233
in the last Section, treated at large of the various political ar-rangements which equally affect all kinds of industry, our observ-ations upon the subjects of this and the following Section will beshort.
1. Of Mines.
Coal and Lime, articles so essential to the prosperity and im-provement of a country, considerably abound through Scotland ;and it is to bo hoped, that, through the gradually improving fa-cilities of intercourse, by means of roads, canals, and iron rail-ways, they will become more and more generally accessible, soas to allow proper advantage to be made of the natural resource*of every part of the kingdom, and of the disposition of the in-habitants.
The subject of coal affords an instance of the progressive na-ture of the science of finance, requiring, like ail others, time andexperience to bring it to maturity. The first occurring rude ideaof taxation is, to impose it where it merely promises to be pro-ductive. Accordingly coal, water borne, was long subjected to afax in Scotland , enhancing the price of this indispensable articleto those to whom it came dearest, at any rate, from its distance.Through a more enlightened system of policy, this injudicioustax, pressing hardest where there was least capacity to hear it,(the hardships of which were placed in the strongest light, bythe observations of the Clergy, in the printed Statistical accountsof their respective parishes), has been repealed.
Freestone, from Milnfield in the shire of Angus, has been usedin constructing the London , or West Indian Docks. Whinslonefrom Salisbury Craigs, in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh , car-ried economically as ships’ ballast, has been used in paving thestreets of London . A premium was awarded, by the Society forencouraging Arts, since the commencement of the French war,for the discovery of a species of millstone in Aberdeenshire , of aquality approaching to that of the French burrs. Specimens ofmarbles have been brought from the Highlands of Scotland . Slatctfire wrought, both in the Highlands and Lowlands; and these,with tiles, are coming more and more to supersede the use ofturf and of straw, for covering roofs, to the considerable savingof surface soil for culture, and of straw for manure.
Mines of lead are wrought at Strontian, in the Highlands ; andat Leadhills and Wanlockhead, on the confines of Dumfries-sliire,Ironstone abounds; and where there is ready access to fuel, iron18 successfully manufactured, in Stirlingshire, in Clydesdale, andon the confines of Ayrshire.
Nothing observable occurs, as to fiscal or political regulations,m regard to the industry employed upon mines or quarries, eitherin the way of encouragement or of obstruction. It is left to feel‘ts own way, and to rest on its own bottom; to reward itself byIk own fruits.