Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-01-16
BATH VESSELS.
Slight Increase in Ton
mage Over Previous Year
Demand for Big Craft for Trade
With the Philippines.
thought That Coming Year Will Be a
Prosperous One.

Path. Ne. Jan. lj.-With the closing
81 the year 1904. Bath shipbuiders find
That there Was a slight increase in the
am 'unt Of shipping launched over tie
year 1903. but the difference WIS So
sliSh', only few hundred tons, that il
really does not count fer much. Yrt the
statistics show that there was an in
crease in the number of vessels sent
overheard, for in 1903 there were but %,
with a total tonnage of 25.l49 while
III 1904 there We're p, with a total tom
mage of 26,00S.
In many respects the year was really
remarkable one for Shipbuildiug, as
ii gave promise. Jan. i, 1904, of being
rather dull Yet the shipping men took
confidence over the prevailing condi-
tons and gave MANY more contracts
than had previously been anticipated
ann the II months We're busy ones, large
g:lngs of laborers being employed most
Of the time.
An Ofthand prediction for the year
1905. is not at all inspiring. but When
one stops to consider the situation
fl ON all sides it does not appear as
black as first painted. That the winter
is going to prove quiet one for the
shipbuilding industry all over Maine is
freely predicted, however.
The nLtlook at this time is not as
gloomy as Il year ago and as there are
to be ut least three launchings during
the coming month and work is t. b"
begun upon ut least three SOod-siZed
vessels during the coming spring in
yards in the Bath customs district.
there is little reason for feeling uneasy
over the outlook.
There is going to be 2 demand for
vessels Of large size TO enter into the
Philippine trade. carrying coal, and
while it is probable that many of them
will he large steel ships. there is also Il
chance for the larger type OF steel
schoorers. but this class of vessels Is
more successful in the cOastwise bust
ness.
This Philippine trade is going to
proyc a big boon to American ship
builders and owners and will prove -
stimulus to the American merchant
marine, which has struggled along for
SO Iils ES NtuiH WIN W. ''NN'
LEGISLATION 10 assist IT.
Sbiphcilders and c.trerS have loh5
been seeking aid Of Congress in adont-
ing measures which would restore w
American merchant marine 70 It's loffi-
cr position. but II thiS trey nave 70
suct ecdet. as the. would lie. II Is gen
erall,. conceded that the r" are too re"
,t our public IN II ThJ understand the
shipping question.
The subsidy bill seHin.; to have al
most been lost sight of. and vet there
was a ala9t cialCo:' for its passage
few wears ago. THOSE o"st Informed IN
ega:d to the bill a. revised by senator
FRYE were ,iisa0pointeG over Ii as Il
W hole. ard vet 1t was so much better
tran anything of its kind tEat hdd Dcen
previously drawn up that they Wef"
ready t. have i passed. III the hopes
that i. might eventually I've tn" step
ming stone 10 something letter.
Surrart is nov expected Of Congress
| III determining that ion" nut American
| not;nme shall re used in the trans
| poriltion Of supplies fnT the building "i
| th, great Panama .ll1l. ana Il Con-
| .e,ass comes ~ the aid of the business
=. il is expected. it Viii lr"ve another
etim,,lts to ;h- sniu,uillhig indutry
! Vessels. g; small carrying capacity VIII
h,. brtie.. adapted for TIL; trad" than
| he. big vessels. md this natua ally
would withdraw man frcm the coast
" is.. trade hu, III thr.' place would en-
ley ny of the larger typ" of sch"on-
"lS.
| For the past six years ii has bee ONE
| IL.
i.ut for awhile there is going I" b. q
I.i-ur in this class. am nor" three and
! forr-niastcrS IRE going :, he built TN"
| ~ not bccaus,' tnr big five ami SiN-
masters ar" not successful, fer they
are great money makers when making
4 :rin but their cnntiuu Il cYpcnS" IS 50
much greater than thnSi III III" @nlaile"
,l,ss that tn" preference III the Ircs-
\ rn, time is given to III smaller craft.
! I'll" ycur Just ended MAS not a par
lticularly roSi,nrDuS ON" FOR vessel own
.-rs Owe of the principal reasons for
This was the long 'rcigh; wIr. Wher
quantities of vessel prep. rty We're tied
III, alon:; tn" v.hnle Atlantic coast. and
| this meant a shrinking. of profits for
me year. Fr".h:S NJ" still low. but II
is hoped that curing the coming T.
months they may be in,"rlscd.
Hut the biz shirbuiliing boom which
commenced ,lu:in-; III" late, President
Mckinl' IS iirst term is ever. The in
dnstry has nov reached its natural
basis. ana th- production for 1904 is
c"'isiccrct: Il fair ,..raGc for what is
I" follow. "nmpariSon Of the four
years pr' ctdine l."i viii show he ex-
tent I" which the industry was carried
on in the Bath districl. TIL, figures are
as follows:
l9A
Tors
IL SHtnOnNrS -; ~