The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-09-13
BANG0R'S DEAL TRADE.
0ncs Prosperous Industry In the Old Maine Tovr
e,s New Life

Bangors deal trade, after rnlanv
years, has come back again. and toda .
there are scenes along the river tba
recall the time when millions of Pfr,h
scot logs, sawed into thick planlxs. were
shipped away every year TO the ports
of the United States and all over conti-
mental Europe-the times when prices
OF lumber and everything else were
high. and when the Yankee wooden
sailing ship was still queen in the fleet
and winner in the race for the worlds
deep-water commerce. As Annie Pix
icy used To sing with tender regret of
the days OF 40, 50 the Bangor sailor
man and lunberman sings in his heart
of the days just before or those tust af-
ter the war. when ships were many
here and business brisk
Away back before the war Bangor
cld a smashing business i'm lumber with
many ports In four continents, and af-
ter the war the business was revived
To some extent. Countless MILLIONS Of
ieet of deals were sent to the United
Kingdom, and vast quantities OF "3-by-
stun TO South America. while the
wealth OF Penobscotis clear and wide
white pine was scattered all over the
part good wages high for stevedores
freights also high. and sailors pockets
were seldom empty. Times were flush
In the port OF Bangor In those DAYS
Ine NeStse.S mat used 10 come 10 Ram
gor In that time for foreign load nr
were among the best specinoens Of
wooden construction ever turned out
anywhere and the fleets that used 70
gather at High Head docks We're a de-
light TO the sailors eye. and a satisfac-
tion TO the heart OF all patr otic Ameri-
cans. In recent years there have been
some notable SEA congresses at these
same docks. but there is n vast differ
ence between the old fleets and the
new. Nowadays the foreign trade is
done almost entirely I'm foreign bot
toms. and even the foreign sailing ves-
sells are being crowded out by British
and Norwegian tramp steamships. that
carry SO much at a load and go quickly
and cheaply.
But Bangor Is shipping deals again,
with n lot of other stuff. for foreign
ports. and Is glad OF II. even II the bus
ness Is done in foreign steamers. Last
year 10000 600 feet OF deals were shin
ped. and this year the expectation will
De as much or more. Some ~ the steam
srs TAX as much as 1000. 600 feet: 9TH
,rs from 1000 600 20 100000. one of
asst years fleet carried away 1900. 900
eot
The tramp steamers load quickly car
v a big cargo. and cross the water in
about fourteen days. They carry few
men. have no repa rs that can be made
IN this side. and leave little money IN
he port which IL one reason why they
ire not liked. Sometimes az many n.
our Or five OF the deal steamers are In
Bangor at a time. loading or waiting
or cargo. and strangers are surprised
% soc such bic shins 50 far up n fresh
water river. Some Of the, steamers are
II 5000 tons grcss. and draw twenty
.hree and twerty-f1ur feet OF water.
loaded. But the Penobscot is n deep
flver and with the expenditure % "A
moderate sum for dredging could be
nada safe for almost any vessel OF the
navy. II 2 d'ston"e o. twenty-five miles
from the head OF the buy.
In Germany, during the year ending