Milford chronicle., 1909-09-17
The BuiIdlng of shIps il NlIford.
FRsT PRIZE BY NARY nRAPER.

Milford, where the "New Wharf is now
sometime before the war Of 1872, but tina
was before Milford was founded. It
SAID that the first boat launched in tn
Misplllion was built here. However, tn
hrst shipbuilder in Milford is supposed t,
nave been man named West. This wa
very early, when Milford was a small
village and he only averaged one small
vessel per year. Several others followed
him but the most successful and exten
sive builders at that time were Carlisle 6
Reyille, Truitt, and Deputy. This time
was from about 1880 till the Civil War
Just before the war shipbuilding was al
It's height and Milford was famous fol
her coasting vessels and barks. But q
number Of years after the war the exten-
sion OF railroads, the building of steam.
boats ands carcity Of the timber interfered
greatly with the progress of the business.
Later the firms Of Lank 6, Reville, Wni.
A. Scribner, Black & Co., Joseph Har-
per, James W. Abbott, Abbott & Co.,
David Lank and James NJ. Black were
engaged in this occupation in Milford at
different times. Among these, those who
built most extensively were VIM. F..
Reville, VIM. Scribner, James II. Deputy,
the Carlisles and the Abbotts. There
were built at this time six or seven vessels
per year. They built mostly sloops or
three masted schooners, used for coastwise
commerce. These ships were sometimes
entirely finished in Milford, but we're
generally towed to Philadelphia or New
York to be reged. The first tug boat
built in Milford was built by David Lank
in 1857. At the time when the industry
was so fourishingit was great benefit to
the town, which was then much smaller
than now. They employed hundreds of
workmen whom they paid good wages,
and the demand for timber caused saw
mills to be established. So Milford grew
rapidly and it owes a great deal Of its pro-
gress to the great shipbuilding industry.
AT the present time there are two ship
building firms in Milford, that of VIM.
g. Abbott and the VinYard Shipbuilding
Company.
The business which is now run by VIM.
q, Abbott was established in 1869 on the
spot where it is now, along the Siispillion,
by his father, J. w. Abbott. In 1890
William G. Abbott succeeded his father. |
This company has built more and /
larger ships than any other before them. /
Here are employed sometimes as high as
fifty people at a time but at present there
are only twelve. The pay roll Of this
varies from Sl25 to S400 per
week. At this shipyard are built all
kinds-of wooden crafts, the material for
which is brought here and sawed by the
company on the premises, The timber
lsed is Delaware white oak, which was
llso used extensively by the old builders,
Georgia, Florida and occasionally Oregon
pine. This is transported here by rail
md water, principally the latter. Some
If the ships built by this firm are finish
ID entirely here some however are
aunched here and towed to Philadelphia
,r other ports where they are supplied
With machinery or rigging. These ships
all in all parts of the world from dif l
erent ports. At present at this shipyard J
here are being built two crafts, one well 7
nder way and another barely started. i
he former, so feet keel, 13 feet beam {
nd feet depth of hold, is being built 3
Or the Texas Co. of New York. 1t will L
e used for the purpose of carrying oil n
nd will be fitted up with a fifty-four '
orse power gasolene engine. The latter n
ill be 100 feet keel % feet 10 inches p
cam and II feet deep. 1t will haYe two n
-on tanks l50fe long and 8 feet diane. II
IT for the purpose of carrying acid. This II
ne is being built for the Pennsylvania Il
alt Manufacturing Company. They
i'll both be fitted up entirely before q,
aving this yard. The oil Barge that is el
sing built now is the largest ever built So
nth OF wilmington. Y,
The Vinyard Shipbuilding Company IL
as established in 1900 on the same liz
ounds as the shipyard of William Re- til
lie, several years before. This company te
g built ten large and several small crafts, by
d all wooden. There are employed m
re from ten to twenty and the pay roll til
ries from 800 to $3.50. A steamer has tn
It been completed here and launched. fit
is now being used for trade on the fin
nth River, New York. But at present to
ere are none being built and no work wi
being carried on. This company uses fill
same kind of timber as the other and eel
0 has their own saw and planning mill.
The present method of shipbuiding Mi
d by these builders is much Alb
cker and labor saving than that of the Vii
ly builders, who, nevertheless, pros yes
ed. Where different parts of ships 9th
.e made very often by hand or by a is
10000. kIo-o o~o ,,,,1 Z