Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-05-15

sian navy and revolutionized shipbuilding
the world over.
Reputation came to Mr.. Webb from the
building OF this ship, and success and wealth
were assured. He built for Spain and then
made ironclads for Italy, men-of-war for
France, fishing smacks for Newfoundland,
priyateers for Spain and gunboats for our
navy during the war He constructed the
very last ship built in New York-the
Charles H. Narshall-in 1868
bis big contract with Spain for building
warship was cancelled at the outbreak Of
tie rebellion by Preston, the Confederate
representative at Madrid, who impressed the
Spanish government that they were vast
ing their money by employing a northern
er He was then engaged by the United
states government to build ships and had
almost completed the Dunderburg when
the war ended. He refunded the 81 ,o25. 900
which had already been paid to him by the
government and sold the vessel to France.
She was one Of the finest vessels ever built
In this country, and in a museum in Paris
Mr.. Webb found a beautiful steel model of
her which had cost 81 600 to build. This he
purchased, and it low occupies position
OF honor in the home.
Connected with the home and under its
AoOA 10 al AMERICAN DOyS
between the ages of I6 and 20 receive free of
charge their board and tuition in the yari-
Gus forms Of naval architecture. They will
be taught to draft ard put together ships
and engines. But they must first prove
that they are unable to pay and must have
rudimentary education in mathematics
Twenty five Or thirty boys can be accommo-
Lated and each have 4 room nicely fur
nished.
There are very pretty rooms furnished in
sets OF birdseye maple for over 100 old ship
makers, and their wives may live with
them. Everything for their comfort ard
amusement has been selected with a care
and solicitude that show how thoroughly
Mr.. Webb's heart is in the undertaking.
There are two libraries One contains
books on all subjects, but principally his
torical. The other. adjoining museum of
models of all sorts of ships hulls. has
books treating only of marine subjects and
is chiefly for the use of the students. There
are splendid arrangements for facilitating
the process of photography. The large
sunny hospital is perfect in all it's details.
There are baths galore in the building, and,
in fact, it would seem impossible to find
IA lit.
From an architectural standpoint tie
academy and homa is a most imposing eds
flee, and its location is admirable. Sur
rounded by IA acres, it is situated upon the
highest bluff 1T Fordham heights and com
mands wonderful view Of the surround
ing country, overlooking as it does the pic
turesquc Harlem river and to the west the
banks of the Hudson, while in the east the
waters of Long Island sound can be seen.
1t is Of buff brick, terra Gotta trimmings
and granite base 1t is 1G0 feet long by SO
in width, four stories in height in the cen
trail portion and six at the north end. At
the northwest corner a tower rises 10 sto
ries, or 10 feet, and represents the shaft
and lantern Of a lighthouse, while that at
the southwest end is seven stories in height.
In this latter tower there is a splendidly
equipped smoking room for the old men.
1t is pleasing in these days of arrogant
displays of wealth and the murmuring I'M
deltoncs of socialistic complaints and
threatenings to contemplate the deeds and
benign ambition of man like this. Plain,
unaffected and hearty, his philanthropy
takes such apractical. wholesome and ear
nest shape that it bridges overth constant
ly increasing gulf between wealth and
want and makes one more hopeful of man
kind.
II is not too much to express wish that,
now he has seen his hope realized, he may
live to enjoy the sight of the practical
working of his home for full score more
OF years. l.. y. MAITLAND.