NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE. This busy and important town is very well provided with railway accommodation. The Newcastle and Carlisle Railway extends across the island nearly from one sea to the other ; the North Shields line passes through North Shields to Tynemouth ; the Newcastle and Berwick Rail way establishes a communication with Scot land ; lastly, the Durham railways, which, taking their departure from Gateshead, open up a communication with South Shields, Sun derland, Durham, York, and the south of Eng land generally. A station near the centre of the town, which is to form a junction with all these lines by means of viaducts, has for some time been in progress. The most important part of this work is a bridge across the Tyne, undertaken by the railway companies, and one of the finest engineering works in England.
It is a double bridge, the lower one at an ele vation of 90 feet above the river, for carriages and foot passengers, and a railway bridge at a further elevation of 25 feet. The whole length of the structure is nearly 1400 feet. It has two piers at the margin of the river, and four others in the stream itself, besides smaller piers to support the land arches. The High Level Bridge, as it is termed, is one of those creations which will give lasting fame to Robert Stephenson.
The commercial importance of Newcastle arises from its situation on a river navigable thus far by sea-borne vessels of 400 tons. The
Tyne forms the haven, and is under the care of the corporation. The river side is lined with warehouses and extensive quays. The chief business is in the shipment of coals, the produce of the surrounding coal-pits. The coals were formerly brought down the river in barges called keels, but vessels are now chiefly loaded from staiths. Coal is exported very considerably; also lead, cast and wrought iron, glass and pottery, copperas and other chemi cal productions, soap, colours, grindstones, salt, and pickled salmon. The imports are wine, spirituous liquors, and fruit, from the south of Europe ; corn, timber, flax, tallow, and hides, from the Baltic ; and tobacco and various other articles from North America. The number of sailing vessels registered at the port is about 1600, besides about 200 steamers.
The chief manufactures are of glass bottles and plate and crown glass, steam engines, mill work, and other machinery. A number of persons are engaged in ship and boat building, block, mast, and sail making, flax-dressing, rope making, &c. There are several malt houses, breweries, flour-mills, iron and lead works, and chemical works.
Newcastle takes up a worthy position at the Great Exhibition. In mineral produce, in machinery, and in manufactures, the town and neighbourhood are well fitted to occupy a high rank.