Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-11-11
FOR THE MONITOR
BreozeS Blown From Boston.

|
Breezes Blown From Boston.
Opening Of the Maritime Exhibition
-ComprehensiUe and Unique Dis
play- Western Vim and Eastern
Thoroughness.
1t has seemed for some time as
though there had been on exhibition
everything available that a big show
must now mean the duplication of
some other big show, with various
features emphasized and elaborated
the same old gown with added
trimming and little longer train.
For this reason the Maritime Exhi-
bition, which was opened in this city
at noon, on Monday, Nov. 4th, is all
| the more of a surprise. 1t is the best
of its kind. The object of this enter
prise, as declared by its projectors,
''is to bring together and arrange as
a great central feature examples of
the production of over 200 distinct
industries in this country, associated
in the construction and sailing of
ships; to match them in friendly riv-
airy with those of other nations; to
present for contrast American and
foreign machinery, appliances, mod
els of war and merchant vessels, ,etc.
to show by exhibits that the skill and
materials at the command of our At
lantic and Pacific shipyards will ena-
BILE us to open broad paths upon the
seas when we are prepared to meet
rival nations in resolute and equal
competition to demonstrate by many
great object lessons that, given prop
er encouragement, we can fill every
harbor of our 5000 miles of coast
with the staunchest and feetest ships
that can sail any ocean, to display
maps, charts and models of harbors,
ship canals, etc., statistical tables of
carrying trade of the principal ma
tions, and many instructive, unique,
original and pleasing exhibits, that
will combine to make the most novel,
effective, and in fact, the most signif-
icant exhibition ever held in Boston,"
l question if there is anything
touching as closely upon the nations
prosperity as does our maritime COM
merce of which people in general have
so little information. How many of
my readers happen to know that in
1860 America had but one rival upon
the seas? Not ouly did American
built vessels carry our own products,
but they commanded the trade of 9th
er nations. Every shipyard was
busy, with orders ahead; the flag we
love fioated from countless masts.
How is it to-day? Let us hide our
faces while we admit that even our
mails are sent across the seas in for
eign steamers foreigners control the
passenger lines; foreign boats carry
the bulk of the products we export.
Our shipyards are going to decay.
America has no cause to be proud OF
either navy or her merchant marine
service.
Take the one district of Bath, Me-,
for example: From 1871 (ts infancy |
until 1889, there were built in that |
district 1928 ships, steamers, schoon-
els, etc., etc. The estimate for the
next years work is so small it may
better be uncounted.
And how much is known of water
crafts? OF course the man or woman |
living in q seaboard town has the
opportunity to be familiar with these
sshouses of the sea- but what does
average "inland man" know of ships,
steamers, barques, sloops, schooners,
barges, yachts, etc., ETC.? There is,
of course, the well understood fact
that ship is something to float on
the water, propelled-well, propelled
somehow that a steamer is some
thing which, on occasion, blows up. |
A yacht-why, rich folks have them
they're something fine. Schooners-
why, schooners are big glasses for
beer, of course; anybody knows that.
Within the limits of the Mechanics
Building, on Huntington Ave-, where |
many of my readers have attended |
Fairs-where, by the by, the Messrs.
Phillips, of Glover, recently swept |
the board of premiums on sheep-one
may, during the next sixty days, OBJ
tain thorough education in every
thing pertaining to Marine affairs. |
Beginning away back, they have on
exhibition models, showing the steady |
improvement in construction of ves-
sells of every description. Not only
are there models of war vessels to be |
seen, but, if you will arrange to be |