Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-01-07
GERMAN OPINIONS
From an investigation of Indus
trial Processes in Shipyards
on This Side.
CHEAP RAW MATERIAL ONE THING
And Labor Saving Machinery Anoth-
eF That Make Us Dangerous to
European Prosperity

Berlin, Jan. 7.-Tjard Schwartz. q
German naval constructor who was
recently sent to the United States by
the marine general staff to invetigate
shipbuildiug there has submitted his
reports. Herr Schwartz says that all
the principal shipyards IN the United
States facilitated his Investigations in
every way. His descriptions are ac-
companied by masses of photographs
and drawings of new machines, especi-
ally Of pneumatic cOntrivances, used in
shipbuilding. The investigator says
that materials for the construction Of
steel ships are lower in price in the
United States than in any other coun-
try, and that the only thing TO be com
planned of is the tiuctuation of prices.
which makes competition with foreign
SEipbuilders difficult.
Praises Our worIxmcn.
Herr Schwartz says in this connec-
tion that within four months the prices
of shipbuilding materials i'll the United
States have tiuctuIted 200 per cent.
from lack of stability of the market,
and that this is the principal reason
why some American Shipbuilders are
combining with the steel producers.
The German Investigator refers to 'the
splendid body of United States work
men, earning wages from 30 to 80 per
cent. higher than those paid in Great
Britain, and 100 per cent. higher than
the wages paid on the continent, and
says that wage bills in the United
States are cOunterbalanced by econ
omical processes of machinery which
ere not found in European yards.
Herr Schwartz reports that nOtwith-
standing the wages paid. freighters
are being built on the great lakes As
cheaply as tramp steamers are built in
Great Britain.
Difference That struck Him.
He says that the most striking diff
ference between German and Ameri-
can shipyardS is found in the use of
pneumatic boring, hammering and riv-
citing machines. and pneumatic cranes.
in the United States. The investigator
saw seventy-five pneumatic machines
working NJ once in the yards of n ship
building company in Chicago, although
only two ships were on the stocks. He
says that British shipbuilders are ar
ranging to obtain these pneumatic ma
chimes from the United States.
New ShipbuiIding Combine.
Herr Schwartz reports that the new
consolidation of Shipbuilding companies
in the United States is the largest and
richest shipbuilding concern in the
world. and he says that it will devote
its resources to economic shipbuilding.
to reducing the present method of OBJ
thinning material 10 uniformity, and to
the Capitalization of ship construction
and its management.
What Uncle sam Is After.
The German naval constructor con-
Germs himself i'm his report almost en-
tircly with statements of fact, but in
conclusion he saws: I'VE see there
fore. that the Americans are striving
with all the means at their command
to put their shipbuilding industry in
position successfully TO compete with
the lonG-establiShed English builders
on the one hand. and on the other with
the younger but rapidly developing
ShipbuilderS of Germany"