The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-08-15
SHIPS BEING BUILT
AND MORE RAILS LAID
Baltimore and Newport News Ship
yards Are Landing Contracts For
Big Steamships.
sEABoARD FLOATING BONDS
Demands Made BY Business and In
dustrial Interests For Carrying of
Larger Freight-Review OF Activf-
ties In South

Larger Fredght--Revtew OF ACttvf-
ties In South
Baltimore, Nd, Aug 14.--Referring
to the Industrial activities of the South
for the week the Manufacturers Re-
cord calls attention to the continued
and increasing activity in shipbuildtng
interests. A Baltimore shipyard has
just received contract TO build two
steamships for q Norwegian firm at
a cost 100000 and could immediate
ly close contracts for $4,000. 900 or
s6,0o0.0 600 worth of additional work
for American and foreign ship owners
II It had the facilities for taking on ad-
dfttonal work. 1t Is now preparing
to enlarge its plant in order 10 handle
more business
At Newport News Va. contracts
have been closed for two more big
oil steamships, making five under
construction or contracted for at that
point for the Standard OIL Company;
while another oil steamer recently
damaged by fire lie to be repaired at
a cost OF 100000. the total amount
of work now under contract at that
yard aggregatin gabout $26, 1000. 900.
with nearly 5000 hands employed. So
active IN the demand for shiproom that
a Norwegian ship owner. who came to
this country six weeks ago. recently
purchased five large American schoon-
ers, and the same day chartered them
to load lumber at Southern ports for
the United Kingdom, the freight to
be paid as soon as loaded, and the total
freight for the one voyage exceeding
$500, 900. the price paid for the ves-
sells
within a few days ne sold These five
vessels, for delivery upon arrival In
Europe. making q net profit in the
deal Of 100000. The crowded condi-
ton Of American shipyards and the
activity in shipping and shipbuilding
10 indicated IN the fact that an Atlantic
coast company has just let a contract
for a large steamer to be built on
the Pacific coast
Coincident with this Improvement
I'm shipbuilding activities there are signs
Of betterment In railroad financing and
constructor work. The Seaboard Air
Line has sold nearly $4,000. 900 worth
Of bonds 20 pay for new roads pur-
chased. extensions TO be made and to
care for financing for the next few
years. The Southern Railway during
the week let contract for Its double
tracking work on its main line Ia the
Carolinas to the extent OF 81, 10000
The Baltimore and Ohio has contract
ed for 100000 worth Of rails and
cars, following contracts for $2.boo, 900
for equipment made month ago. and
lis now having plans prepared for
81, 900, 900 coal pier to take care OF IN
creased coal exports from Baltimore.
The western Maryland let contract
during the week for q Efx-nnile extern
don. at a cost OF about 100000. to
reach new coal fields.
There has been q marked advance
I'm the price Of oil and reports from
Oklahoma Indicate that the increase
last week added about 100000 to
the value Of the oil now stored IN
that State. and at the same time
greatly stimulated the entire indus
try.
Notwttnstanding the stagnation in all
industrial activities during last sum
mer and fall. following the opening
of the war In Europe. the improve
Il ent In cotton mill conditions in the
South has been 10 pronounced that the
lconsumption Of the preceding months
ending with july eTceede&4 by 10000
bales Of American cotton consumed oy
in.. wear, having amounted to $780,
900 bales. compared with 1900 ooo
| bales Of American sotton consumed by
all other mills In the United States.
During June tho consumption OF cot
ton in Southern mills reached soo.-
| 900 bales, q record figure. which, II
continued during the coming twelve
months, would carry the South's con-
sumption to 100000 bales
Reports from Birmingham show 9
rapid Improvement In the iron and
steel interests OF that section. with q
large advance in the price Of IRON
heavy sales for future delivery. and
return 10 work Of some thousands oil
men who have been idle for lons
time.
Tho imports Of Manganese at Balti,
more from Brasil for shipment to steel
works In Pfttsburg district are IN
creasing rapidly. and are now run
ninr az the rate Of 10000 tons
month, one vessel having arrived dur.
ing the week with $500 tons. said
| 10 be the largest cargo OF that ore
ever received in tho United States
| 4 large number of steamers and SAIL
Iinr vessels of American and Foreign
reristry are now on the way from
Braxir or loading in that country win
manganese destined via Baltimore Tor
The steel works OF Pennsylvania ano
the West