The Portland daily press., 1869-05-03
.GRIcoLA.

BATH, April 80, 1869.
To the Editor of the Press:
Those who have relied upon the current ru-
mors In relation to the business of Bath, with
out having an opportunity to look around, may
have come to the same conclusion that had,
that it was fast going to seed-that the houses
were mainly occupied by persons too infirm to
get away, whose time was chiefly occupied in
mourning over the "lost art OF shipbuildIng,
or in viewing hopefully or otherwise the
ground where they must shortly lie. Thus
impressed, / met an old acquaintance, with q
smiling countenance, who said he had a little
mare that needed exercise, and he would take
me around to satisfy me that there were some
people in Bath who still live. "An excellent
idea" said I-''trot her OUT
sHR-BUILDNe
We rode about mile down the Kennebec,
to the yard of Messrs. Robinson and Lemont,
who have been in the ship-building business
quite number of years, and found they were
putting up bark of about 600 TONS Next
above is the yard Of -Messrs. Chapman &
Flint, formerly of Thomaston, who are stretch
ing the keel for q ship of 1000 tons and over
200 feet long. Mr.. Grin Di~isdeIl is building a
bark Of 400 tons and a schooner Of 200 tons.
Mr.. G. Desring is building schooner of 100
TONS Palmer & Hawley have Just launched a
bark of SOC. tons. Messrs. Hathorns & hsdg-
kins have Just completed three-mastes
schooner; Of 800 tons and Messrs Hathorne
and others are building a ship of 1900 toms
FArksr Morse is building ship of 1850 tons;
T. H.gan q schooner Of 105 tons; w. Moses g.
Son ship of HOO tons, and B. o. Moses one
of about the same size. Messrs. E. 8 N. Sew
ell are making arrangements to build ship Of
15OO TONS B. L. White is building schooner
OF 116 tons, and G.. Rogers, at Ireland, is put
ting up schooner of about 200 tons. My
friend was quite as much surprised as was
when we came to figure up our discoveries
Is vessels, with an aggregate tonnage of II ,26o.
COUNTY BUILDING.
The county building, commenced about =
year ago, is now nearly completed. 1t il now
conceded by nearly the entire community that
the best spot in the citv was selected. 1t is on
an elevation overlooking the city, the river and
surrounding country, and is the first building
seen on approaching the city from any direc-
ton, by land or water. The of ces are all well
arranged and elegantly finished, and the court
room, which is 45 feet by 55, has no superior, in
point of arrangement and beauty of finish, in
New England. Its estimated cost will be
about $4,000 Directly in front is the elegant
monument erected in memory of fallen SOL
diers from Bath and vicinity. 1t 10 surronuds
ed by an iron fence, enclosing what was once
an unsightly vacant lot.
THE DEATH OF AN OLD SHIP BUILDER AND sUs-
PENSION OF THE FIRM.
The old and well-known firm of Messrs. w I.
and ]. Drumnond, made an assignment last
week. This firm, formerly Trufaat and
Drummond. has been as extensively engaged
in shipbuilding as any finn in the State
Their ships have had an excellent reputation
and are found in every important harbor and
their sails whitsn every sea. The death of the
senior member of the firm, following heavy
losses by endorsing and disasters at sea, SO i'm
paired their capital that it was found advisable
to 60 into liquidation. 1t is said their proper
ty, If it could be favorably disposed Of would
more than pay their liabilities.
MANUFACTURING.
There is quite variety Of manufacturing
in this city, which seems to be quite active
Mr. S. r. Bailey is increasing the business at
his carriage mandatory. He is getting out
15O elegant sleighs, with patent standards, said
to be a great improvement. Mr.. b. has also
leased the Columbian HOTELS thoroughly rem
ovatia9 it and putting, in new furniture and
bedding throughout. Msssrs 4. L. Allen are