The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-07-24
ENORMOUS NEW TONNAGE.
Delaware River shipyards Likely 10
Get the Bulk of Contracts


Get the Bulk of Contracts
Preliminary reports issued by the Bureau
| Of Navigation and the returns from tie
last half of the fiscal year which has just
closed make it pr actically certain that the
Philadelphia district will stand first
among the customs districts of the
| country in point of the amount
of the new tonnage Constructed
Last year the formeost position was held
by the district of which Bath, Ne, is the
| centre, but the New England yards will rot
be able to compete with the plants on TIE
Delaware in the matter of new ships dur
ing the closing year of the century TLers
is now under way at Philadelphia, Ckes, CT,
and adjacent points more that 100. 600 to-s
Of new mercantile shipping and naval sh- ps
the aggregate displacement OF which is up
ward OF One-half OF that figure.
II is, indeed, in the matter OF naval ship
! building that pubiic-spirited tiZ rs OF
Philadelphia may find the greatest cause
for congratulation IN the outlook for the
future Unless all present signs fail the
opening of the new century will see the
Pennsylvania metropolis lie tored TO Ter
former position of the greatest shipbIilding
port on the American continent, an honor
which she forfeited during the interval that
the United States battleships KeaIslrge,
Kentucky. and Illinois were under simulta-
neous construction at Newport News. Va
With the delivery 10 the United States Coz
eminent of the two first-mentioned vessels.
there remain three first class battlesh ps
building al Philadelphia. as against TWO u
der way al any other point on the American
sea coast
Philadelphia is likely to secure in the
future considerable number OF foreign
commissions for naval vessel construction.
The exceptional success Of the Russian
cruiser Variag. which VIII be duplicated
in the case Of the Russian battleship yet
under construction. viii be OF greater serv-
ice than most persons imagine in aiding
the William Cramp Z. Sons Company IN Sc
curing other orders abroad. This is eyi-
denced by the report that Rear Admiral
Ahmed Psha Of the Turkish Navy is a.
most certain to recommend 10 his Govern
meut that the contract for the new cruiser
which the Sultan proposes 70 order be piac-
ed with the Cramps An additional point
in favor OF the Philadelphia firm securing
this contract is found IN the fact that the
visitor from ConstantinOple was very much
impressed with the large cruisers which
the Philadelphia firm has constructed T5r
the United States Government. The pre-
liminary plans prepared for the admiral By
the Cramps contemplate q vessel $50 feet
in length. Of l2.C00-horse power and capa-
bic OF developing twenty-five knots speed
The United States. however. Is 10 pass
out most Of the plums in the way Of naval
cintracts. and OF these Delaware River
yards viii secure the hcn's share. The
Navy Department viii. before the close or
the year make contracts for a larger
amount OF new tonnage than was awarded
during any previoUS Twelve months in the
country's history. The orders TO De dis
tributed emong shipbuilding firms On the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts include con
tracts for Gxe Of the largest battleships
ever built anywhere in the worli six first
class armored cruisers and three protected
cruisers
The battIeships for which bids are TO be
advertised for on September l are The
Pennsylvania, Georgia. New Jersey, Viz
ginia. and Rhode Island II is altogetbg-
probable that contracts for at least two.
and probably three. II these huge ye~S-ls
Will so 10 the Philadelphia district. Al
least one Of the three armoTed cruisers.
and at least two .1-Ot -cted cruisers viii be
ordered from Philadelphia.
The recent enlargement Of the Cramp
plant and the project TO have the ole Hill
man yard operated by the Kensington ship
yard Company as an adjunct OF the main
Cramp works VIII virtually double the Ca
pacity Of the planJ. and ought 70 enable
the hrm TO handle SIS. Geo co or $50. zee. Cos
worth OF MCrh N 1871 Just as easily as Il Is
handling SO. 10000 worth shis year
OF almost equal importance in an ac-
counting OF Phila3eiphia's capabilities II
the shipbuHGiHg line is the EXTENSIVE new
plant OF the New York Ship Building Com
pany, al Camden. This firm has handled
10 naval work because 10 contracts for this
class OF construction have been placed BY
the United States Government since tteir
yard was in condition 10 undertake com
missions. Il Is understood on the best OF
authority that the management Of the New
York Company viii 90 after all the naval
contracts offered IN 5ae future
An official wEost duties bring him con-
siantly IN contact with the growth OF
American euIeTprisS. said today: In my
opinion shipbUIiding III show = greater
and mere rapid development than any 9th
er industry in America during the ext
ten years, and T. less / am greatly mis-
taken the maximum growth viii be at
tanned in the district OF which the city
OF Philadelphia IS the centre.
When the New York Company's planc
is in full operation the yards on the Della
ware River viii regularly give employ
ment 10 about $4,000 men The yards
themselves viii represent an investment
CT upwards OF $50. 600 00O and they viii be
capable Of turning out annually work >
the value of $50 009 .Gee. or the equal II
the aggregate naval contracts let by the
United States in 1SO0-the greatest year
for new construction in its history"