The Portland daily press., 1899-01-12
4 CAY DOCK.
Possibility that One May be Built
Here.

In connection with the possible estah-
lishment here of summer and all the
year around line Of steamers some OF
Portland's prominent citizens are already
talking Of attempting to secure enough
Portland capital 20 reconstruct the Port
land dry dock, using as their argument
that a dry dock is much needed at tn
port and that 1t would be profitable in
vestment to make in view of the large
number of steamers which are now run
ming to this port during the year. to say
nothing of the sailing vessels and craft OF
other descriptions.
While nothing has as yet been done In
this matter the project is being talsel
over by some of the progressive citizens
of this city and 1t may be that In tn,
course of another year a new dry docs
may be one OF our improvements. Thu
subject was brought TO the attention OF
shese gentlemen chiefly by the visit here
a few days ago of a party of Montreal
gentlemen who We're on q tour of ipspec.
! ton of the dry docks Of the United States
to obtain information on this subject.
Montreal intends to build dry dock
which shall cost not less than o., 900, 600.
and 1t Is claimed by those interested ia
the matter in Montreal that tho summer
stearnsh ship service to that port, which is
said to be on the increase every year, will
amply pay the interest on the large in
vestment.
When the expert engineers who were In
this party of Montreal gentlemen viewed
our port they expressed their surprise
that u city of this size and port of this
Importance should be without the noces-
sary facilities to dock ship of modern
ize and repair her here. They viewed the
old dry dock and found workmen en-
gagged in tearing u TO pieces and disman.
Ting its obsolete engine houses and the
expert engineer is quoted as having said,
after most thorough examination of this
plant that 1t would not cost more thai
$50, 900 at the outside to put this dock
Into shape for business again. He said
| that 1t would not be necessary to put in
new foundations. for those of the old
dock are all right. The only thing that
it would be necessary to do would be TO
lengthen the dock somewhat, rebuild the
wooden portion of 1t and equip 1t with
modern pumps, swing gates and other up
to date appliances All of this oould be
done, SO this engineer said, with the ex-
penditure of not more than $50. 600 and he
wondered that some of our enterprising
capitalists did not take hold of the
scheme.
A PRESS reporter took the trouble to
ascertain something about this matter
as viewed hy many OF Portland's mer
chants who are we'll informed as to the
local business which might be given to
the new dock were IL constructed. He
learned that the Portland Steam Packet
company, operating two and some times
three steamers Of large size, the Maine
Steamship company with two large steam.
ers In commission all the year arouni
and with the possibilities strongly in
favor of more boats being built OH this
line. the Internagional Steamship conf
pany with two and sometimes three boats
in commission. besides Ill of the harbor
steamers, the foreign steamers and what
chance vessels might be brought here for
repairs would perhaps insure "a profitable
return for the proposed investment could
all of this business be given to the new
dock. But right here comes the Obstacle
to tho whole scheme, so those who have
studied over the problem say. The oper
ating expenses Of such dock would be
large and 1t would require a constant
outlay to keep wooden dock in repair.
At the end of twenty years at the most
tho wooden dock would have to be thor.
oughly overhauled II not entirely rebuilt,
and more than this the Portland dry dock
might not be able to control all of the |
above mentioned business.
The old dry dock was built by Portland
capitalists in 1865. The entire outlay |
approximated 100000 To say the least
this Investment never proved to be Il very |
lucrative one. The dock was operated |
ut IA loss and while the property which is
veiy valuatle and has constantly been in
creasing in value owing TO the increase in |
valuation along the harbor 'front.' the.dry |
dock company was never able to make Its |
plant very lucrative one This was
due to no fault OF the dock itself. for IL |
was bnely equipped for those days and |
we'll managed. but it was found that the |
business of this port did not warrant a
dry dock here. Then there were ten yes
seli sailing into Portland where there is
one now, though the gross tonnage Of the |
shipping may not have fallen of IA great |
deal.
However, the dry dock scheme is being |
considered by some of Portlana's shrewd
est business men and IL may be that |
within IA year or perhaps In less time |
than this there may be modern dry dock |
blu 1t on the spot where today stands the
ruins of what was "a very costly invest
ment for many Portland people not many |
years ago.
1t is well known that many of the
English steamers which come to Port
land of tan find H. necessary TO dock in