Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-01-04
Years Work Depends on
the Timber Supply.
prospect at Least as Good as
at Opening Of 1905.
Maine Ship Builders Working Under
Many Difficulties.

months which have Just passed. sc'iii3
10 depend to large extent. according
Ia Faith builders, upon their ability To
secure more promptly the necessary
timber with which to construct their
craft.
Nearly all the builders along the river
state that the prospects seem. AT ieas''
equal 10 those Of last January Whiir
some Of them assert that they are even
better bat al agree that much depends
mon the timber situation ana that Is Il
very important feature of the case
Years ago. when Il Maine man wanted
to build II ship he went into IN" neigh
boring forests and cut his oaken Keel
and frames as We'll as his ceiling anu
thanking. masts and spars. His iron
spikcs and oak trcnails We're made by
hand quite in contrast 10 the manner III
which they are made today.
Now the oak keel and lower frames
come from Canada. the tops of hack
,n.tack from Michigan. the hard pine
for ceiling AMI planking from the sunny
Southland and the masts and spars
from oregon. Thus II Will be seen that
th,. question Of securing timber is one
of more moment lfi.li IL Wis St.tiS 49,
ard the vessel Of today is not the home
ma &C. product that she was when Name
supplied not only the brain and Drawn.
hut the material as well for her white
winged messengers of commerce.
10 get ut the true condition Of things
the Journal correspondent has made
thorough canvass or the situation and
interviewed some Of the most promi-
nrnt Of the Bath builders regarding it
and here il; what they say.
Treasurer Isaiah :. t"ombs Of the
New England CO.. one of the largest
and most widely known concerns in its
lin, in the country. said in response to
the query: The prospects for 1906 i'll
oar line are perhaps brighter than they
were 4 year ago hen 1903 came in. III
fact | really believe that they are
There are certainly r!ore inquiries for
vessels and thar is usually considered
good sign among the builders. The ad-
Vance in the price of materials, CSp"-
ciallv hard pine. makes il harder IL get
contracts. and build vessels Ut even 4
small profit. than II WAS n year ago ana
Of course tn" higher cost Of the desired
craft is bound to scare away some "f
IN" contracts.
What is the difference in the cost of
hard pine" WAS the question put IL Mi
Cuo,,hS.
1T is from s. to IS a thousand more
than il was i year ago" he replied,
land with the amount which is used III
the construction OF the hig vessels OF
to-day YOU can readily sec that il is
quite an item.
IL there any difficulty in securing
this lumber" was asked.
"IcS indeed there has been" said
Mr. roumbs but | hope and believe
that the prospects are better nov. Ii
ms been crrlinG very slowly lie past
wear. IN fact II has been almost inn
possible to get il. As rule il takes
hut TWO or three months from the time
an order is given until il is delivered
but of late it has been taking much
longer understand that Mr.. Deer
ing at his south end yard has been
waiting tor more than six months for
some with which 10 finish his schooner
ard as vet il has not made its APP
pcarlnrc. This is an unusual case
thuurh and an exception rather than
th. rule"
What is the cause Of this delay"
was asked,
Well suppose the higher price and
dclay is due in a large measure 10 the
fact that il is now practically IN the
h,,u,s OF Il few men and they have
pushed the price up and ship wher"
they can do il In their best advantage.
There has been considerable II II
shipt ed but il has been mostly in the
way uf easier lumber. that is smaller
dimensions such rs is used in house
building and bridge work
..po YOU experience any delays in
getting Your other lumber such as
frames" was asked.
NO cannot say that we do was
the response for we usually Keep nj
least one frame in the yard Oil the time
Ia avoid such delays.
Then taken all in all you believe
the prospect for Bath yards is rs good
or better thar it was III lea5 do YOU
was asked.
Yes fully as good and | think the
CLOSE, of the year will show up better.
MIS- the answer.
Gardiner Il. Deering was the next
builder interviewed. Mr. Deering by
the way builds vessels for himself and
ut their completion sells them of in
piece, doing little or no real contract
work. He is one nf the oldest builders
i'm the business and nearly always has
something i'll the way of big one on
the stocks. He began building nearly
a wear ago and his frame is now in the
yard. all standing. but owing to the
non arrival of hard pine, for ceiling
and pianking. not a chip has flown in
the ward for number of weeks.
Regarding the scarcity of hard pine
Nr DesrirS said: Eyes. l have been
subjected TO q considerable delay in not
securing my hard pine. l traded Tor II
seven months ago and not stick has
shown up yet but l am looking Tor II
nov very soon as have received word
THAT il is TO he shipped AT once. AS
500, as il arrives shall so on with my
work.
..What has caused this delay. Mt.
nesriny >" was asked.
..Wsn, they tell me that the drouth
{ In the South last year prevented them
from getting the logs to the mills
Then there was one OF the big miiis