Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-08-05
300 YEARS OF
SH|PBU|LDERS
Americans Celebrte Ami
versary Of Industry In
New WOrla

| ilicdNH VI hiIG INCllllCDCC IlNSE lOudy
donned holiday attire and otherwise
made ready for a weeks carnival in
observance of the 300th anniversary
of American shipbuilding for the cell
ebration of which preparations have
been going forward for months past.
1t was nearby at Popham Beach, set
tied by Sir George Popham, in 1907,
where colonists built the first Ameri-
can vessel and launched ii upon the
Kennebec.
This first American vessel was the
pinnace Virginia, and she was not
much of a craft in comparison with
the vessels of today. But in those
days, with scarcely a nail to work
with and the builders put to extremes
| to find the iron for bands and the
tools wherewith to fashion the timber
the completion of the vessel was re-
garded as a great achievement The
| Virginia was about so feet in length
and in modern measurement would
register about 40 tons. She made sew
| eral voyages between Jamestown and
London.
After the construction and depar-
ture of the Virginia it was nearly 10
years before the keel of another ves-
sci was laid on the shores Of the
Kennebec Then Sir william Phipps
established a yard at Woolwich. So
the industry grew and fiourished. The
building OF ships has been the princi-
pal industry of Bath for 150 years, and
hundreds of splendid craft have been
put afISat during that time, the tom
mage amounting to over 100000 since
tine time of establishing the govern
ment record In 1888 Once the forests
of Maine provided every stick of tim
BIER used, in the craft built along the
Kennebec- Today only the most i'm
portant stfingers and stanchions are
found in the wilderness OF the North,
nearly everything being brought TO the
place of construction from the West
and South While there is now no
such activity in the yards as prevail
ed up to Is or 70 years ago, Bath is
still busy and the prospects is bright.
The celebration which began today
viii take up tire greater part of a
week. and not only win include exer-
cises and demonstrations to be held
IN This city, but also at Popilam Beach,
where the industry was created and
gradually moved along until 1t reached
Bath, where 1t continued to remain,
making the place famous as the birth
place of more vessels than any other
city or town. In the United States.
Many of the most distinguished
members of both branches Of congress
have accepted Invitations ta take part
in the celebration, together with the
governors of several of the New Eng
land states and a number of other no
tables This evening the opening lit
erary exercises are to be held at the
AIemeda, with an historical address
by the Hon Charles E. Allen. Band
concerts will be given in the park, and
the shores of the Kennebec will be IL
Illuminated by bonfires, while the visit
ing warships and all other vessels i'm
the harbor viii be Illuminated.
| Tomorrow the warships will be open
for the inspection of visitors. There
will also be Il program of land and
water sports. In the afternoon Gov
! ernor cobb and staff VIII arrive, with
other visitors of note. A monster BAN
quet to the distinguished guests in to
be given in the evening, and following
this Senator Harold NJ. Sewalf will de-
liver an address upon the American
ship. There. will also be a display of
fireworks and band concerts
An automobile review is scheduled
for Wednesday morning, with a big
carnival parade in the afternoon. The
evening is to be given over to water
carnival in which over 200 yachts and
launches are expected to take part.
The celebration ON Thursday will be
shifted to- Popham Beach, where the
little ship Virginia was built Here
will be held the great clambake and on
the site of Fort st. George, the colo
nists' first fertilization. which has re-
Gently been staked out according to
diagrams left by the original settlers,
} will be held appropriate historical ex-
ercises- The principal address will he
delivered by President James P. Bax-
ter of the Maine Historical society.
; Friday, the concluding day of the cell
ebratfon, viii be given over to recep-
} tons to the naval officers, both on shore
and aboard ship. and there viii be q
r general exchange of courtesies among
all the guests and officials who have
the celebration in charge
: Already the city is rapidly filing
l with visitors and the indications point
< to the biggest crowd ever seen here.
l In addition to the population Of the
5 surrounding country and the many in
vited guests from other sections. 1t is
I expected that the visitors win include
l many notables who are spending the
summer at the various resorts along
the Maine coast. So"