The Brunswick news., 1916-10-25
JOyCe=Watkins Interests Pur=
chase Wharf Property at a
Cost of Thirty=six Thousand
DOllars-WOrk on Big Plant
Starts at Once.
City of Brunswick Was Joint
Purchaser and Will Use It's
Portion for Municipal Docks.
Council is Commended for the
Prompt Action.

A third shipbuilding plant for
Brunswick
That was the announmecent made
at the local offices of the Joyce-Wat-
kins company yesterday by ]. P. Dav-
export. southern manager of this big
company, which is among the largest
crCsstie dealers in the United States
AS far back as last March Manager
Davenport inaugurated a systematic
campaign to induce his people to go
into the sbfpbuilding industry in
Brunswick. There was scarcity OF
ships, there was a demand for car
goes and the local people were not in
position to talk with Mr.. Davenport
about bu lding ships for them.
They were anxious to complete the
one now in the building before seek
ing new contracts. Then it was that
Mr.. Davenport took up with the Joyce
Watkins company the question of
building their cwn ships-as well as
the ships of others and building them
here! President w. T. Watkins of
that company. a progressive business
man saw the wisdom of the sugges-
ton, became interested and after con-
siderable correspondence on the sub
ject and several interviews with Mr..
Davenport he came in Brunswick to
lock the situation over and to see il
the plan was q feasible one. He was
impressed with the situation and the
Co., Of ol1 ,of Mr
port had reported as to local condi-
tions and after a week or ten days OF
quietly going over the situation and
after shipbuilder of years expert
ence, Capt. T. S. Lawrence of New
York, who came to Brunswick with
him. reported favorably, he determin
ed % locate plant here.
The question of a site was the one
perpleXing incident in the matter and
after many tracts had been suggested
and after several other schemes were
trid out, il was finally determined by
Mr. Watkins and his associated that
the duBignon property at the foot OF
George and London streets was the on
ly available piece of property suitable
for the purpose 1t was more than
was needed and then it was that the
matter was called to the attention Ol
city council.
Manager Davenport attended the
session on Monday night and for two
and a half hours planned with the cou
Gil on the idea Of the city acquiring
the property and selling one half o1
it to his people.
The city had long been negotiating
for nun cipdi Wharves md here was !
chance to get them and at the same
time get new industry! Council was
broad minded on the subject anC
finally recessed over until yesterday
morning. assuring Mr. Davenport thai
it would join his company on the one
or the other of several sites mention
ed. When council met again yester
day the situation was threshed ou
thoroughly and finally the deal was
closed. The duBignon wharf property
consisting of 450 feet with ninety
foot street was old jointly to the city
and the joyce watkins company fol
the sum of $4,000. The city in turr
is to lease the foot Of George stree
to the company. which will give then
for their plant total of 3l5 feet
while the city will retain 225 feet fol
municipal wharf purposes. The solu
ton of the situation is most happy
one and all local parties are to be
commended for the splendid spiri
dispayed in the adjustment of it
Council was broad-minde1 in its treat
ment of the matter and others shared
in that 'dea While the property has
been sold to the Joyce-Watkins com
pany, the Carpenter-Watkins Ship
building company is to take it ovel
/ and this will be the corporate name
of the company. Mr.. S. ]. Carpenter
is the head of the Carpenter-O'Brier
company of New York and the owners
of the big steamer O'Brien which