There are three canals connected with this county, viz. the Forth and Clyde Canal, the Monkland Canal, and that of Ardrossan.
The first connects the firths of Forth and Clyde, and runs across the isthmus the middle and southern di visions of Scotland. It was first proposed in the reign of Charles II. ; and the idea was afterwards several times re vived, and attempts made to carry it into execution. Many unforeseen obstacles, however, prevented any thing from being done till the year 1764, when a survey having been made by Mr. Smeaton, by desire of the Board of Trustees, . a company was formed, and an act of parliament obtained for this purpose in 1768, for making seven feet deep. By this act, the company were empowered to raise L.150,000, in 1500 shares, of L.100 each, ani to borrow L.50,000 : The dividends to the proprietors not to exceed 10 per cent. ; and when it exceeded that sum, the act or dained that the tolls were to be lowered.
The operations upon this canal began on the 10th of July, 1768 ; and in Jul), 1775, it was completed as far as Stocking Field, where a side-cut goes off to Port Dundas, in the immediate vicinity of Glasgow. The expence hav ing at this time exceeded the estimate, and the funds be ing exhausted, an act was obtained from government of L.50,000 from the forfeited estates, government drawing dividends with the other proprietors. In consequence of this assistance, the work again recommenced ; and the ca nal was finished in July 1790, when the opening of the na vigation took place. This canal is raised from the Carron near the Forth by 20 locks, to the summit level 156 feet, and descends to the Clyde. after passing a remarkable aque duct over the river Kelvin, by 19 locks, in the whole 39. The extreme length of the navigation is 35 miles ; the me dium width of the surface of tie canal is 56 feet, and of the bottom 27 ; the depth throughout the whole being 8 feet. Vessels of 19 feet beam, 60 feet keel, and drawing 8 feet water, can pass along the navigation, the banks having been raised a foot since 1787. The canal is supplied with water by 8 reservoirs, which yield annually 24,902 lockfulls. In addition to thes'e, are several streams and feeders, by which an increased annual supply of lockfulls can be ob tained when required.
That this canal has been productive of great advantages to the county in a commercial point of view, will appear from the following state of its revenue at different pe riods.
The canal connects the city of Glasgow with the exten sive coal fields in the parishes of Old and New Monkland. It was projected and cut, principally for the purpose of sup plying that city with coal. It is 35 feet in breadth on the level of the water, and 24 at the bottom ; its depth is 4 feet 6 inches ; and the upper and lower levels (at a place call ed Blackhill, where the ground ascends to feet are connected by 4 locks of 2 chambers, of 71 leet n length. The principal article carried on the canal is coal; but, be sides this, there are also transported iron, manure, kc. pay ing a certain tonnage per mile; and as it is now connected with the Forth and Clyde Canal, its utility is every year becoming more apparent, and more especially since boats have been established upon it for the conveyance of passen gers.
The Ardrossan canal was projected by the Earl of Eg linton, about the year 1805. It was intended to form a communication betwixt the city of Glasgow and the frith of Clyde at Ardrossan. A stock having been raised by sub scription, a survey made, and legislative authority obtained, the operations were begun in 1807 ; and in October 1811, that part of the canal, betwixt Port Eglinton, near Glas gow, and the village of Johnston, was opened, being a dis tance of 11 miles. Upon this part of the canal, which is all that has been yet finished, the sum of L.110,000 Sterling has been expended. The cutting of the remaining pact of it to the harbour of Ardrossan, is estimated at L.143,000 ; but, owing to the want of funds, the work is at present at a stand. When completed, its length will be 321- miles; its breadth is 30 feet, and in depth. Before it is completed, it will require 21 locks, viz. 8 betwixt Johnston and the summit level, and IS betwixt that point and the sea at Ar drossan. Besides the vessels employed upon this canal for commercial purposes, there are 3 boats for the conveyance of passengers to and front the city of Glasgow.