The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-08-29
BANC0R'S DEAL TRADE.

Bangor Me-. Aug 29.-Bangor's deal
trade, after many years. has come
back again, and today there are
scenes along the river that recall the
times when millions of Penobscot logs,
sawed into thick planks, were shipped
away every year TO the ports OF the
United States and all over continental
E,urope-the times when prices of lum-
Der and everything else were high, ano
when the Yankee wooden sailing ship
was still a queen in the fleet and a
winner i'm the race for the worlds deep
water commerce. AS Annie Pixley used
to sing with tender regret of The Days
of 49, so the Bangor sailorman and
lumberman sings in his heart of the
DAYS Just before or those after the war,
when ships were many here and busl-
ness brisk.
Away back before the war Bangor
did smashing business in lumber with
many ports in four continents, and aft
err the war the business was revived TO
some extent. Countless millions y feet
of deals were sent to the United King
dom and vast quantities of "3x9 stuff"
to South America, while the wealth of
Penobscot's clear and wide white pine
was scattered all over the West Indies.
Prices weie for the most part good,
wages high for stevedores. freights also
high and sailors pockets were seldom
empty.i Times were flush in the port or
Bangor in those days.
The vessels that used TO come to Ban
gor in that time for foreign loading
were among the best specimens of
wooden construction ever turned out
anywhere. and the fleets that used to
gather at High Head docks were a de-
light to the sailors eye and a satisfac-
ton to the heart OF all patriotic Ame-
ricans. In recent years there have been
some notable sea congresses at these
same docks. but there is a vast differ
ence between the old fleets and the new.
Now a days the foreign trade Is done
almost entirely i'm foreign bottoms. and
even the foreign sailing vessels are be-
ing crowded out by British and Norwe-
gian tramp steamships. that carry so
much at load and go quickly and
oheaply. Never again does Bangor ex-
pect to see such splendid American
ships as the Belle OF Bath. the Con-
oueror. the William II. Connor. the
Reynard and the ships OF the great Nc
Gilvery fleet: they never come herd
now, and. indeed, few of them are left
i'm any trade.
Rut Bangor is shipping deals again.
with a lot Of other stuff. 10 foreign
ports, and is glad OF IL, even 1f the busi-
ness is done i'm foreign steamers. For
some years the tramp steamers have
been coming here but not until lately
i'm the deal trade. They have been en-
gagged till now I'm the transportation OF
spool wood to the Scottish mills and
ground wood pulp 90 various parts ~
thls United Kingdom and the continent
Last year u. .Otv 600 feet OF deals were
shipped. and this year the exportatior
will be as much more. Some of thd
steamers take as much as 2 OO0. 900 feet
others from million To mlllian and a
half. one Of last years feet carried
away 5000. 900 feet.
The tramp STEAMERS load quickly,
carry n big cargo and cross the water
I'm about IL days They carry few men.
have no repairs that can be made here
and leave little money I'm the port.
which Is one reason why they are not
liked. some times as many as four or
five Of the deal steamers are here at n
time. loading or waiting for cargo. and
strangers are surprised TO see such biz
ships So far up fresh water river.
Some of the sienmers are 81 moo tons.
gross. and draw % o. a feet Of water
loaded. Rut the Pen0bscOt is deep
river. aud wit hthe eNueuditurs Il n
moderate sum FOR dredging could be
made SAFE for almost any vessel Of the
navy. here AZ a distance of - miles
from the head Of the bay