The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-01-20
Letter from, Bath.

To the Editor Of the Press. .... .... g ..-
shipbuilding and branches of business de-
pending thereon, have engrossed the capital
and given employment to labor so generally in
this city that the tide of material prosperity
GIBBS and flows as the demand for ships in
creases or diminishes. There is no city or
town in Maine, perhaps in New England, where
there are SO many shipbuilders who are thor
ouehly acquainted with their business, either
in model or manufacture, as in Bath, conse-
quently Bath-built ships find market, at re-
muneratve prices, when vessels Of the larger
dimensions are in demand. Our shipbuilders
are taking courage from the movements in
their behalf in Congress and elsewhere, and
are making arrangements to do more the com
ing season than has been done for several
years. ~ N i'''l '"'a 7>'"
H SHIP BUILDING. LuG ts1u
Messrs Houghton Bros. have a ship on the
stocks of about 1900 tons burthen. Messrs. WV.
Moses & Son, are building ship of about 1000
tons, Mr.. +. o. Moses has just launched a
beautiful ship Of aboute0 TONS Messrs Goss &
Sawyer are putting up ship of about 500 tons.
Some half dozen smaller vessels are now in
process of completion. Messrs Hitchcock
Brothers are intending to build two ships this.
year. E. A. Sewall is building ship of 1900
tons A large number of ship carpenters are
operating in Virginia, and some sixteen or
twenty frames will be got out, ready to be put
up il the circumstances warrant. rs. 0t,H
BLOCK MANUFAcToRY. ssrr.t',
!. Duncan & Davenport, the well known man
utacturers of Waterman & Russells Patent
Iron-strapped Blocks, are but just keeping
their machinery in motion during the general
stagnation in shipbuilding. They have too
much regard for the interest of those who have
been in their employ for several years to shut
down entirely, although it might be for their
pecuniary interest to do so. They have al
ways employed the best and most reliable me-
chanics that could be found, and mutual good
feeling and regard for the interest of each other
have always existed These gentlemen manu-
facture and keep on hand blocks ard dead eyes
of every size, and every other article in the
line, made of the best material and in the most
faithful manner. The blocks are mainly gal
vanized, and, therefore, not liable to be affected
by rust. They employ when in full operation
some fifty or sixty men in the various depart
ments of manufacturing.
COUNTY BUILDING.
The foundation of County Building is al
ready laid. 1t occupies an elevated position at
the junction Of High and Centre streets, 'front.'
ing.on High street, commanding beautiful
view of the river, and will be an object of in
terest and admiration to persons passing up
and down the river in steamers and other yes
sells. 1t will be 83 feet by 50, two stories high,
with French roof and high basement and a
tower on each front corner. The first story
will be occupied by the various county officers,
the second story will be the court room, and
the upper room for such purposes as the coun-
ty may require Mr.. F. H. Fassett, formerly
OF this city, now of Portland, is the architect
which is full guaranty that its architectural
arrangements will be unsurpassed, and the
work well done. The estimated cost is not far
from $4,000 when finished and furnished.
The county officers are now crowded into the
city building, where there is barely room Tor
city purposes. One room is occupied as the
Mayors Office, Aldermen's room. Probate Court
room, Register of Probate's Office, &c., Sc
Other rooms are very much in the same condi-
ton so that the necessity for county BUILDINGS
clearly seen. With such good natured men as
Mayor Putnam, Marshal Spragne, Deputy
Longley, City Treasurer Wiggin. County Treas
urer Bovy, County Clerk Hayes, Register of
Probate Upton, Judge Nourse, etc., there is no
danger of family jars or shoulder hitting, and
an occasional treading on cerns may call out a
deep sigh but nothing more. lr4aE eil-r
..- .l a.. ICE BUSINESS. a5t-s -t-.
Ice can be manufactured in Maine with as
little outlay as in any part of the country and
the crop this year is bouutiful. Mr.. j. II. Rob-
inson has some fifty teams constantly employ
ed in taking it from the pouds and putting it
on board vessels. A large number of men are
employed in this department. who hut for this
would be out of employment. ,..-b 7-yt 9.
CORNISH, Jan. 18th, 1883