The Portland daily press., 1886-11-22
in THEINTEREsT OF SHIPPING.
A Meeting of the Bath Board of
Trade.
Senator Frye, congressmen DIngIey
and BoutsIle Present as Guests.


and BouteIle Present as Guests.
a Banquet rendered the DIstln-
gulshed vIsltors.-The Speeches.
BATH, Nov. 2o.--A banquet was rendered
tonight at the Sagadahoc by the Bath Board
of Trade to the Maine Congressman. Sena-
tor Frye, Representatives Dingley and Bou-
telle, and about 100 citizens of Bath identi-
fed with shipping and shipbuflding were
present.
The tables were arranged in the form Of a
horseshoe. At the toe an anchor of roses
and chrysanthimums ON green pedestal
was exceedingly beautiful. Large bouquets
Of hot house flowers, roses and pinks pre-
dominating, were profusely arranged along
the board, and the chandeliers were festooned
with smilax
The menu was very finely printed on ele-
CANT engraved souvenir cards. The bill Of
fare was complete in all the rare viands
usually served at similar occasions and was
discussed with enthusiastic enjoyment by
the five score guests till shortly after 10
o'clock, when President Fuller arose and in
well worded speech introduced the real
object of the gathering.
lie then called upon my esteemed fellow
citizen, Mr.. Arthur Sewall.
Speech of Mr.. Arthur Sewaii.
After expressing his indebtedness to this
board and c0mplimenting their long endur-
ing pluck and indomitable will, he opened a
speech which, while it was free from orat0-
rial effort was a triumph of terseness, sound
logic and well digested facts In brief he
said: I'VE need unity of action just the
same as other industries. Our interests
seem less dependent on contingent and col
lateral pursuits, but for that reason we in
dependent, stubborn shipbuilders and own
els, shouldswork together There are but few
TO help us. To these gentlemen who are as
familiar as am with the Kennehec | would
not say that it is the noblest river in Ameri-
ca. No other offers equal advantages for
shipbuilding, either merchant or for
war purposes, either wood or iron, sail
or steam. You can locate yard
any where on the fonr-mile reach and it
would be superior to any in America. In
our climate mon can do more work in ten
hours than further south We do not want
a navy yard If we can get private iron or
steel yards. The government policy for the
past twenty-five years has been injurious TO
shipbuilding, but if possible we don't want
to give up the business of our fathers. Now
government win find merchant yards better
Tor all purposes. l am sorry to say the free
ship idea is gaining strength. Time will
show its fallacy We can buy foreign-built
ships and put up our merchant marine. 1t
needs more than capital to build up and
maintain a merchant marine. 1t needs
skilled labor Collateral industries must
exist to make ships live and duplicate them.
we must have ship yards, machine shops,
block factories, dock yards, ETC., to keep up
ships. Now we are the largest railroad ma
tion in the world. Do we intend for that
reason only to carry our exports TO the sea-
board to be carried away in English ferry
boats? Our population will be 100,O00,000
IN twenty-five years; our surplus products
$150,0O0,000. 1t is all going to help England.
she uses her profits on transportation to pro-
tect her markets and extend her commerce.
She uses it to put railroads right into our
country to take also our inland carrying
trade: She uses it to place steamboat lines
All along our western coast, and she is be-
ginning TO encroach on our Northern States
Minnesota, Michigan and Dakota. Still
more, she is trying to drain our Southwest
ern States beside. / would like to ask our
congressman why this matter is treated with
indifference? In two years all of our grain
will be carried to the seaboard on English
rails, In English cars, and shipped in English
bottoms. Here is another startling fact. On
the l4th OF January last, not an American
flag was to be seen in the harbor of Liver
pool, the largest commercial port in the
world. for the first time in the history of the
United States. That ought TO wake up our
congressman here. tApplause).
j. NJ. Hayes, president of the board of al
dermeu, extended the courtesy of the city on
behalf of Mayor Wakefield, detained in Yer
mont by business.
speech of Gen. hyde.
Gen. 7. W. Hyde called attention to the
harbor II in England a navy yard would
he built at once and 100000 people settle
here. SAVE the Clyde few years since
one hundred iron steamers being built by
1900 mechanics where the channel had TO
be dredged TO get the ships to sea. This
aggregation Of labor is not due to the COM
mon idea of cheap labor and material Bel
GUM, Prussia and France have cheaper ma
terial than England. 1t is because she has
fostered the industry for two generations.
The next Congress, if it wants to build
cruisers, should distribute the contracts on
commission among reliable private yards in
different parts of the country. Roach, Cramp
Y Son, and Harlow u Hollingsworth told
the committee on war armament and ships
last winter that the Delaware is the best
place to build because it is the best market
for labor, is near iron and coal, and has the
best climate. The first only is true. We can
bring coal and iron to Bath for one per cent
OF the cost of Il ship completed, and labor
can do 10 per cent. more here in days work.
Now shipping is down. We have done all
we can for it. The government must lend
helping hand.
Congressman Reeds Letter.
Gen. Hyde read the following letter from
Congressman Reed
PORTLAND, Me-, March 20, 1885,
Mg Dear Sir:
regret my enforced absence from your
banquet on many accounts, but chiefly be-
cause OF the information and instruction /
might have gained from those who have so
deep an interest in the renewal of our ship
ping, as the members of the Bath Board of
Trade.
take the opportunity to add that your
purposes as regard TO American shipping
have my most earnest sympathy, and that
in the sfuture, as heretofore, | shall hold
myself ready to assist any measures ealcu-
cuted TO restore our ancient supremacy.
Very truly yours,
Hon. j. II. Kimball spoke briefly to the
same tenor rs Mr.. Sewall
G. c. Moses said he was Democrat who
favored subsidies for American shipping, as
he considered it the only remedy
Senator Frye's Speech.
Senator Frye was introduced amid thun-
ders of applause. His speech was the most
powerful ever heard in Bath. He said
Gentlemen Of the Board Of Trade and Citi-
zenS Of Bath:
believe am the dean OF the delegation
half Of rendering you their sincere thanks
for the great compliment you pay them in
this banquet i desire also to thank you
for the suggestions for their direction
and consideration. When / was a boy /
used to come to Bath with pung load of
potatoes aud thought it was the metropolis
of the Union. | still believe it is one of the
best places in the world. 1t has been
the shipping port Of America (applause) for
ten generations. Her shipbuilders and own
ers since the war have shown a pluck, will
and perseverance worthy the highest praise.
Ii is the best place for navy yard in the
coudtry. | agree without any hesitation in
doing all can to promote your Interests as a
shipbuildng city because to do so is simply
to promote the best interests Of the country
Continued applause) remember the days
when ship carpenters earned $500 to $500
per day in the days of clipper ships when
England feared for her supremacy. The war
gave England her chance, iron ships and
compound engines did the rest. Since then
till year OF two ago the government has
had other problems TO solve. Senator Frye
at continued at considerable length.
Speeches were also made by Congressman
DinUlpN and ROutQllp