BATH  , a

city, port of entry, and the county-seat of Sagadahoc county, Maine, U.S.A., on the W. bank of the Kennebec river, 12 m. from its mouth and 36 m . N.E. of Portland . Pop . (1890) 8723; (1900) 10,477, of whom 1759 were foreign-born; (1910, censu) 9396 . It is served by the Maine Central railway, by steamboat lines to Boston, and by inter-urban electric railway . The city covers an area of about 9 sq. m., and extends along the W. bank of the river for about 5 m.; the business district is only a few feet above sea-level, but most of the residences are on higher ground . The streets are well shaded, chiefly with elms . At Bath are the state military and naval orphan asylum, two homes for the aged, and a soldiers' monument . Bath has a good harbour and its principal industry is the building of ships, both of wood and of iron and steel; several vessels of the United State: navy Corporation . have been built here . In 1905 three-fourths of the city's wage-earners were employed in this industry . Bath also manufactures lumber, iron and brass goods, and has a considerable trade in ice, coal, lumber and iron and steel .

First settled about 1660, Bath was a

part of Georgetown until 1781, when it was incorporated as a separate town; in 1789 it was made a port of entry, and in 1847 was chartered as a city . BATH-CHAIR, a vehicle with a folding hood, which can be used open or closed, and a glass front, mounted on three or four wheels and drawn or pushed by hand: If required to be drawn by a donkey or small pony it is then mounted on four wheels, with the usual turning arrangement . James Heath, .of Bath, who flourished rather before the middle of the 18th century, was the inventor .