Immense quantities of shot and shells are also made here, besides every article in the foundry line, such as engine cylinders and materials, pipes, boilers, ovens, vats, pots, grates, machinery of all kinds, and in short articles of every description so universally known by the name of Carron goods. From the minute atten tion paid to the manufactory of all articles made here, they are in general so well executed, that the name Car 7072, upon cast iron goods, gives them a kind of sterling stamp.
Smith work, particularly all the varieties of the heavy kind, is also executed here on a great scale, and in the best manner.
All the various machinery employed at Carron, is plain, substantial, and well finished, without the least aim at finery ; a principle of the first importance, and worthy of imitation in all such concerns.
From the great extent of this foundry, the fire blast furnaces cannot supply the consumpt of pig iron, so that it is estimated that the company buy annually a quantity of iron equal to the produce of other five furnaces ; the consequence of which is, that they are constantly in the market for iron, both in Scotland and Wales. Only a small quantity of malleable iron is made for their own particular uses.
Upwards of 2000 people are employed at the works in the various departments, so that it may be estimated that at least 6000 souls depend upon the Carron com pany immediately for subsistence.
With respect to the raw materials used at the works, the coals are supplied by two large collieries adjoin ing the works, which are brought direct from the pit mouth to the furnaces, by means of improved cast-iron rail-ways. The main seam of coal is about four feet thick, partly of slate, and partly of cubical coal, being the only coal in these collieries hitherto wrought for making iron. A plan has been here adopted of work ing by means of sliding rods and pumps, under dip of the engine levels, to a greater extent than has been prac tised in any part of Scotland; a mode to which the com pany have paid great attention, and upon which they have very much improved. The sliding rods are moved by the engine above ground, and by this mode collieries have been revived by the same engine pit and machine ry, which were considered as exhausted in the common mode of working. The consumpt of coals is no less than 200 tons each day ; from which we may easily conceive not only the magnitude of the works, but also the great annual excavation of the coal fields by such an expendi ture of fuel.
It is somewhat remarkable that none of the iron stone, used at the furnaces, is fount] iu the immediate neigh bourhood; the chief supply of it is brought from the westward down the great canal, which passes within a mile of the works, and from the coast of Fife : all of it is of the common argillaceous iron stone, yielding front 25 to 30 per cent. of iron : only a small quantity of the Cumberland rich iron ore is used in the furnaces occa sionally, for giving the metal a peculiar texture. The limestone, used as a flux in the furnaces, is also brought from the coast of Fife. All the fire-bricks
used for lining the furnaces are made at the works, from a clay which is found immediately under a thin coal in one of their collieries, and which resists well the action of fire.
As the quantity of ordnance stores, and the various ar ticles made at this work, are immense, the company keep from 15 to 20 vessels in their employment, for carry ing their manufactures to London, Liverpool, and other ports, and for bringing iron-stone and lime-stone to the works, the greater part of which vessels are their own property.
Till within these two years all the cartage for the works was done by single horse carts ; but the improved rail-ways have superseded that mode. It is remarkable, that all the carts employed at this extensive iron work had wooden axles, which the carters preferred : the rea son assigned for this was, that in the deep cut roads, the concussions were not so severe upon the horse as if they had been of iron.
This great work is under the direction of one manager, and the whole is conducted with the greatest order, at tention, and economy, and no where in Scotland are the wages of workmen more moderate. Here societies are formed by the workmen, and patronized by the company, for the relief of those in distress, or who are superannuated—a system highly beneficial in all large works.
In a commercial view, these works are well situated, having an easy access by water to the river Forth on one hand, and to the river Clyde on the other. A canal is carried from the river Carron (below the works) within the area of the buildings, where the manufactures are easily put on board small craft, and carried down to the Carron wharf, and shipped in large vessels.
From the extensive scale upon which the works are carried on, the circulation of money is great and re gular ; so that this establishment has contributed great ly to the prosperity of the surrounding district, and it has not only been highly beneficial to the proper ty in its vicinity, but also to the country and nation at large.
On approaching Carroll, every stranger is struck with the very great stock of coals, iron-stone, and lime-stone, and with the various horrid instruments of war, scattered or piled up in every direction, while, at the same instant, the ear is assailed by various discordant sounds, such as the impetuous rushing of water, the creaking of boring mills, the varied clanking sound of ponderous hammers, with the lond and constant hissing of the blast furnaces, in the midst of which the eye is arrested by large fields of burning coals, producing a smoke which at times almost obscure the light of the sun, and which in the night, highly illuminate the atmosphere to the distance of many miles ; while, in another direction, the metal is pouring in streams of liquid fire, throwing olT starry cor ruseations of light. These various operations, with the numerous workmen going about in busy confusion, pro duce a "tout ensemble" quite unparalleled and astonish ing. (a. 11.)