Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-07-19
VOICES OF THE PRESS.
The First American Tramp.

Names coat-of-arms bears the motto
Dirigo, plain announcement that she
leads all her sisters in the family OF
states. Considering that the family was
already large and rich when Maine came
in. and that she was not great or strong
in the number of her inhabitants or their
aggregate of worldly gear. the modesty
OF that little motto might possibly be
lhypercritical But however that may he,
no one who knows the past and present
of the Pine Tree State can doubt that
she has faithfully endeavored 10 live up
to her maxim and Is still addressing her
self to that great task with indomltable
courage and uniagging energy. She was
the first. and thus far the last ana only
state 10 enter upon a foreign Wa! on her
own account. True she did not Kill any
body nor ola any of her sons get Killed
in that conflict. but ner governor called
out his army and sent 1t 10 the border.
where /, remained for a number Of
months. boldly defying the red-coAted
minions OF Great Britain AMI the militia
OF New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. An
other Illustration Of II lead" appeared in
the Maine law" the first effort ever
made 10 Kill the liquor traffic. root and
branch, by legislation. 1t WAS not quite
successful. to be- sure. but 1t created a
profound sensation all over the civilized
world and Its political effects have been
important factors in both State and ma
tional campaigns. glance at the fifty
fifth Congress Is quite sufficient to show
that Names "Drigo" Is not "A hollow
mockery. Speaker ~ the House. prosi-
dent pro tempore of the Senate, chairman
nf the ways and means committee ara
but part IL the honorable positions held
by Maine in the national legislature. No
other State equals her in influence In the
affairs OF the nation at this time.
Maine'S latest vindi"aton Of her motto
is the construction of the first tramp
steamship eyer built tn tine United
States. It was launched at Bath. city
famous FOR generations past for its great
achieveme ntS in wooden ships. a New
York firm owns this pioneer American
tramp of the ocean and when completed
she will go into business. \ tramp
steamship has no regular route but picks
up clrgpeS wherever she can find them
England has great many vessels Of this
class and other European nations have
a considerable number. They 40 a large
proportion Of the Transatlantic ana other
ocean transportation This vessel Is &2
feet long, with y feet beam and a depth
Of p feet inches. Her not carrying ca
pacity j. 5000 tons.
This * really an important event. II
means that konncbec can compete with
the clyde In tine construction Of iron
ships. And what can be done on the
Kennebec may be done In various other
places along our Atlantic and Pacific
coast. When the war is ended there will
come n great demand for shiDs. for
American ships. ana We believe they can
be built in our own yards at a cos; not
greater than that Of 'lYde-built craft.
The protection afforded by our navigat ion
laws. supplemented Fly our great natural
resources in coal ana ores, has finally de-
veloprd this industry to such Strengt h
that we may reasonably expect at no dis
| tant day to he building commercial as
We'll as naval ships for European Coun-
| tries, The first American tramp ushers
| in the dawn of Il new era.