Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-01-17

most wholly confined to the making Of
iron castings for wheels.
At the expiration Of his lease Gen.
eral Hyde purchased the establishment
and made large additions, in 1873 add
ing a machine shop to enable him to
manufacture windlasses. capstans, etc.
When he took the plant, the crew con-
sisted Of seven men, but the numerous
additions and improvements steadily
made under his management resulted
in such an extension of business. that.
ployed.
Meanwhile. in 1884, the.business had
been incorporated under the name OF
the Bath Iron Works.
In 1881, when it became clear that
Bath, if she would maintain her high
place among the shipbuilding cities Of
the world, must be able to produce
machinery as well as hulls, for steam
vessels. the people met in consulta-
ton and the result was made mani
fest in a subscription of 100000 for
the establishment of shops for the
production of marine engines and
the foundation was begun and the
middle of December saw the large
buildings of the Goss Marine Iron
Works standing where there had stood
the ruins of burnt saw mill. Two
years later these works passed into
the hands of the New England Ship
building Company, and in 1888 was
taken over by the Bath Iron Works.
Immediately upon the consolidation
of the two plants General Hyde, who
was president of the company, began
making improvements and enlarge
ments and, in the summer of 1889, he
felt ready to have the place inspected
by the Government officials Of the
Navy Department. with the view OF
learning it's fitness for building Gov
eminent vessels, and the report rem
dered by Naval Constructor Hichborn,
who was sent by Secretary Tracy to
examine the place, was highly COM
plimentary. At once General Hyde put
himself among the bidders for Gov
eminent work. secured two contracts,
and put crews of men at work erect
ing the necessary buildings, con-
structing cradles and adding new ma
chinery.
These two contracts called for the
construction Of the gunboatS MachlaS
and Castine, to be completed within
two years from date, thus inaugural
ing the industry Of steel shipbuilding
in the city Of Bath. These early gov
eminent contracts have been followed
by others and the numerous crafts
here constructed include nearly every
type of war vessel. from the torpedo
boat to the immense battleship, as
we'll as the lightship and lighthouse
tender.
A large amount of private work, as
we'll as repairing, has been done. and
some of the finest passenger steamers
and pleasure yachts have been turned
out from the Bath Iron Works.
In 1896 it became evident that the
business could be more conveniently
carried on by separation of the
work, the Hyde Windlass Company
was formed and a new plant con-
structed at the corner Of Washington
and Federal streets and about a thou
sand feet south of the Bath IRON
Works plant and, early in the follow
ing year, was here commenced the
manufacture of windlasses capstans,
and general ship machinery. This
plant had always done a flourishing
business generally giving employment
to more than 200 men.
The plant of the Bath Iron Works
has water frontage of COS feet and
a depth of AL feet. A portion Of the
works was destroyed by fire on Feb
ruary 10, 1894, but they were in due
time replaced by steel buildings of the
most approved design. The yards
have ample room for five vessels to
be set up at the same time, and can
accommodate the largest vessels built.
The cradles can accommodate ships OF
ten thousand tons, and can be length
ened as may be required. In fitting
the establishment with machinery. the
same idea of accommodating large
work has prevailed. Everything sup
Piled is Of the most modern type. and
as steel shipbuilding has made great
strides during recent years, the sig
nificance of these facts is apparent.
The plant is now employing a force of
900 men.
In location. the Bath Iron Works
are especially fortunate. the natural
facilities being unexcelled, If indeed
they are equalled anywhere Situated
twelve miles from the sea and fifteen
miles from any water where stran-
ger would care to venture without a
pilot, these works in time Of war
would be absolutely secure. No dam
age could be done them from the sea,
and the high bluff Of rocks which
guard the winding channel, and which
could be readily fortified. would make
it simply impossible for any hostile
vessel to make her way up to the
yards where American war vessels