The Portland daily press., 1885-03-20
AN rmpoRrANT rsANsAorroN,
Consolidation of the GOss Marine From
Works and the New England shipbuiId-
ing Company-Skefefa of the 0rigia ana
Work of These Important Concerns.
(From Our Regular correspondent.)

w Ork OF Gmesc hmpOftAnt concerns.
(From Our Regular Correspondence
BATH, March 49,
In no single transfer of property have so
many Bath people been interested as in the
sale of the Goss Marine Iron works to the New
England Shipbuilding Company. More than
220 persons own shares in the Marine Works
ranging in value from one hundred to sixteen
thousand dollars, and larger portion of the
business men are mora or less interested either
BY ownership of stock or dependence in some
degree OF their business on the effairs of the
two companies.
The history Of these two concerns is identi-
cal with the growth of shipbuilding and de-
pendent industries in this city, and the pro.
gress of marine architecture from sail tost
and may introduce in the near future iron in
the construction of merchantmen at this ship
building poiut.
Fifty years ago American tonnage was the
best In the world, the American clipper was
the handsomest and staunchest ship af1oat In
New York city we're the busy ship yards of
James and George Steers, VIM. II. Webb.
Christian Bergh, and thirty more stretching
along the East River from Clinton to Thir-
teenh streets In Boston Donald Mckay and
Others had fiourishing yards along the Bay for
over half mile. La ship building the number
of men employed reached well up among the
thousands and the capital invested amounted
to millions. To-day in New York not q vestige
remains of this once prosperous industry and
in Boston the vessels launched each year
amount to less than half dozen of the smaller
class.
The interest was gradually sinking. when in
1868, Goss & Sawyer commenced work in their
north end yards, offering prices that soon drove
from the field the builders of New York aud
Boston, They could and did build more cheap
ly, owing to the superior facilities of the Ken
nebec. Acquainted all over the United States
Capt Goss procured contracts with parties
from all parts of the country, even from the
Pacific coast.
In 1882, the firms of Goss & Sawyer and
Goss, Sawyer & Packard merged into the New
England Ship Building Company, with capt.
tai OF $500,000. Steam superseding sail ia
m any branches of the carrying trade, the de-
mand for vessels OF this class increased until it
was thought advisable to build in Bath marine
engine works, to save the loss in Droft by be-
ing obliged to send to Boston or New York for
engines and boilsrs, or else have the hulls
towed to those places to be fitted with steam
power
Under the leadership OF Capt Goss, in 1881,
stock company consisting of over 200 men
representing major portion of the city's
wealth, was formed, and work commenced on
the present Goss Marine Iron Works In Nav,
1888, the works started under the superinten-
dence of Mr.. Reynolds. constructing under mis-
management the "Al-Ki," 1,000-ton steamer
built for the Oregon Steam Improvement Com
pany, by the New England Ship Building
Company; the iron tanks Tor the steam whaler
Thrasher, besides an engine suitable for
whaler, still in stock. In October 1888 Mr.
Wheeler succeeded Mr.. Reynolds, under whom
the works made engines for the Wiwurna, a
lO0 ton passenger boat for the Bath, Boothbay
and Island route, and the missionary steamer
Morning star, built by the New England Ship
building Com nany.
In July, 1885, Mr.. Charles e. HYDE was Sc
lected superintendent, under whose charge
| great improvement has taken place in the
quality CT work ,and economy of management
| MIR. Hy0e built for the experimental Boston
| steamer Meteor" a triple expansion engine.
| the first OF the kind constructed outside OF
Scotland, and the engine has proved a success
| far beyond the expectation of those unac-
| quainted with Mr. Hyde's ability.
Daring the past winter the works have been
building from original designs of the superin-
| tendent compound engine for the steamer
Haytlen Republic, besides restoring the wreck
| ed machinery of the State of Maine
| II appears that With one exception the work
| done by the works was in connection with that
| OF the New England Shipbulding Company.
| hence the reason for consolidation. With the
| G0ss Marine Iron Works under IT'S manage
| m5nt it is safe to assume that no conpeny in
ths conntry possesses facilities for the construc-
| tion of hulls OF any model, and the fitting OF
those hull' with sail OF steam equal that OF the
| New England Sbipbuildng Co.
A stockholders meeting was called last eye-
ning and the preceding sale brought TO a focus.
After lengthy and exhaustive discussion OF
| the affairs OF both concerns, it was unanimous
! ly voted to accept the pr0ffered terms OF the
New England Shipbuilding Company The
proper officers were instructed to draw up the
deeds necessary to transfer. and in a few
days the property will change hands,
II was urged by some of the other builders
ut this place that under the consolidation
steamers built By any other firm than the New
England Shipbuilding Company would be dis
criminated against IN purchasing engines at
the works, but liberal terms were promised to
local builders for all contracts of this charac.
ter, thus making all interests harmonious and
removing all opposition that threatened the
contamination of plan which can but prove
OF the greatest benefit to Bath Young and
old, rich and poor, are alike dependent on the
restoration of our merchant marine on its old
footing and the consequent revival of ship-
ping and shipbuiding, for what place is so
largely interested in this great problem? Sit
uated IN the most favorable locality on the
best river in the world for shipbaildiug, what
is beyond the capacity OF the New England
Shipbuildng Company?
The meeting ad diourned to April 20th The
price paid will not bemads public 1T present.