The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-01-27
Correspondence OF the Press.

| Fort PophdH,-Shipbuitdin Line OF
! iSteamers-Pubiic Spirit-City Mius-Lau
iSuits-Rer. Mr.. Beard-7heotogical Giant.
BATH, Jan. 26, 1863
Business having detained me in this city
over the Sabbath, l will improve the opportu
nifty to send you few of the results of my OBJ
servation. As your readers well know, this
city is situated at the head of ship navigation
and ofopen winter navigation on the Kenne-
bee, which, q dozen miles below, empties into
the ocean. Fort Popham-near which one
day last summer were congregated some six
or eight thousand deluded people to celebrate
the commencement of an abortive settlement,
and TO pay thirty -seven and half cents each
for an odorous clam chowder-is TO guard the
entrance to the river. 1t will be a first class
fort, and afford strong protection against the
ingress ofan enemy's feet, as no vessel can en-
ter the river without exposure to the heaviest
guns while passing distance of more than
three miles. Such Is the direction of the chan
mel that for distance oftwo miles, vessel
in entering the river must steer almost direct
ly towards the fort, then pass its heavy guns
within short rifle shot, and then after passing.
should 1t be lucky enough to do so, it would
be exposed to a raking fire for mile or mile
and half more, before a turn in the channel
would bring it behind Cox's Head, and out of
range Of the guns.
Nearly dozen vessels, of various sizes, are
now upon the stocks in this city in different
stages of progress. Their average size is about
1000 tons. One Government steamer is near
ing completion; another steamer for use on
the river is about ready to launch, the engine
of which is being made by Mr.. Sparrow of
your place, and another small steamer, design
ed to be run as ferry boat opposite the city,
is soon to be commenced
am told that line of fast, commodious,
substantial side-wheel boats will be put on the
route from this city to Boston early in the
spring making regular daily line, to run in
close connection with trains upon the Andres
coggin and the Kennebec railroads II is
more than probable that the new steamer
"Harvest Moon" built by one of your citizens,
will make one of the line. Should such an ar
rangement be contaminated, no boats will
probably be run, as heretofore, from the upper
Kennebec cities to Boston, as their sources of
profit would be cut off, For this long-needed
Improvement in steamboating, the public will
be indebted TO the energy and enterprise of
OLIVER MOSES, ESQ.,, President of the An
droscoggin Railroad, more than to any other
dozen men in the city.
To tell the truth, the city is sadly deficient
in men of enlarged enterprising spirit. There
is no deficiency of capital, but the public use
of that capital, or its employment in works for
public rather than for mere personal ben
eft, is quite another thing. Like all other
cities, Bath has its share of those who, like
the swine, never benefit others until they
die and are "cut upr-men who are worth
hundreds Of thousands, but who will even reg
lister their vessels under foreign flag to avoid
their share OF the burdens of the Government.
and will remove their residence to New York
or Brooklyn-where tonnage is not taxed--io
evade their legitimate share OF the expenses
Of their own town! 1t is gratifying reflec-
ton, when one thinks of such men, to know
that they cannot live always, and that death
will, sooner or later unclench their tight fists,
and make them disgorge for the public veal.
Few men have of late done more for the in-
ternai improvement Of the city than the pro-
prietor Of the City Mills, B. S. SEwALL, ESQ.
Through his individual enterprise large
steam Touring mill has been put in operation,
with machinery of the most approved kind,
and the success of the enterprise has been
most fattering to the proprietors. He has
also made extensive preparation for drying,
grinding, and putting up cargoes of salt in
bags, until he is now overrun with orders IRON
all the northern and eastern portions of the
State
The Supreme Court is in session at Wiscas-
set, ten miles from this place, Judge Dicker-
son presiding. l looked in upon it Saturday.
A case was that day given to the jury which
had been on trial nine days, in which damag-
es are claimed to the tune of 5000, for the
alleged malpractice OF physician, DIR. Call
OF Damariscotta, in unskillfully treating the
broken arm of lady patient. The result
was not known at the adjournment of the
court Saturday evening, though the jury had
been out eight hours.
A libel case of some interests now on trial,
the damaged individual being well known
Board of Trade" Democrat, and the respond
ent the editor of apolitical paper, who I'M
fortunately pricked his antagonist with the
point OF his pen. As the case will probably
be reported forbear further notice except to
say that one might have inferred, from the
large number of Breckinridgers on hand, that
the Golden Circle was in regular session.
Yesterday forenoon, it being Sunday, and
your correspondent being assumptions church
goer, he went into the Central Church to list
en- to the young, talented and popular pastor,
Rev. A. +. Beard, recently from parish near
your city. Mr.. Beard is a man who never
forgets that his hearers have common sense,
and he never attempts to stultify that common
sense by his preaching He is, moreover,
consistent Christian patriot, loving his coun-
try with large and full heart, and never feel
ing called upon to apologize for or excuse
'damning sin" against God and humanity, be-
cause it is constitutional! Whatever conflicts
with the golden rule, which requires that all
IL. .l.-a