been connected w i t h t h e chemica l t r a d e s ince t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h e l a s t c en tu ry , decided in 1883 t o e x t e n d t h e m a n u f a c t u r i n g s ide of t h e bus iness . A c t i n g o n t h e advice of t h e l a t e D r . W . K . Sul l ivan ( then P r e s i d e n t of t h e Q u e e n ' s College, Cork ) , o n e of t h e p a r t n e r s , M r . W m . B . H a r r i n g t o n , F . C . S . , p roceeded t o t h e Con t inen t , w h e r e h e a c q u i r e d a t h o r o u g h prac t i ca l k n o w ­l e d g e of t h e m a n u f a c t u r e of va r ious p u r e chemica ls ind ispensable in univers i t ies , l abora to r ies , technical ins t i tu tes , e t c . , a l so of m a n y technical c o m p o u n d s used in t h e a r t s . O n h i s r e t u r n t o I re land , a f t e r severa l y e a r s a b r o a d , t h e S h a n d o n W o r k s w e r e bui l t . T h e fine chemica ls p roduced a t t h e s e w o r k s h a v e a wor ld-wide repu ta t ion . T h e y a r e well know-n a m o n g s t scientific m e n t h r o u g h o u t t h e Un i t ed K i n g d o m a n d t h e Br i t i sh Domin ions .

Besides t h e finer c lasses of chemica ls , t h e firm a l so m a k e m a n y technical c o m p o u n d s requ i red in i ron-enamel l ing, g l a s s a n d po t t e ry w o r k , a n d o t h e r indus ­t r i e s .

M e s s r s . H a r r i n g t o n s ' W o r k s cover near ly t w o ac r e s of g r o u n d , a n d s o m e y e a r s a g o they o p e n e d a l a r g e w a r e h o u s e in L o n d o n f o r t h e d is t r ibut ion of the i r g o o d s i n G r e a t Br i ta in a n d a b r o a d .

A n a c c u r a t e idea of t h e ex tens ive a n d va r i ed n a t u r e of t h e fine chemica l s p roduced b y th i s firm c a n b e s t b e ob ta ined b y a p e r u s a l of the i r P r i ce L i s t .

S p r a y i n g ma te r i a l s f o r t h e p reven t ion of p o t a t o b l igh t a r e extensively m a d e in C o r k .

P H A R M A C E U T I C A L . — P r e p a r a t i o n s such a s t inc tures , ex t r ac t s , co rn cures , e tc . , a r e extensively m a n u f a c t u r e d b y severa l h o u s e s in t h e Ci ty .

T A R P R O D U C T S . — e . g . Creoso te , p i tch , e tc . , a r e m a d e o n a l a r g e scale a t t h t L i t t le I s l and Chemica l W o r k s .

C O L O U R S , P A I N T S , A N D V A R N I S H E S . — 1 h e m a n u f a c t u r e of Colours , P a i n t s , D i s t e m p e r s (or W a t e r Pa in t ) , a n d V a r n i s h e s is car r ied o n t o a cons iderable e x t e n t a t t h e S h a n d o n Chemica l W o r k s .

T h e C a d m i u m Yel low a n d F i r e R e d , p r o d u c e d t h e r e a r e suppl ied t o p u r c h a s e r s all ove r t h e K i n g d o m . I n f a c t , Mess r s . H a r r i n g t o n a r e t h e sole m a n u f a c t u r e r s of F i r e R e d in t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m , a n d a r e a l s o t h e only firm in I r e l and w h o a r e m a k i n g d i s t emper s a n d va rn i shes . T h e supply of w h i t i n g f o r t h e m a n u f a c t u r e of d i s t emper is l a rge ly ob ta ined f r o m t h e N o r t h of I re land . T h i s firm ho lds a l a r g e po r t i on of t h e I r i sh t r a d e in t he se p roduc t s , n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h e keen c o m ­pet i t ion of s o m e of t h e m o s t p rog res s ive firms in t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m .

P O L I S H E S . — B o o t , Me ta l a n d F l o o r Pol ishes a r e a l so a speciali ty of t h e F i r m .

P R I N T I N G I N K S . — I n k s f o r n e w s , pos t e r , l e t te rpress , a n d l i thograph ic p u r ­poses a r e a l so m a n u f a c t u r e d b y Mess r s . H a r r i n g t o n a t the i r specially equipped w o r k s n e a r t h e Ci ty . T h e mach ine ry a n d mills employed a r e of t h e m o s t up- to -da te cha rac t e r , a n d i t is s a t i s f ac to ry t o k n o w t h a t m a n y of t h e I r i sh n e w s p a p e r s , a s well a s o t h e r c lasses of p r i n t i n g (such a s th i s H a n d b o o k ) , a r e pr in ted w i th t h e i n k s of t h i s firm.

M E D I C I N A L H E R B S . — T h e M u n s t e r H e r b G r o w i n g a n d D r y i n g Associa t ion h a s recent ly erected , b y k i n d permiss ion of t h e G o v e r n i n g Body of t h e College, a Dry ing - shed in t h e g r o u n d s of Unive r s i ty College, C o r k , M a n y of t h e h e r b s used in medic ine g r o w , o r c a n p robab ly b e g r o w n , in M u n s t e r , a n d l a r g e quan t i t i e s

CORK PRESENT.

a re now being dried and despatched t o Eng land fo r manufac tu re . I t is a regre t ­table f ac t t ha t there is n o manufac ture r of these products in Ireland, and it may be sugges ted t ha t this industry could profitably b e taken u p here where the supply of r a w materials is so l a rge and excellent.

T h e Secretary of t he Association, Miss K . V . O ' L e a r y , M.A. , University College, Cork, will g ive every information t o proposing growers .

T h e necessity f o r associat ing the Universities a n d Technical Inst i tutes wi th the industries, by means of H ighe r Scientific education and research, is fully recognised in Cork , and already some good work h a s been done in this direction a t Universi ty College, Cork . T h i s movement should give a g r e a t impetus to , a m o n g s t o the r s , t he Chemical Indust ry , and enable our manufac tu re r s t o hold their own aga ins t all competitors.

A g rea t prospect fo r t he fu tu re of the Chemical Indus t ry is be ing opened u p by the coming expansion of t he Shipbuilding and Engineer ing t rades in t he South of Ireland.

CONFECTIONERY A N D JAMS.

A t the beginning of last century these t r ades were carr ied on, of course on a small scale, by retailers on their own premises, a n d solely f o r their o w n retail t rade . To-day these t rades have developed into a n impor tan t industry, due t o t h e g r e a t increase in the supply of s u g a r and the reduction in i ts price, t h e increase in population, t he h igher s t andard of l iving consequent o n the increased weal th of t he community, and the replacement of t he old hand appliances by mos t ingenious machinery, secur ing the automat ic work ing of t he var ious processes a n d the u tmos t degree of cleanliness of t he finished product .

In Cork there a r e half-a-dozen medium-sized factories, equipped with t h e mos t modern and up-to-date appliances, a n d g iv ing employment t o upwards of 300 hands , engaged in t he manufacure of confectionery, sweets , j ams , marmalade , bottled f ru i t s , peels.

I n addition t o supplying a n extensive local marke t , before the w a r an impor tan t export t r ade w a s be ing gradual ly built up . W h e n normal conditions a r e resumed Cork will be in a good position fu r the r t o develop its expor t t r a d e in j a m s a n d preserves, a s t he factories here have been extended and their ou tpu t increased fo r t he fulfilment of important w a r contracts .

F I S H I N G I N D U S T R Y .

R E T R O S P E C T I V E . — T h e coas ts of Ireland were , f r o m a very early period, f amous fo r their fisheries. S t a t e papers record t ha t I r ish fishermen of Dungannon and W a t e r f o r d carried their h a a k t o F r a n c e in t he 16th cen tury . 1 F i sh ing fleets f r o m Devon and Cornwall fished, f r o m a n early date , off the Muns te r coast . L a r g e numbers of Engl ishmen took p a r t in t h e fishing off Car l ingford. Spanish and French fishermen resorted to t he Ir ish fishing g r o u n d s in t he 15th century. As early a s 1465 a n Act of Edward I V . 2 fo rbade any s t r ange r s fishing on the I r i sh coast without a licence. T h e clansmen of O'Sull ivan-Beare, w h o inhabited a district whose rugged soil afforded them bu t a scanty living, augmented their s tore by fishing, and had their nat ive fleet. An Act of 1548 sough t t o encourage t h e English fishing t rade by forbidding the nat ives demanding any money o r shares o f f i s h f rom merchants o r fishermen f requen t ing Irish waters . Despi te t he S t a t u t e of E d w a r d I V . above referred to, 600 Spanish ships sailed t o Ireland in 1569 a n d later years fo r fishing.3 I n 1698, petitions were sent f rom Folkestone aga ins t t he W a t e r f o r d and W e x f o r d fishermen sending herr ings t o t he St ra i t s and thereby-forestall ing t hem. 4

1 C . S . P . 1569. 2 5 Ed . IV. , c a p 6. 3 Commercial Relations between England and Ireland (Murray). * Ibid.