Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-06-23
Manager Kennebec
Canoe Co. Talks
At Rotary Meeting

George Fred Terry, Jr., general
manager of the Kennebec Canoe Co.
of this city, gave. the members of
the Waterville Rotary Club a very
interesting talk at their meeting yes
terday noon on his profession, that
of building canoes.
Mr.. Terry first briefly sketched the
history of the craft. saying that the
canoe was one of the oldest known
/ forms of transportation. He spoke
of the primitive followed out log,
the kyak of the Esquimaux, the
birch bark canoe of the American
Indian and finally the canvas canoe
of today. One interesting point
which the speaker brought out was
that the old belief that the birch
bark canoe was faster and fighter
than that of modern construction
was erroneous and he said it had
been shown that the canvas canoe
was both faster and more efficient
than that used by the Indians.
The business of making canoes on
large scale is now confined to the
state of Maine, said Mr.. Terry. The
first canoe to be made in this state
was made in Bangor in 1875 and
since that time the industry has
grown to such an extent that there
are now several establishments In
Maine making canoes. The speaker
also told at some length of the
process pursued in constructing a
canoe and of the materials which
are used.
Mr.. Terry said that comparatively
few of the canoes made in this state
are used here, as might be believed,
but that New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania and Ohio offered the
biggest market with many being sold
elsewhere. Before the World war
the local company was building up
a lucrative business in Germany but
since the conflict freight rates have
been SO excessive that 1t has not
been possible to resume the sale of
canoes in that country. New water
developments, said Mr.. Terry, often
open new markets for canoes, and
he told of the making of lake in
Arizona in section of the country
where canoeing had hitherto been
impossible.
The style of canoes made is con-
stantly changing, said the speaker.
The well-known sponsor which was
so popular a few years ago is now
in no great demand and it consti-
tutes but small percentage of the
volume of sales. Not many years
ago it was generally thought that
the 16-foot models were the best all
round canoes, but, because people
have come to realize that they are
not as safe as the longer craft, the
demand has shifted to the IL and
18-foot models. The growing use of
cupboard motors has also caused
considerable change in the construc-
ton of canoes and boats and the
making of square sterned canoes and
other special types was started be-
cause of them.
In closing Mr.. Terry spoke of the
automobile and the competition it
gave the canoe business. A few
years ago the automobile was seri-
Gus problem, he said, but recently
many people have come to believe
that a quiet stream is more desirable
than a dusty road and the compe-
tition is not as keen as it was.
Leon o. Tebbetts, president of the
club, and George MARI, secretary,
made brief reports on the Rotary
convention which was recently held
in Cleveland and they were listened
to with great interest.
George Weed was made member
Of the club, being introduced to the
members by George Johnson.
DIR. F. J. Hill, chairman OF the
state committee in charge of the en-
tertainment of the governors who
will visit Maine in another week,
spoke a few words of the plans for
1te banquet which is to be served at
the Poland Spring House on June
80.
There will be no meeting of the
next Monday noon, but in the even
ing the members will entertain their
wives and FRI. nds at the Belgrade
hotel, for which elaborate plans are
being made.
A charter was given the Belfast
Rotary Club last evening and sew
eral members of the local club at
tended.