Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-04-23
Gardiner to Lose
Official Title of
NAVIGATION Head

The statement of NJ. A. Haraden
OF Bath, State Agent for the Eastern
Steamship lines, that there would be
no boat service up the kennebec to
Gardiner this year coupled with the
recent announcement that the Island
steamer would not run this wear
means that for the first time in over
a. century Gardiner will not have the
honor of the title, The Head OF
Navigation of the Kennebec', which
it has proudly borne years. An oc-
casional coal barge or vessel laden
with lumber will be the only craft
to be seen on the kennebec' this
summer" The steamer City of Ban
gor which with the Inflated Rockland
have been our Boston boats for the
last few years will operate on the
Portland Boston run, service start
ing May II. 1t is planned to have
the Bangor upon arrival in Portland
on Tuesday, Thursdays and Satur-
days continue to Boothbay Harbor
and return to Portland on the same
day. 1t is understood that the steam
er Virginia which has served on the
Island run since the taking off of
the Islander will be operated over
the Bath. Boothbay Harbor and is
land route so as to connect with the
Boston steamers at Boothbay Har-
Dor.
1t was in 1913 that the first steam
propelled craft appeared on the Ken
nebec. this being a scow operated
by Jonathan Morgan. In 1919 a 80
foot side wheeler piled from Bath to
Augusta. In 1923 the steamer Wa
terville was built at Bath and is be-
lieved to be the first steam vessel
built on the Kennebec. She also ran
from Bath to Augusta, and the same
year the steamer Patent extended her
trip as far as Bath. In 1926 she ran
from Gardiner to Portland. The IT.
comic was Gardiner built and ran to
Wateryille and was the first steamer
TO run on the river above Augusta
In 1856 a company was formed in
Gardiner with capital of $4,000 to
operate steamer from Gardiner to
Boston. The company purchased the
New England. Two years later this
boat was run into by a schooner off
Boone Island, and SO badly damaged
that she became practically a total
loss.
Then came the Huntress and the
CLIFTON, two rival lines. the latter be-
ing owned by Commodore Vanderbilt.
L hc NdIueIDllI interests then placed
another steamer on the line to re-
place the Clifton. and for brief sea-
DON competition between the two
lines was intense, the fare to Boston
from Gardiner, being rs cents. This
rate, however being in effect for on
ly very short time. In 1916 the
Peoples Line was organized and the
John Marshall put into service. In
1850 the T. F. Secor was operated
between Hallowell and Bath and In
1866 the Eastern Queen was run,
The latter is said to have. cost $780,
600 and was considered a palatial
steamer. In 1865, the Star of the
East, the first steamer owned and
operated for many years with much
success. costing s1S0,0oO, was placed
under the command of Captain ia.
son Collins of this city. Captain Col
Inns was in active and continuous
steamboating for. nearly two thirds
OF a century, and maintained a. re-
markable record in his profession.
In 1901 the holdings of the Kenne-
bee Steamboat Co. were acquired by
the Eastern Steamship Co. and the
lines operated by them. For several