The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-03-04
A Dry Dock---shall we have one

bnat ~ iatc meeting Oh the BOARD OF lraue
committee was appointed to take such
measures as they deemed advisable with ref
erence to Dry Dock in this city.
We understand the committee have OBJ
tanned the refusal Of several sites of land on
the front Ct the city, suitable for their purpose,
subscriptions are obtained, and that they have
had an Act of. Incorporation prepared, and
presented to the Legislature, which in one
branch has already passed to be engrossed.
The question will soon be submitted to our
citizens for practical answer-Shall Dry
Dock be built here at once? An answer to
this question cannot, must not, be deferred
any longer.
We are suffering in reputation and in means
as commercial community, to an extent that
is not even imagined by large portion of our
business men and property holders, in conse-
quence Of the want of accommodations which
Dry Dock alone can furnish. We are a com
mercisl city Of some thirty thousand inhabit-
ants, and yet to-day we have fewer facilities
for the repairs of vessels than existed here
thirty-fve years ago, when our population
was not more than one-half of its present
number and our mercantile marine very much
smaller than it is now.
Shall we endure this any longer? Shall we
continue to be sneered at for pretending to be
q city with the best harbor in New England.
and inviting commercial intercourse with all
the world, and yet have no adequate means of
repairing the vessels that may be damaged on
the voyage to our shores-a city and its neigh
borhood with a tonnage of 10000, and vet
with.only small railway for their accommo-
dation?
Do the business men here know that several
vessels have been sent from this city for re-
pairs and returned here again for cargoes-
that others are detained this moment for want
of Dock? And here, within seven miles of
us, is the Inflated steamer Bohemian. Enter
prising and daring men are engaged in en-
deavoring 10 raise her. Suppose she is lifted
and brought with her cargo to this port-we
cannot repair her; she must be sent away to
. port where the accommodations exist.
Thus we are losing constantly the business
that we need here, and by delay are depriving
ourselves of those conveniences which every
port must have if it would retain its commerce
and increase its wealth.
But the necessity of Dock is too apparent
TO be argued-it is most waste of ink and
time to mention facts to those who are inter-
ested in navigation. They know the want
presses them, and are ashamed and almost in
dignant that it continues without strong and
persevering effort to have it supplied.
There are some not Immediately interested
10 shipping, and whose good will and subscrip-
tion we wish to procure, who will very natu-
rally ask, Will such an undertaking be profit
abte-,oiu it pays
To such, We unhesitatingly reply in the az
flrmative. The information we get from par
ties interested in other Docks warrants us in
this assertion. 1t has been stated that one of
the Boston Companies pays dividend of
fifteen per cent. upon capital nearly double
the cost Of the dock.
The old Portland Marine Railway was very
pro6table-four times the amount of its cost
having been paid to its stockholders. A
dock can be4managed here at much less ex-
pense than in larger cities, and, with a tariff
ofrates that will attract vessels to it, it can
and will have constant business.
Aside from the immediate profit to the
stockholders, its indirect benefit to the city,
10 its increase Of business, and of class of
population that it is desirable to have; class
ofhonest, industrious, domestic native me-
chanics, and the consequent increased de-
mand for houses, must commend it to every
real estate holder and capitalist.
There are shrewd business men of this city
who would be willing to build and own the
whole dock for the sake of the profit which
they believe it will pay, if they had the means
to do it. 1t is however desirable that there
shall be more divided interest in it for the
sake of bringing larger business to the dock
and to the city.
Offers of foreign capital have been made to
some Of the committee, thus showing emphat-
ically the opinion of other parties that it will
pay, but our own citizens and those of our
neighboring towns should own it for their
own personal profit, as well as from feeling
of local pride.
The estimated amount required for the
Dock, including site, is one hundred and ten
thousand dollars( S110,0 00)which it is proposed
to divide into shares of one hundred dollars
each, to be called for in instalments as wanted
for the work of construction.
Cannot this comparatively small sum be
raised among us? VIII not the wealthy, the
active and public spirited men of our city
move without further delay, and thus take
away our reproach, and secure for us those
conveniences which are absolutely essential
to us as commercial community? For our
selves we cannot doubt that the present effort
will be successful, and the requisite amount
be at once subscribed.
We are gratihed to learn that the books for
subscriptions for the foregoing enterprise, will
be ready aud opened at the rooms of the
Board Of Trade tomorrow, Saturday at II
o'clock A. NJ, and it is hoped our citizens will
be present in large numbers, and promptly
put the bali in motion. The Committee hav-
ing the thing in charge are Messrs. T. C. Her
sey, w. w. Woodbury., Jacob Mcclellan, Chas.
M. Davis, John B. Coyle and Orlando NJ.
Marrett.
MEETING OF NATURALIzED CITIZENS OF
THE 4rH WARD.-A large and enthusiastic
meeting OF the naturalized citizens of the 4th
Ward was held at the old City Hall last eve
ming. and nominated candidates for Alderman
and Councimen. The meeting was duly Or