Los Angeles daily herald., 1885-12-20

The Great shipbuilding City of the United

New York Trbune
The history of the little city OF Bath. M,
is the history of American shipping. She
reached hsr greatest prosperity in the ear.
lier fifties-the palmiest years of the Ameri-
eau merchant marine-and to-day, with the
outlook for shipping more discouraging than
ever before, business here is in a state of stag
nation. Strangely enough, but in the light
of history most fittingly, the first vessel
built in America was built only few miles
below where Bath now stands, and built on
tho river whose broad bosom has been the
first to receive to its embrace more ships
than any other river on the continent In
1907 the Inflated POpham colony landed at
the mouth of the Kennebec in the slips Gift
of God and Mary and John. In the winter
that followed they launched n little vessel
of thirty tons burden, the Virginia of Sag
adahoc, pioneer Of that great feet that has
since sailel out Of this river on a maiden
voyage to take part in the commerce Of the
world.
In 1745 vessel building began at Bath
small coasters for the West Indian trade,
taking out Goldfish and lumber and bringing
back rum and molasses. The year 1862 saw
the first ship built here, the Earl of Butte
built for Scotchman. During the revolu-
ton privateer was built here, but from
the close of the revolution to the war of
1872 complications with England and France
retarded shipbuilding, and net much was
done. After the close of the war, and
especially after 1915, when congress passed
the law forbidding any foreign vessel to
bring goo1s to America except from that
country to which the vessel belonged, ship
building revived. From this time to the do
cline of the American merchant marine
Bath sailed on the food tide OF prosperity.
Foreign traders followed the early coasters,
and Bath ships were often the first to carry
the American flag into distant seas Then
came the cotton ships, and it was during
the cotton ship era that there was built at
Bath the largest cotton shipafoat the Rap
pahannock. built by Clark e. Sewall. i79&
feet long, 81 feet beam, and Of 1, 1873 tons
register. People hocked from all over the
country to see the launch.
II was not believed that there was foreign
commerce enough to occupy such vessel,
and it was declared that even the Roths-
childs could not afford TO own her, and that
she would be sure destruction to tho for
tunes of whoever undertook to employ her.
The Rappahannock was bluff bowed, full
and long bottomed ship, narrower on eek
than below, and full rugged. Her scantling
was no larger than that of 300-ton
schooner of the present day, and the fasten-
ing throughout would now be considered
light She ran rs packet to Liverpool in
the summer time, and as cotton ship from
New Orleans in the winter. 1t is said that
freights dropped in New Orleans when she
WINS reported below. But still the famous
old ship, in spite of many dire predictions,
was great success. She plowed the seas
for twenty.one years, and finally foundered
carving Goals in the Mediterranean.
Along with the cotton ships came the
clippers which ran between New York and
JiyerpooL Steam did not easily dispace
these graceful lined, smooth sailing ships.
for they made nearly as good time as the
early steamers.
With the discovery of gold in California
clipper ship-building reached its highest
point Of development Great was the flow
of mone5 now into the pockets OF Bath
owners But in 1857 came che crisis which
only the strongest lived through, and this
year began the decline OF the merchant ma
rine, that reaction Of shipping which Eng
land made her opportunity. In this year it
is estimated there were in the California
trade over 100 large ships that wers not
needed, for California had not then become
n great wheat state, but nevertheless pro-
duced nearly enough agricultural products
10 supply lnb Httih u us ItnDltf 70
render them independent of the east. The
rapid inroad Of steam and finally the war
with its high rates of insurance and the
destruction wrought by the Confederate
cruisers, gave the last blow. The shipyards
of the large cities closed, and never re-
opened. The year 1865 saw the end of the
reaction. Many ships had been transferred
to foreign flags, many more had leen
wrecked or destroyed by the Confederate
cruisers.
In the halcyon days of the early flfties
Bath wharves were crowded with new
ships. In 1854 thirty-fve vessels, eleven of
them from ], $50 TO 1850 tons register, were
launched here. AT one time in this period
twenty five square rugged vessels lay at the
wharves receiving sails and outfits. 10
day in all the yards of Bath only three
largo vessels are being built Generally
throughout this little city those who have
had such famous share in the construction
and ownership OF vessels, when asked about
the prospect, obviously shake their heads.
lhey foresee harder times yet for their
city and themselves.