Evening journal., 1899-08-15
STRUCTURAL STEEL FAMINE
COMPELLED CRAMPS TO SUSPEND
FIFTEEN HUNDRED MEN.

FIFTEEN HUNDRED MEN.
|LfCAL SHIPBUILDERs NOT AF-
FECTED AT THE PRESENT.
TIME-HARLAN AND HoLLINGs-
WORTH COMPANY THOUGHT 1TI
WOULD HAVE TO SHUT DOWN
AT ONE TIME.
At the present time local shipbuild-
ers are not having any trouble in re-
CARDS to receiving steel plating, but It
is not known how soon they will be
in the same position as several other
large firms throughout the country.
Several months ago the Harlan and
Hollingsworth Company thought It
would be necessary to shut the plant
down, on account OF not receiving
enough of structure steel to do the
work. but since that time its demands
have been partly filed. and now the
company is having no trouble.
AS the direct result OF the present
Extraordinary demand for structural
steel, which is causing long delays in
the delivery of material and which
rendered imperative the temporary
discharge of fifty men at the Cramp
shipyards last Friday. 1900 more rivet-
lers, platers and iron workers will be
laid off to-day and tomorrow. While
the company would. if all material
could be promptly secured make use
of 800 men, in addition TO its regular
force. it has no alternative but to lay
OF that number awaiting a betterment
OF conditions. The men affected are
those working on hulls, and all are
skilled worlzmen, earning from s14 to
: SPA per week. This leaves $500 men
a still at work at the yards.
q AS an indication of how the steel
famine affects the shipbuilding inter-
! ests Of the Delaware river. it was
stated yesterday by a close observer Of
4 the situation that there are thirty
seven contracts for steel vessels in the
t various yards Of Philadelphia, Chester
6 and Wilmington. and Of these the ma
! terial Of twenty-three ships is behind
hand in delivery. There is about $780,
l. 100000 involved in these operations,
"a and the Cramp Company's contracts
aggregate about s20.OOO000.
q The battleship Alabama. which
- should have made her trial trip last
# Spring, has been so much delayed in
construction that she cannot leave
ID before next month, possibly even later.
u The steamer for the Plant Line, which
is now in frame, is waiting for steel
a. beams and stringers. On the merchant
ships keels are partly laid, and work
,dlis almost at a standstill. Two Of these
e. are steamers Of the Oceanic Line, in
tended for trade between Honolulu
m and the East On the third. for the
- same line the keel has not been laid
, because there is no slip idle in which
to place it, 1t is intended to begin this
ss as soon as the Russian cruiser Varial
is launched.
lis Besides these. there are two steam
at ships OF the American Line. Interna,
tional Navigation Company, which arr
to be more than 500 feet long an,
Oh II knots in speed Contracts hav,
en- been awarded for two steamships o
the Ward Line. but for these the keel
ia have not yet been touched. other i'm
'r- portant operations at the yard inelud
ir' repair work on the transport Thoma
and the Ward Liners City Of San An
nd tonic and Orizaba.
a Fortunately, the orders for steel oi
the Russia cruiser Variag and battle
e'- ship Retvizan were placed last year
10 as soon as the contracts were awarde
to.the Cramps, and the material is be
ing received. It is stated. as rapidly a
lay the producers can ship it. 1t was hope
raj that the Variag would have bee
launched before this time. and il
led now asserted with confidence that tn
~" launching will take place next montl
The Retvizan has been keeled, and I'll
.re frame IS now being covered with tn
Try plating.
Work on the battleship Maine
ON also progressing satisfactorily, tn
keel and hull being practically con
pleted. so far as the outward shell
s