The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1916-03-22

Is Greatly Decreased - Government
Controls Most Of the Labor and Thus
the Individual Concerns Are Handi.
capped.
How seriously the war has affected
the shipbuilding industry of the world
is shown in the official statistics which
have been supplied by the leading Brit
ish shipbuilding firms. During the past
year only 1865 merchant vessels. rep
resenting total of 1911, 61O tons. have
been added to the mercantile marine of
the world, as compared with 3,165 ves-
sells of 3,4S4,171 tons during 1914.
While all the combatant nations have
obviously suffered in the greatest de-
gree, the United Kingdom has been the
most seriously affected. for the figures
relating to British shipbuilding show
that only 517 merchant vessels were
built, representing a total tonnage of
64933G tons, as against 1924 vessels
Of 1,122,154 tons during the previous
year.
Output In 1914 and 1915.
The following table, which has been
compiled from statistics furnished by
the leading shipbuilders, shows the to-
tai output of the world during 1915 and
1914.
Ton Tom
Ships. mage. Ships. mage.
United Kingdom. 5l7 649,336 129i l, ~. 15i
British dominions. 1873 32937 "a 67.99i
Foreign combatant
and nonccmbat-
ant ............... 955 9S9, S37 LOCO 1904. 023
- - - -
Total .............l6 55 1671,6 $40 3165 3, III
In the statistics relating to work
turned out by British yards. no figures
: are given of warships building. Were
these figures included. it is probable
that the output might have been larger
than in any previous year, but the to-
tails serve to demonstrate the amount
of work which has been accomplished
i'm British yards. During the whole
year ship owners have been deploring
the difficulties which have lain in the
way of their obtaining delivery of ves-
sells ordered before the war broke out.
and in many yards devoted entirely to
war work new mercantile tonnage re-
mains on the stocks and in the condi-
ton it was left months ago.
The Production In 1918.
During the year 1918 the total mer-
camille production of the United King
dom was 1924 vessels with an aggre-
30 Of OF h-o 60 fhat tho
output last year was less by 0O1 YES
sells and 1.32S.237 tons.
The decrease in the British output
has been particularly heavy in Belfast.
where Harland g. Wolff have for the
first time in the history of n, famous
firm launo he'd no merchan; vessel,
whereas In 1913 they launched six
steamers representing 156.O4i tons.
Workman. Clark & Co. also did COM
paratively little mercantile work. for
the total Of the new tonnage which
they turned out during the year was
half a dozen with a total tonnage OF
26,31S. as against vessels representing
75,1SS tons during the previous year.
1t was early in the year that Work
man. Clark & Co. completed their most
important merchant steamers, the
Pembrokeshire. the Carmarthenshire
and the Ebro. for the Royal Mail
Steam Packet company. All three YES
sells were practically completed at the
end of 1919. and there are specific rea-
sons why the vessels should he finish
ed this year.
At the end of March they launched
the first of a number Of steamers
which they have contracted to build
for the United Fruit company of New
York and Boston, the steamer San
Mateo. a vessel of $3.50 tons. In May
the steamer San Pablo was placed In
the water. and this was followed In
August by the steamer San Pedro.
These three boats are intended for the
cargo trade only and are sister ships.
In October a fourth vessel for the
same owners. but intended for the car
go and passenger carrying trade. was
launched Since October Workman.
Clark & CO. have been engaged on
work other than for the mercantile
navies Of the world.
Activities In Clyde Yards.
There has been great activity
throughout the whole year in Clyde
yards, fron which 126 vessels, repre-
sentlng In the aggregate 215,OO0 tons,
were launched. Many of the vessels.
however. were small ones, and whether
they increase the number of launches,
they do not add considerably to the
total tonnage. Although the majority
Of the shipyards on the Clyde were
taken over by the government shortly
after the outbreak of the war. for a
considerable time there was no sus-
pension of mercantile work. There are
still to be found on the Clyde several
yards devoted In the main to the con-
Structiou of small steamers of the
/coasting grade. which are not CON
Ntrolled establishments" and for some
months these yards were able to pro-
ceed without any difficulty with the