Evening journal., 1906-09-20
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n r all the works OF man there Is
nothing Of his handlcraft so nearly
" human as the modern ship, especially
the leviathans OF steel which are essen
TALLY floating hotels and contain all the
isfeafures Of the skyscraper ashore.
The chief engineer. who Is a pigmy
alongside OF the giant engine with its
5000 horsepower gazes upon the whlrl-
ing mass OF polished machinery with
pride. He sees life IN its every move
ment and affectlonately strokes the huge
plstons with oily waste. The majority
OF engineers become 80 attached TO and
proud OF their charges that they ac-
tually talk TO them rs though they were
iendowed with intelligence.
The captain on the bridge, 40 feet
above the water line. also has corre-
spending regard for the ship, but with
him It Is the whole fabric that receives
his consideration aud tho component
parts are not thought OF unless there ia n
breakdown, and even then he IS inclined
TO scold. not the engines. the boilers or
whatnot, but the ship herself as though
she were responsible for anything that
might happen TO her apart
This love OF the ship IS yet even strong
er IN the smaller craft and the master OF
the two-sucker that sklps from port TO
port lodging the storms Of the open and
creeping along under the lea OF the land.
loves his vessel with an affection that Is
not always shared by anyone else. not
even his wife, and there are many mar
liners whose endearment toward their
bouts Is beyond the comprehensions Of
only those who love the sea and It's ships,
rnI fhrw nIou, anu aur~aafrfa tI.. ,,..-
berlcss things that are convincive that
every craft. be she large OF small pos
sesses individuality, II not intelligence.
The building and repairing OF ships Is
an industry OF considerable prominence Ia
this country. and, according 10 the last
census report, there are 1.22o plants Of an
sizes representing a capital OF Si3t 736, ,s43
employing an average OF 54,47T men. VIII,
earn a yearly wage OF S3l 3lO63,1s6 on
turning out annually, including repairing
q product valued az 500. $40.
OF these plants, 1912 are devoted q
wooden ships, and they represent a CAPT
tai OF l1.523 lac. employing an averagI
Of 1875 men. who earn SS.607. s52 a year
Though there are but "a yards wher
steel aud iron ships are built and re
paired. they are large and they repre-
sent a combined capita. Of 0,s39, 555 EN-
ploying 30.o06 men. whose annual wage q
SIG. .231, 81.
The United states government also ha
great plants OF its own where Il not oni,
builds it's own warships. but where mos
OF the repairs are made when the grea'
vessels get into trouble. aud. incidentally
It might be said that 10 repair work The
government yards are kept busy. There
are nine OF these plants. and the lavish
ness OF their equipment Is expressed IN
their valuation. which is set down al
$54, POI. OIL, almost equal 10 the total valu
alton Of the "A private concerns employ
ing an average OF but 1900 men. and yet
having 20 annual payroll OF Sc, Do. 263
There are l04 plants where are built
small vessels, such as launches. rowboats
canoes, etc. but which are also counted
IN the Industry, though not one then
has an annual product Of over $500 IN
value. These plants employ o. an aver
age Of six men throughout TIE year az.
their capital Is estimated at SS2.131, With
yearly payroll Of S1.75O.
or the shipyards OF this country tn,
one OF the Newport News Shipbulldin,
and Drydock Company. located az III,
mouth OF the James River. is the largest
with 100 acres OF land aud half a mill
water frontage.
Equipped with modern mocainer
driven by electricity aud compressed air
two large dydocks. an Quitting basil
so0x5o0 feet six piers. shear-legs OF 10
tons capacity. an electrically operate
lo0-ton revolving derrick-crnne. station
ary and nouting derricks the Newpor
News Shipbullding and Drydock Compan
makes a speciality OF repairing craft {