The Portland daily press., 1883-11-16
THE BENZ. F. PACKARD.
Launch of a Ship i'm Which Portland
People Are Interested shipbuiIding
News from the Busy City sf bath.


People Are Interested shipbuiIding
News from the Busy City If Bath.
Special Dispatch to the Press)
BATH, Nov. 10.
large party OF Portland people came to
Bath to-day by special train on the Maine
Central to be present at the launch of the
ship Benz. f. Packard from the yard of Goss,
Sawyer & Packard.
In the party were ex-Mayors Senter and
Mcclellan, Mayor Deering, Judge Enoch
knight, Capt. John Waterhouse and family,
w. R. Wood and family, Capt. Isaac f. Stur-
divant, Capt. J. s. Winslow, F II. Fassett
and wife, 81. N. Jose, G. Fl. Bailey, DR.. Pack
ard, f. FL. Morse, G. II. Farley. A. M. Smith
J. Soule, Wildes Walker, W. W. Thomas,
Elias Thomas, Joseph York, Geo. Trefethen,
@. W. Baker, c. II. O'Brion, A. W. Winches-
ter, John Knight, Israel Hicks, Alex. Bell,
M. W. Walton, Frank Foss, Geo. Stsnwood,
o. W Fullam, VIM. Mcclellan, A. N. Haines,
A. Laughlin, Thos. Laughlin, Chas. Follans-
bee, W. f. Stone, f. d. Littlefeld, Capt. T.
D. Taylor, J. W. Hichings, Fl. N. Pinkham.
Chas. B. Nash.
The ship BENZ. F. Packsrk, the keel for
which was laid last May, is one of the largest
and finest ever constructed by this enterprising
firm, and bears the name of the junior partner.
Her dimensions as registered are: Length,
244 2-10 feet; Width, 43310 feet; depth of hold,
26 $40 feet. Her registered tonnage is 213O
21-100. The lower masts are of steet; the main
being "a feet in length and 80 inches in dame
ter, and the mizzen ~ feet in length, 2S inches
dfon ATT Ty, ota
utilized as water tanks, and In others as venti-
lating iues. Though their first cost is greater,
yet in the end they are more economical than
wood as they will last as long as the vessel does.
The masts for the Packard were manufactured
at Goss Marine Iron works. The ship is fur
nished with the Providence patent windlass,
T. w. Hyde's patent pump, and with wire rig
Qing. An eight horsepower donkey engiue
for hosting achors. discharging cargo. and
raising sails. is part of the equipment. Her
cabin is very spacious and elegantly veneered
in mahogany, rosewood, Hungarian ash and
black walnut Nothing superior in regard to
finish has ever been constructed in Bath. No
details of construction in staterooms, pantries,
bath room, etc, that might add to comfort and
appearance have been neglected. The for
ward, cabin is of hard wood The ceiling,
plauking and fastening of the vessel are heay-
ier and more substantial than usual. The
cost of her construction has been $97 900. She
will be fitted for sea entirely in Bath, and
when finished will probably have cost about
S125,Oo0. The owners are Goss, Sawyer &
Packard, Capt. John Waterhouse, (who will
command her) Mayor Deering e. P. Goodwin,
Newburyport, Mass, Frank Foss, Cape Cot
tage, William R. Wood, Portland, A. Cheese
borough, San Francisco Her crew will num-
Der twenty-seven.;
Several shipmasters present commented ad-
miringly upon the beautiful lines she present.
ed upon the ways. The launch was one Of the
most satisfactory ever made from the yard,
and was witnessed by large crowd. When
the attempt was made to launch the vessel
built on the same spot last year she stuck inn
movably on the ways for hours owing to def
cheney in quality or quantity of lubricants. In
the launch today eight gallons of whale
oil and $50 pounds OF tallow were used on the
ways and the ship slid steadily snd almost
noiselesslY into the river.
Messrs. Goss, Sawyer & Packard have their
auxiliary steam freighter for the Oregon South
ern Improvement Company well under way
The company has mines at Coos Bay, Oregon,
and the new steamer is designed to run in con-
nection with the business. There is little
doubt that Goss, Sawyer & Packard will re-
ceive orders soon to build e second steamer of
the same model and tonnage-about 1,100-for
the same company Messrs. Goss, Sawyer &
Packard do not consider the present outlook
for business so fattering as at the beginning of
last year. Some inquiries have been received
from parties proposing to build, regarding
prices, however, and matters may assume q
more encouraging aspect somewhat later in the
season. They employ force of about 200 men
at present. Business at the other yards is not
very brisk.
very inadequate idea will be had OF the
industrial progress of Bath should one fail to
visit the Goss Marine Iron Works, near the
Maine Central Railroad station. There is a rush
OF work at this new establishment. All the ma
chinery OF the steamer Secret is undergoing
renovation, aud the machinery for the new
Coos Bay steamer is being finished here. 1t is
claimed that the steel masts furnished the ship
BENZ. F. Packard by these works are the finest
ever constructed in this country.
The shops are certainly well equipped for ex
cellent work. Among other contracts recently
taken is that for air compressors for New
York refrigerator company. More work is Of
fering than Can be undertaken with the pres
ont equipment Of machinery. AS it is, force
of about 100 men will be constantly employed
during the winter, at the works. The facili-
ties of production are to be increased by new
machinery. A new store house is being erect
cd.
The thoughtful provision made by the Maine
Central officials, greatly enhanced the comfort
and pleasure of the trip. Carriages connected
with this special train here, and the entire
party arrived at the shipysrd in good time to
witness the launch. The special train left
Portland at 1880 a. ln., ard left Bath on the
return at 8 10 p. m.
Capt Goss, Messrs. Packard, George Fisher
and Adams and Hitchcock did everything to
make the visit Of the Portland people pleas