Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-02-18
OUR STEAMER SERVICE
Affected by Eastern War-fso New
Steamer for AUGUSTA.

Despite the fact that the Russo-Jap-
ancSe war is bong Waged on the other
side OF the Slobe from Maine and the At
lantic coast. it is likely To have n decided
effect on the shipping and steamers now
running in this part of the world. Calvin
Austin Of Boston. vice president and gen
eral manager OF the Eastern Steamship
Co. said in recent interview.
For some time negotiations have been
under way between the Eastern Steam
ship Co and Il Pacific concern for th.,
purchase of the steamer St Croiy of the
international division OF our service but
these have not yet come to any conclu-
sion. Now the demand for boats on the
Pacific has become more urgent than
and Russia
Every beat that can possibly be
bought by these nations will be snapped
up for transports. No large steamers
ryinS on the Pacific, and the heads of
steamship companies there will then have
to come to the Atlantic to get steamers
here To supply the demand for boats
panicS on this side of the United States
NAV he called upon to supply the demand.
THE st. Croix may be one OF the bouts
to so. She is an able. strong, safe, fast
steamer. but has not quite large enough
passenger capacity for our service.
Should We sell her we would have to build
another. and would construct another like
the Austin or the Dinsley We have a
steamer now under construction for the
service between Rockland and Bar Har-
Dor" continued Mr.. Austin, when asked
about the new boats. lin place of the nit
Desert. This is the James r. Morse. a
s.dc-wheclcd boat 21i feet in length. We
had to build II side-wheeler because the
water is so shallow there it was the only
kind that could he used.
We intended to build n boat to run
on the Eennebcc river from Bath clear
up to Augusta. but it was thought the
season was 50 far advanced and the work
oh ..1S ut
this could not be done for the 1904 service,
So the idea was for the present dropped.
II W" had built steamer for this service
she would have had to be long and wide
and drawing not more than three and one
half feet of water.
This is the worst winter I have ever
known" said Mr.. Austin in speaking of
the severe season. Boston harbor has
been worse tlan Portland. and New Yorl,
worse than Boston, | was in New York
net long ago and il crossing over to
brooklyn the water was completely filed
with slush. 1t was terrible stuff to pass
through.
Along the Maine coast everything is
frozen up. Capt. Archibald of the Min
cola. was telling me that he could make
but two landings ON his last trip from
at t;oothbaN. PcnoE%cot bay is complete
1y frozen over IN one solid sheet and all
service except by train is stopped in that
dircction.'
past summer 10th 1863 and 1902 were off
years. cold and dfsasreeable for the most
part and very uniarorable for the steam
beat business. For all the past summer
was 50 cold. the number of people carried
on the Portland division was but Il less
than the year before. In spite of adverse
conditions We met with good enough sue
cess.
This winter has been so severe that
people all say we ought to have Il good
summer | sincerely hope so. We need it."