The evening times., 1901-07-04
PRAISE FOR OUR SHIPYARDS
Views of Il German Expert on the
American Methods.
Capacity for building Large Vessels
Declared to BE AarycIous-PrOs-
pccts of Construction on For
eiEn Ordcrs-A Great Industry.

SESh OFGcES-A UTS3I INDUSTRY =
NEW YORK, July A-Dr. Ernest Won
Halle, who is connected with the Univer-
sjty Of Berlin, and who has just compiet-
ed tour of all the large shipyards on
the Atlantic Coast and the great lakes. in
company with Naval Constructor
SChwarz. of the German navy. spoke to-
day in d most enthusiastic strain of the
great progress IN shipbuiidinE made bE
the Americans in the last ten years.
While DR. vou Halle is pretty well ac-
qUainted with the United States. having
spent considerable time here in the invcs-
tigation of social and economic coudi-
tions, his recent trip, he says, has open
ed his eyes more than ever to the possf-
biIities IN the way Of Ameican shipping,
and commercial expansion generally.
Speaking particularly of our shipyards,
ne predicted that the day was not far dis
talt when Germany would have to come
to this country for some Of her merchant
ships. as her own yards though the best
in the world in many respects will not be
able to turn out enough vessels TO meet
the homo demand, which had been stImu-
lated greatly by it's free-shfp policy.
Though labor, as a rule, costs more here,
he regards The highest wages as cheapest
in the end, in that they give an impetus
to the invention of laboF-saving machIn-
cry. which has contributed SO much to
the lowering of the cost of American
ships. OF the yards in this country, he
found about ten that could build war
ships, with more companies making prep
ars,tions 10 equip plants for this worI-a
fact which he regarded IS rather puzzline
taken in connection with the peace policy
that has so long ruled in the United
States.
Dr. vou Halle was much impressed by
the rapidity with which American yards
were constructed IN England and Ger
many the great plants were evoIutiOns
from very small beginnings but in this
country. be said, they sprang UP almost
iH q night. it is not a process of av0Iu-
tion here, but one. Of complete creation.
contracts being made for the largest
sized vessels while yet the plants are un-
der construction. The most notable in
stance Of this he found at New London.
Conn. where q new company Is building
two 23.009-tOn steamships, the largest ever
produced in this country, at . yard which
had no existence a year or so ago. the
present monsters constituting its first
contract Such thing would not be
dreamed of abroad. The plant OF the New
York Shipbuilding Company at Camden.
near Philadelphia, * Also a maiden yard,
the creation within the last six months of
a company with millions Of capital back
Of it. The construction Of this plant. too.
IS going along at tn. same time great
ships are IN process Of, building Compar-
ing American. German. and British yards
OF the first class. the first-uamed he found
10 be the most numerous and. in light
machinery and tools, better equipped:
while the British had made greater ad-
vanCemeHt in the heavy machinery used
in connection with shi9fz=.ilding- Cranes
and hOIsts have reached high state Of
perfection in the United States. Dr. Won
Halle thinks, and there has also been a
marked development in pneumatic ma
chiEery; but Germany IS now making zap
il strides in this latter direction, while IN
electrical science IS applied TO the con
struction as well as the operation of ships
the Germans are still far ahead. IN En-
gland he saw only three thoroughly mod
eru yards. the others being more or less
old-fashioned. while this country and his
own could each boast of six modern
plants Altogether. DR. Won Halle looked
upon shipbuilding as one Of the most
promising Of this nations industries