The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1883-02-22
The Bath Board of Trade.

Another year has passed and it becomes my
duty to lay before you the business transac-
tions of the year, so far as they have come TO
my knowledge. The past year has been very
prosperous one for Bath. All branches Of our
industries have been fully sustained labor has
been in good demand and well rewarded. No
one need be idle if he is disposed to work, and
business like appearance has prevailed
throughout the year; and let me say here. the
Board of Trade has not been an idle spectator
of the best interests of our business men and
their diversified industries. All of our manu-
factories have worked on full time in order to
fill their contracts. During the last year our
legitimate and leading interest, ship-buiding,
has been fully up to the previous years; much
more than usual in the new department of
Auxiliary Steam for certain trades, and as far
as tested, it bids fair to be success for the bus
iness to which it is intended.
As yet further experience is needed to test
its complete utility. The speaker followed with
list of the vessels and tonnage built in Bath
district during the year ending Dec. 81, 1882,
with a remark that such showing with an
aggregate of 65 vessels with a tonnage of A.
$50 tons must be satisfactory to all engaged in
the business. The facilities for building are in
creasing The plant has started for the engines
and boilers for wood and iron vessels of any
size and power. Perhaps one of the most i'm
portant industries that the city ever knew is
the Goss Marine Iron Works. The large and
comm0diOus buildings are nearly completed.
The machinery is mostly located and soon will
be in condition to build all kinds of machinery
necessary for steamers and sailing vessels as
well as engines for railroads. This capital has
rightly been largely taken By our own citizens.
The speaker spoke at length Of the shipping
bill! and its great influence upon Bath in partic-
ular. In this work the Bath Board of Trade
has done its share. agitatins the question by
union with other sections Of he country in its
consideration. A committee was raised by
Congress aud the shipping b has been pre-
sented to Congress. 1t may not be all we wish
but it will relieve the merchant marine. If
there is any class to which this natien is ndebt-
ed it is to those who have sustained our com
merce under its discouragements. Congress
ought to foster 1t. One addition | would like
to see in the bill, viz, to have shipping taxed
only Oh its net earnings. The great question
with some is, shall we build our own ships, or
shall we buy them: say most emphatically,
build them. 1t is national question. The pur-
chasing of ships from foreign nations is not the
best way to restore the American flag to the
ocean. If we do not foster our own ship
building interests the art will die out in this
country. The trade is not being learned. Ii is.
perhaps. one Of the finest of sciences. If we
admit foreign built vessels to American regis
try, may it not be expected that the few Ship
builders will abandon the business. How are
the ship bnldinG interests of the country TO be
brought to point i'll competition with other
maritime powers Do aS England and other
stitutiou and thn men yho hniId then, mrst he
kent mt home Ampriran snamen mnsf he on
couraged also. The merchant marine is ncces-
sary for the maintenance of maritime powers
and must not be crushed
In order to make it ctlectual it must he built
by American mechanics, conducted by Ameri-
can capitalists. AS soon the policy of the
United States will allow American shipbuilder>
to construct vessels as cheaply as they can be
constructed in Enoland IN rrn,ittinn 1Iuties ON
materials and connnn.nte an, vessels fan. trans.
p0rtino The mails when thr Government ortS
mon This nrinrinle if will bc founI thyt thr
enternrisp md skilI Of the nronla nf tbn I-nitnI
States will enable them tn rnmnetn win INV
other nation
II has been = oup,tion ~ ia tha rpIipf Given
bv the nresemt hi heforn Con4re.S if If s6ouId
mass onabIinr on. ,.nnmar.a f. f,i,l,. non,1ntn
With foreion owino lar@rlv to local tavation
Take for instance tbr TnGIisb system Of tov.
mo nersonaI nroner.tv romnarnI Win an. avn
Take a steamer yalnnd ,t $500 600 ,Indnr thf
English law said steamer il IA he tayrI IInnr
her NET e,rnin~s which m fnnnd "a ovnrntt, :
ner cent or 30 600 tay , NOV conf ON fhi,
canal tn SsnO IL MI rn1,n+ry I,.a t.v thn tnI
ne of the shin } nor rpnt en,I,i to s10 oo0 The
margin in favor of the EnGIi.h shin nv.nrr ar
80 o0o a very oood rro+t
If is often aSke, what has become nf tba ast
amount of Tonnage The civil ynr rouId no,
have done II II lid NOT Name hut II I;l In
crease 0mr tonnnor more tban is onn4ralIv W snn.
posed. 'rhr war fond II tot9lI2 unnrnnarfd
as we are TODAY The governments tnnl, far if.
use over 600 0Oo TONS ,,f our >hinnino Ou,
pxart and whole loss was su1 oOO tons SoIl II
FOREIGNERS 1000 makino } 31 900 ions | haC
hoped ere fhis TO rpnorf Some action of Cnn
orrss tpndino to relieve This branch Of nationr
fndusfry bnf | Am stiU unahIn ~ ID 81 Ou,