Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-08-21
GOOD sHlpBUILDlNG PROSPECTS.

Indications That the Harlan g. Holling |
sworth Plant Will be Rushed With Work |
in the Future.
There is every reason to believe,
Judging from reports which are cur
rent, that the shipbuilding and car
building plant of the Harlan & Hol-
1ingsworth Co., which has been sold to
the United States Shipbuilding Co.,
will be very materially benefited by
having plenty of work as result of the
sale, which, it is said, is due chiefly to
the fact that it is better equipped than
any other concern in the combine for
doing a certain class of work. Conse-
quently, the change will most likely be
beneficial to the city, as there is every
reason to believe that the establish
ment will be kept busy all the time
and that it will he operated to its full
est capacity much of the time. 1t has
been intimated from a pretty reliable
source that improvements may be made
which will give the plant even better
facilities than it now possesses and in
crease its capacity. Whether anything
Of this kind will happen in the very
near future it is difficult to tell, as no
information on this subject has been
given out on the authority of people
|
capacity which enables it to handle
work employing about 3, 600 mon, which
means great deal to the city and its
business interests.
Ii is said that there were two reasons
which prompted the promoters of the
shipbuilding combine to have special
| desire to acquire the Harlan & Hol-
| lingsworth plant, one of which was
| that the local yard was better equipped
| than any of the other establishments
considered for building and handling
ships 300 feet in length and of smaller
size. The company can also build much
| larger boats, but it is said that after
| those interested in the formation OF the
| combine became familiar with the
facilities they realized at once that i
| would be valuable especially for this
class of work, as, with the machinery
| and other equipment which they found
there, they were convinced that worB
| Of that kind could be done at the Will
mington yard better than at most otaei
places, and also quicker and at less ex'
pense. This, it is believed, made tht
plant more desirable than was at frs
supposed. The other reason for buying
was that it would be better to have the
Harlan & Hollingsworth plant in thu
big corporation than to allow it to re
main competitor, as it has world
wide reputation and has been enjoying
d large independent patronage.
AS the local yard is said to be tn
best in the whole combination TO
handling ships of 800 feet in lengtl
and smaller sizes, there is every reasol
to believe that it will get the lion
share OF that sort OF work. The Unite
States Shipbuilding Co. is out 70
business and as it is now in shape t
build anything from Il rowboat to bi
, warship, and furnish all of the materia
therefor, it is understood that order
Il will be taken for boats of all kinds, an
as the kind which the local plant
best fitted to build predominates al
over che world, it is not unlikely tina
the capacity of the plant will be take
the greater part Of the time, and
, would not be at all surprising to lear
! of the new owners planning for at
ditional equipment here. The arrange
. nent of the local yard adds to il
a value. The different departments
which work for ships is gotten out al
In close proximity, and as there !
. every facility for rapidly handling tt
! material, no time is lost in that dire'
tion, and when the work of building
:, boat is started there is no delay and
= can be completed in u remarkab
: short space of time.
The United States Shipbuilding Go
= which is the big corporation ownir
= the several plants, is now in shape
Z furnish all of the material required
. the shipbuilding business, having pu
|, chased the Bethlehem Steel Go. Is emo
% nous works. The steel plant cost S25
000, 600, and in order to acquire it I'll
/ capital stock of the United Stat
Shipbuilding Co. was increased fro
$40, 600, 900 to s45. 600. 600, and it is nc
in shape to do anything in the bo
building line. The company now /
. cludes the Bethlehem Steel Co., Uni,
:. Iron Works, San Francisco, Cal. Ba
!, Iron Works and Hyde Windlass Cc
e Bath, Me. Eastern Shipbuilding Go
70 New London, Conn. Harlan & Holiing
Y worth Co, Wilmington, Del. CIesce
Y Shipyards, Elizabeth, N. ]. :; Samu
= Moore & Son Co., Elizabeth, N.
y y and the Canda Manufacturing Cc
y Carteret, N, j.
10 - 1t is believed that each one of t
= several shipbuilding plants will
"a given the kind of work it is especial
~ fitted to do, and if this plan is carri
a out the local yards should be hive
y industry all the time. For seyel
,a ! weeks there has not been very much
\, hand at the local yard, but it is und,
~ stood that matters were holding ale
Il pending the deal which was then
% process of consummation. 1t is und
~ stood that the Unitod States Co.,
~ anticipation of what has just happent
aeun has been taking orders for several wee
y and now has orders ahead for $50, co
V 900 worth of work, and there IS eve
reason TO believe that the Wilmingt
lyard will get its share of it.