Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-26
PASSING OF ROACH
SHIPYARD ENDS ITS
TROUBLED HISTORY
Sheriff Sells Plant Which
Furnished Many Vessels to
United States Navy and
Merchant Marine.

Going, going, gone" These words and
the bang Of the Sheriffs hammer
sounded the death knell today Of one Of
the landmarks that has made the port
OF Philadelphia internationally famous
The words marked the passing of the
shipbuilding plant established more than
70 years ago by John Roach at Chester
II was sold at Sherif's sale at 10
o'clock this morning
The sale marked the ffth financial re-
verse the plant, consisting Of 20 acres
OF land. shipways, machinery and other
equipment. has had since its inaugura-
tion in 1872. But 1t is believed that this
famous old shpyard will never again
come back as II has done previously
FINANCIAL v1CGss1TUDEs.
John Roach, founder of the company,
opened the way for this country to build
wsrships unsurpassed by any other ma
ton and bla2ed the trail for the estab-
lishnent of the now all-powerful steel
industry. His financial vlcissitudes are
history. His plant went into the hands
OF a receiver upon four occasions. but
always managed to struggle back to
paying basis. Before Roach took over
the plant 1t was known as the Rainer
shtpyard. After Roachs death his son.
John B. Roach operated the shipyard
1t later became the Delaware River Iron
Ship and Engine Building Company and
as such failed four years ago
HUNDREDS OF IRON SHIPS.
One hundred and fourteen iron vessels
were constructed under the Roach man
ssement. Nearly 800 were completed later
Among them were vessels which proudly
fly the American flag today Many Of
the Ward Line vessels We're built there.
a. were number OF steamships for
the Ocean Steamship Company of Sa-
v"nnah The Persian, Quantico and
Lexington were built for the latter com.
pany. They now ply to and from this
port in the Merchants and Miners
Transportation Company's service. The
Harvard and Yale, Long Island Sound
steamships, and the American and Ha-
wBiian, pioneer vessels OF the American
Hawaiian Line. We're also built upon the
shipways sold by the Sheriff TODAY Tho
city of Savannah, constructed for the
Ocean Steamship Company completed
seven years ago, was the last big steam
ship TO use these ways
shipping men recall the days when
as many as 10 vessels under construc-
ton al one time were to he seen at
Roach's. The work done at the miami
did much TO earn the appellation of the
CLYDE Of America" for the Delaware
River famous old clipper ship, the
Tillie h. Starbuck, was one of the first
vessels ever built at these yards
BIRTH OF NEW NAVY.
The fame of Roach's shipyard is as
closely aligned with the growth Of our
navy as 1t is with the history OF the
merchant marine. Some Of Uncle Sans
first iron ships we're turned out by John
Roach. The sunboats Alert. Huron.
Chicago, Atlanta, Bennington, Boston.
Concord and Puritan we're completed
under his direction
In is" the Secretary Of the Navy called
for bids on four vessels the Atlanta.
Boston Chicago and Dolphin Roach was
one of the bidders, He then owned in adj
dltion TO the shipyard tho Morgan Iron
WORKS and steel making plant AT Thur
low, lust above Chester His bid mazed
other shipbGilders and the Navy Depart
ment. II was $4,000 below the next low
est. bidder and s77i,1OO below the estimate
OF the Advisory Board, Roach had
found. by experiments he could produce
steel OF required quality at a price lower
than his competitors could.
q. Politics PLAYED am important part in
the fuilment of these contracts and
when the Government rejected tna Dol
phin upon completion the heart Of John
Roach was broken and he died a few
years later. lie had labored sincerely
and earnestly To make the ship an honor
20 his name The proof that he did So
s. shown I'm the fact that the Dolphin.
which was later accepted r. doing active