Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1907-08-08
l6O7--l9O7.
800 Years of American Ship
building Celebrated.
This First American Vessel Was the
PimaCe "ViFginia," and She
was Not Much OF a Graft
in Comparison Eith
the Vessels of
Today.
Today.
CBy special Wire to the ARecs.)

bdlly -Mb.J Aug. o.-I0dth liz lIC
ne~ighboring towns and villages at the
mouth of the Kennebec river today don
ned holiday attire and otherwise made
ready for a weeks carnival in obser-
vance of the three hundredth anniver-
sary of American shipbuilding, for the
celebration of which preparations have
beer going forward for months past.
It was nearby at Popham Beach, set
tied by Sir George Popham in 1907,
where colonists built the first Ameri-
can vessel and launched it upon the
K~ennebsc.
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 ANAL to work with and
the builders to put to extremes to find
the iron for bands and the tools where
with to fashion the timber, the compile
ton of the vessel was regarded as a
great achievement. The ''Virginia'
was about 80 feet in length and in mod
ern measurement would register about
forty tons. She made several voyages
between Jamestown and london.
After the construction and departure
ofthe ''Tirginia'' it was nearly seven
ty years before the keel of another yes
sci was laid on the shores of the Ken
nebec. Then Sir William Phipps es-
tabIished a yard at WoOlwich. So the
industry grew and fourished. The
building of ships has been the princi-
pal industry of Bath for $50 years and
hundreds of splendid craft have been
put atloot during that time, the ton
mage amounting to ove 1000. 900 since
the time of establishing the govern
ment record in 1873. Once the forests
OF Maine provided every stick of TIM
Der used in the craft built along the
Kennebec. Today only the most I'M
important stringers and stanchions are
found in the wilderness of IA North,
nearly everything being brought to
the place of construction from the West
and South. While there is nov no
such activity in the yards as prevailed
up to fifteen or twenty years ago, Bath
is still busy and the prospect is
bright.
The celebration which began today
will take up the greater part of a week,
and not only will include exercises
and demonstrations to be held in this
city, but also at Popham Beach, where
the industry was created and gradual
1y moved along until it reached Bath,
where it continued to remain, making
tho n1ooo famous DC tho hir+hDIooo ~
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 to 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
Alameda, with the historical address
blythe Hon. Charles E. Allen. Bano
concerts will be given in the park, anC
the shores of the Kennebec will be illu
minated by bonfires, while the visiting
warships and all other vessels in The
harbor will be Illuminated.
Tomorrow the warships will be ope1
for the inspection OF visitors. Their,
will also be a programme of land an6
water sports. In the afternoon Gov
ernor Cobb and staff will arrive, will
other visitors of note A monster ban
quet to the distinguished guests is t.
be given in the evening, and followin,
this Senator Harold NJ. Sewall will de
liver al address upon the American
ship. There will also be a display O
fireworks and band concerts.
An automobile review is schedules
for Wednesday morning, with a bi
carnival parade in the afternoon. TIL
evening is to be given over to a waite
c~arnivalsin which over 200 yachts an
launches are expected to AXE part.
The celebration on Thursday will b
shifted to Popham Beach, where tn
little ship "Virginia" was built. Her
will be held the great clambake and O,
the site of Fort st. George, the colo
nists' first fertilization, which has re
Gently been staked out according t
diagrams left by b original settlers
will be held appropriate historical ex
e~rcises. The principal address will b
delivered by President James P. Bax
ter, of the Meine Historical Society.
Friday, the concluding day of th
celebrated, will be given yer to RI
options to hi naval officers, both on
shore and aboard ship, and there wi
be a general exchange of courtesie
among all the guests and the official
who have the celebration in charge.
Already the city is rapidly film