davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1916-11-26
The Experts Differ Radically, but
Here Are the Facts Concerning
Revival of the Industry

twenty-nine new yards. some OF them
Of splendid proportions and thoroughly
up to date; for the substantial i'm
provement Of sixteen established
plants. and for the very material en-
largement OF twelve other shipyards.
OF the new yards fifteen are on the
Atlantic coast. thirteen on the Pacific
seaboard and one on tho Gulf Of
Mexico. OF the improved yards four
teen are on the Atlantic and two are
on the opposite coast, and among those
that nave been expanded six are on the
Eastern seaboard, five are on the
Pacific and one on the Gulf coast.
Under normal conditions Lake ship
yards would play no part in the up
building OF shipping for overseas and
the Atlantic coast trade. having
enough to keep them we'll occupied in
providing for water traffic on those
busy lanes Of inland commerce. But
to-day the numerous Great Lake
plants are building for other fields Of
activity and some OF the ships are for
Scandinavian owners. This IL n conse-
, quence OF the crowded condition pre-
vailing in the coastal plants and also
Of the fact that vessels from the Great
Lakes have found their way into salt
water In response TO tho insistent de-
mand for moro and still moro bottoms.
The situation as it stands to-day is
without "A parallel in the history Of
American %shipyards, likewise in that
OF the American oversee trade. II has
been declared officially that American
bottoms in foreign trade have in
creased from 2.i0j vessels of l,o76,l52
gross tons on June 30, 1914. to 3.135
30th OF June Of the present year. New
York has good reason for Interest II
not pride in this showing because
nearly half of this tonnage. or 800 ves-
sells OF 1.O7i,679 gross tons. halls from
the city OF New York.
True. we'll nigh every source of sup
ply. from the river bottom and the
scrap heap to vessels in active SER
vice but in all stages of physical fit-
ness, has been drawn upon to provide
this fleet and also to swell the mer-
chant marines OF both the hclligcrcnt
and the neutral nations.
The market nrippS pf Ipprcnit craft
and those better able to batter with
bolsterous seas ave leapcd upward
with such bounds that purchasers or
potential owners have latterly found
it much more economical to order new
ships built than to meet the demands
Of ship brokers and others with vcs-
The sun., 1916-11-26

Of the present unparalleled opportuni-
ties. Purchases OF foreign ships have
been made at very high prices. The
Chinese also are busy at their yards
in Shanghai and Horgkong. although
badly handicapped 10y a scarcity Of
materials. pnc ~Iiongkong company
is at work on eight ocean freighters
for Norwegian owners"
According To a report by Julian
Arnold. American commercial attachc
ut Pekin, the japanese builders hold
contracts for 104 ships, totalling i6i.-
$40 gross tons, which are to be de-
livercd in the course of the concluding
months Of the present year and dur
ing 1917 and 1918.
The Norwegian yards outstrippcd all
records during 1915, and there Is rca-
son 10 believe that their plants will
show a still greater total at the end
Of 1916. The Dutch are working night
and day To take advantage Of the
opening presented to neutral nations
and they are keen enough to look
years ahead. Despite the requirements
Of war, the French have gone steadily
ahead Win merchant onhaSe ana
their product Is declared to he con
siderable.
Germany. too Notwithstanding her
heavy handicaps, IL bent upon more
than balancing the losses that h has
suffered in commercial tonnage during
the present conflict. She Is intent not
only upon replacing ships actually dcs-
-- I. 1890. -..t,.,, ,..l a .V..A,,
cics that may he the consequence Of
deterioration in ships that are in
termed. OF course these efforts abroad,
like our " nj home. are hampcred
by a scarcity OF steel, hut this shortage
Is not likely Ia endure long after tho
restoration Of peace. because the pres
ent enormous demand for munitions
Will then cease.
The sun., 1916-11-26

sells to sell or charter. Only the other
day a coal barge. formerly IA square
riggcr, was sold for a sum nearly equal
to her original cost thirty odd years
ago.
With "A hull still sound, her stumped
masts are TO be replaced with full
length spars, |surmounted by the rest
OF the top hamper. and she Is thus to
he restored to her former grace Of a
full rugged bark. She was doomed
some years ago To- the inglorious end
of a collier without power of self-loco-
motion. but scarcity of cargo carriers
has made II worth while to overhaul
her and la rcequip her as she was in
the days Of her prime. This instance
OF profitable rehabilitation is only one
among many hundreds.
OF course the man who builds in
stead of buying an existing vessel is
handicapped by the time he has to
wait and the loss Of immediate returns
on freight awaiting transportation.
The present rates are unusually high
and are bound Ia drop within "A COM
parativcly short while after the cessa-
ton of hostilities. But the charges
will remain far above normal for IA
long time, and the venture in II new
ship IL apt to pay well for the gamble.
II is to meet primarily this sudden
and exceptional demand for additional
bottoms that existing shipyards We're
speedily booked to capacity with or
ders for Il couple Of years ahead: that
old plants have been recognized, i'm
proved and enlarged; and, last but not
least, that so many new establishments
have been called into being. Some Of
these new yards are actually turning
away work and almost all Of them had
pledges Of enough business before they
were organized to justify their ere
alton.
The condition Of the steel market
has added to the hectic state Of the in
dustry, because the steel mills are, in
The sun., 1916-11-26

turn. working to capacity and the
greater part OF their output Is being
directed into other channels. 1t has
been said by the president of a mari
time publishing company: Il WAS told
by rms of the largest ship builders that
contracts for more than twenty-five
large steamers are being held up while
the steel makers decide what sort OF
guarantees they can give m plates"
As might he expected. the would-be
ship owner and his naval architect are
seeking for relief In other directions.
or. TO put 1t in the words OF IA prom
inent designer. we are following the
line of least resistance and are turn
ing our attention ,c wooden construc-
ton"
The state of affairs would he bad
enough II only American plants were
drawing upon The steel mills for sup
plies, hut foreigners, and especially
japanese, have secured their market
here and have successfully concluded
negotiations for extensive deliveries OF
S~hipbuilding material. This OF course
Is To- the disadvantage OF American
yards. hut unpucstionahly very profit
able To domestic steel mills.
Regarding this stimulation OF ship
building in the Far East. n matter that
intimately concerns our maritime
future il. the Pacific. the Department
OF Commerce has undertaken to sound
a cheerful note. II says:
Whether American shipping will
fuzzy regain it's former standing on the
Pacific cannot now DC definitely fore
told. but there is no further danger OF
the flag disappearing in that quarter.
The recent purchase or three large
ships by the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company marked the turning point.
II adds l7,l0O gross tons to the 5000
tons that remained. Prior to the war
the total American tonnage engaged
in this trade was 10000 gross tons"
The comparatively small part that
The sun., 1916-11-26

Americans enjoyed and now hold ear
be gathered from the following state
ment OF the Bureau OF Navigation:
before the war British shipping
represented 3? per cent. and japanese
80 per cent. OF the total ION the Pa
cihc). When our share was at its low
est point. however. British onnagc
had fallen of to 80 per cent, Japanese
tonnage had increased to 80 per cent.
Of the total and Dutch shipping had
jumped from practically nothing at all
TO 10 per cent. English tonnage fell
from 10000 gross tons to $4,000 gross
tons. japanese tonnage increased from
1875. 900 to $4,000 tons and the Dutch
increased from a negligible quantity 10
80, 900 tons"
Just what the American future on
the Pacific will be must OF course be
a matter OF speculation purely. but II
Is evident h a Japan Is dcterminedly
set upon neutralizing any gains that
may come from the present boom In
American shipyards. Again the Off
Gals in Washington have this to say
in the way OF the latest information
upon this important topic of Oriental
rivalry:
Japanese shipyards are taxed to the
limit on their capacities. Orders for
ships from abroad have been refused.
az the yards have booked orders for
Japanese ships that will keep them
busy for the next two years.
THE builders, however. arc handi-
capped by a lack OF material. and it
Is an interesting fact that one large
new shipbuilding company is buying
all OF its material from this country.
Boilers, engines and other fittings can
not re had at very reasonable prices
for they cannot be manufactured NJ
home AZ cheaply as they can be turned
out In the United States and England.
But In spite Of all handicaps Japan
Is losing no time in taking advantage
The sun., 1916-11-26

As might be expected. the building
Of wooden craft is In a fair way to
rival in tonnage the activities Of
American yards In the days OF the
clipper ship. Again, wherever the
trade survives, the sound OF the broad
axe IL to he heard once more. and many
other s%hipyards devoted to this type
Of construction have come into being.
Tho nearness OF great stands Of tim
Der have placed the wooden shipyards
OF Maine. the Southern States and the
northwest Pacific coast at a great ad-
vantage; and the business IN booming.
The forests of Louisiana, rich in pine.
oak and cedar. are being drawn upon
generously to help the South to ealize
a long nourirhed hope that II might
turn this natural wealth to the con
structicn of great seagoing vessels.
Nine deep sea steamers OF about 1000
tons capacity each are building on the
shores Of Lake Pontchartrain and. as
they are launched. they are to be
towed thirty miles to New Orleans.
where they will receive their engines
and other fittings.
No vessels Of this size had ever been
built previously in the South. The
steamers are under construction for
Norwegian interests and will be used
To carry ice to Great Britain and then
To take coal back TO Norway and
sweden. Schooners OF large capacity
are On the blocks at yards In Missis-
sippi, Alabama and Georgia.
In speaking OF this situation Daniel
5. Cox Of tho New York firm OF dc
s%igncrs. COX 4 stevens. said:
I'VE are building after our plans
twenty-five big schooners for coastwise
and South American trade. and the
largest Of these vessels, four masted
craft. will have a capacity Of about
$500 tons. Their construction will
represent something Of n departure in
this order OF ships because they will be
so carefully built that they will have
n fifteen year highest rate by the
American Bureau OF shipping as well
as that OF Lloyd's.
The boats Will have oil engines,
which will make II possible for them
to go right on AZ n speed of seven or
eight knots an hour through the calm
belt and also make them independent
OF tugs in entering or leaving port.
THE revival ~ wooden shipbuildinG
is Just what We might expect here at
the present time. a wooden ship costs
only about 90 per cent. OF what must
he paid for a steel craft OF like ca
pacity. and what is equally important
now, tho wooden vessel can he built
and made ready for service in Just halt
the time II faEps IN finish and Cuuip
Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-29
Families of Russ
Jews in America
May Join Them

NEW YORK, Feb. 2S.-The Russian
government has granted permission to
the wives and daughters OF men who
came TO America before the war to leave
Russia and Join their relatives in Amer
lea says Leon Sanders. president of the
Hebrew Sheitering and Immigrant So
oiety OF America
Tho news came in a message from ISL
dore Hershfieid. lawyer. who wds sent
by the society to give relief to the Jew
ish war sufferers in Poland and Galicia.
The message was forwarded by Ambas-
sador Gerard at Berlin to Secretary of
State Lansing in Washington, who
transmitted II 10 Mr.. Sanders.
The society has been trying for a long
time to obtain this permission. Mr.. San
ders said that there were many Russian
Jews who came TO America before the
war and who now have the means TO
support their families here. but who
had been unable 70 bring them over be-
cause heretofore the Russian government
would not permit them toll cave.
Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-29
STRIKERS AT SIOUX
CITY REJECT OFFER
Laborers in Packing Houses Decide
to Hold Out for Their 0rigi-
nal Demands.
WILL TRY TO EXTEND STRIKE

SIOUX CITY. Ia, Feb. 2s.-No
signs of peace in the packing house
strike, involving $500 men. we're in
sight today.
On Saturday Il was believed the
men would be back at work today,
but over Sunday the breach widened.
the men turning down the terms of
the packers-21 cents an hour for
common laborers-and deciding to
hold out for 22h cents an hour for
all common laborers, which is 3h
cents above the present scale. A pro-
portionate advance is asked for
skilled men.
The strikers declare there will be
no settlement unless their demand is
met
II is said by the strikers that they
are making efforts to call sympa-
thetic strikes in the packing plants
in other western cities.
Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-29
Stage Coach Bandit
Fears Prison Life
Will Cause Death

DENVER, Colo. FEB, 8-Edward n.
Tratson. convicted stage hollnp. in .
letter to his csptor. James ". Melross.
special agent Of the United States
bureau Of Investigation. tells Of illness
resulting from his confinement At Leav-
enwcrth. Kan, and contains an axprse-
sion of longing 10 retun to life In the
open hills In his letter made public to-
day Trafton says:
II have seen more sickness here than
IN the forty years rambied through
the hiIls. am afraid can't pull
through. I miss the clear. cold nights
and the freedom OF the heights It's the
climate I think Maybe a change to q
shea IN the hiii-ooun,ry would tske thu
kinks out OF my system and give me a
chance to live
Trafton was recently sentenced by the
federal district court at Cheyenne for
the stage holdup In YenoWstone Ma
tlonai park July %. isiA
Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-29
Knight Explains
Plans for Largest
Navy in the World

WASHINGTON. d. c., Feb 2s.-The
navy general boards conception Of the
needs OF the United States as a naval
power were outlined to the house naval
committee today by Rear Admiral Aus
tin NJ. Knight, president OF the Navy
War college.
In formulating the policy that the navy
should equal the strongest afroat by
1925, he said the board had in mind the
establishment of two fleets. one in the
Pacific powerful enough to overcome any
enemy there, and the other in the At
lantic. where Il would be exceeded In
strength only by the British fleet.
A total force slightly in excess Of the
strength OF the British fleet. he said
would accomplish this purpose and In
sure the country against ninety-nine out
Of a hundred possibilities Of international
complications.
Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-29
PROVEN SWAMP-ROOT
AIDS WEAK KIDNEYS

The symptoms Of kidney and bladder
'&roubles are often very distressing and
leave the system In a rundown condi-
ton. The kidneys seem to suffer most,
as almost every victim complains OF
lame back and urinary troubles which
should not be neglected. AZ these danger
signals often lead TO dangerous kidney
troubleR
DR.. Kilrner's swamp-Root which soon
heals and Strengthens the kidneys. is a
splendid kidney, liver and bladder rem
edy, and. being an herbal compound. has
a gentle healing effect on the kidneys.
which Is almost Immediately noticed in
most cases by those who use It.
A trial will convince anyone who may
be in need Of It. Better get q bottle from
your nearest drug store, and start treat
ment at once.
However. II you wish first 70 test this
great preparation, send ten cents to Dr
Kiimer & Co.. Binghsmton. N. Y. for a
sample bottle. When writing be sure
and mention The Omaha Daily Bee.
Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-29

(Coutluued from Page One)
might be- Notwithstanding this indiffer-
enee he had. particularly among the
English people. a host OF readers, who
virtually formed cult known as tho
Jamesites.
Closed Abruptly.
One Characteristic OF Mr.. James novels
Ia that they often closed abruptly, leav-
Ing the reader in doubt concerning tho
subsequent fate OF the actors in the story.
whore other authors would invent a
denouement. Further he boldly attacked
visions which 70 tho common eye were
past seeing. and In thus attempting what
ether writer's deemed as the impossible
IN literary art. ne developed interlectuai
masses and verbal labyrinths that were
too deep for the ordinary reader.
II appeared TO be Mr.. James belief that
tho story that could be told was not
worth the telling. and. It was his choice,
a. one Of his critics declares. TO rigor-
ousiy set himself to tell the story that
cannot be told" The controversy was as
TO whether no was successful He con-
tended that Il was OF more interest 70
the author TO paint the various aimlesa
ways in which human beings are actually
thrown together than 10 construct an
artificial complication OF circumstances,
and he was Indifferent as TO whether
comedy was spoiled. or whether tragedy
broke down before the tragic crisis.
some OF His books.
Mr., James 10 said TO have originated
the international novel His scenes for
stories were laid in Europe and America,
and. as the titles show, they covered a
wide range OF life In tho order OF
their appearance. some OF his more not
able books were: watch and Ward. ."
''Roderick Hudson" The American. q.
The European" Daisy Miller" The
Madonna OF the Future" can Interna-
tionai Episode" "washington Square, .
The Portrait OF a Lady" ''I.he Siege of
London" Tales OF Three Cities" The
Bostonians." The Reverberator," "a
London Life" The Tragic Muse THE
Lesson OF the Master" The Private
Life" Examinations. ''The spons of
POynton." what Maisle Knew" the
Two Magics." Tn the Cage" the
Awkward Age" THE soft Side" The
Sacred FOunt." and The Wings Of the
Dove"
In the New Year honors. which Kine
George conferred IN January. 1915. Mr..
James was awarded the Order OF Merit.
The novelist had been from the first a
staunch supporter OF tho British cause
In the European war. At the time he
took his oath Of allegiance TO the king. IN
July, 1915 he was quoted as discussing
the relations between the two great
Angio-Saxon peoples as follows:
''our whole race tension became for me
sublimely conscious thing from the
moment Germany flung az us all It's ex-
rlanations Of Its pounce upon Belgium
for massacre and ravase in the form OF
the most insolent because I choose e
Damn you an record in history"
Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-29
AIRSHTPS DESTROY
MUNITION PLANTS
Berlin Report Says that Zeppelin
Dropped Bombs on Factories at
Birmingham and Bradford.
SPINNING MILLS ALSO WRECKED

BERLIN. Feb. 2s.--CBy Wireless
to sayville. )--on the occasion Of the
last Zeppelin raid over England two
government factories and two am
munition factories at Birmingham
and one ammunition factory near
Bradford were destroyed by bombs.
the Overseas News agency says,
The news agency statement. which
supplements the account given out
yesterday Of the damage done by the
airship attack on England on the
night Of January S1-February 1. fol-
lows:
AT Birmingham two government fac
tries and two ammunition facto. les were
destroyed. One brewery was damaged at
Eccles Hill. Near Bradford one am
munition factory and three Apinning
mills were wrecked. AZ partington our
bombs destroyed twenty-five houses.
"on the Humber a battery was sllenced.
tho cannon and. searchlights being
destroyed. At orimsby and In the vicin-
ity OF Hull considerable damage was
done as was also the case at Sheffield.
THE cruiser Caroline and the destroy
ers Eden and NTH were sunk The Caro-
line sank In six minutes, thirty-one menl-
bers OF the crew being killed. fifty-eight
wounded and forty-seven drowned"
A Berlin dispatch on February 10 said
that the three warshipa mentioned had
been sunk during the Zeppelin raid. This
was denied by the British government
which stated that neither the Caroline
nor any other British warship nor any
merchant ahip was struck by a bomb
Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-29

international law and that. therefore, the
new instructions will not be post
poned or modified
Twenty Attacks Reported.
Appended to the communication. which
was signed by Count Won Bernstorff,
was a list of about twenty incidents
where II is charged German and Aus
trian submarines have been attacked by
merchantmen armed ostensibiy for de-
fensive purposes
At no place in the communication is Il
suggested that American citiSens he
warned 20 remain off armed merchant
ships and the question OF what consti-
tutos defensive armament IL not brought
UP. although It Is admitted in various
quarters that such a question probably
win be raised.
Auatria Takes same View.
Baron Zweidinek. charge OF the Aus
trian embassy. called upon Secretary
Lansing after Count Won Bornstorff had
left and informed him that Germany's
views. as set forth in the pote from
Count Won Bernstorff. were identical
with those OF his own government. and
that Austria, in effect. seconded every
thing contained IN the German communi-
cation
Secretary Lansing Is Understood TO have
advised neither Of the Teutonic diplomats
what the views OF the United States
would be toward the Communication.
II was understood that the note would
be brought to the attention Of President
Wilson before night. and that nothing
definite regarding II would be decided
until after Il had been submitted TO the
cabinet meeting.
Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-29
PLEDGES GIVEN IN
LUSITANIA CASE
GOOD, SAYS KAISER


CONTINUED from Page ons.)
creates the presumption that the vessel
10 armed for offense.
II Is stated that a submarine COM
nnander cannot be expected 10 warn an
enemy merchantmen which has a right
70 fire on the submarine which warns Il.
ana the German government Rata up the
contention that equipment ana intention
to resist . warning given by a submarine
does not como within the definition Of
defensive armament
Quotes unated states.
Germany contends that a similar view.
point was taken by the United States
and that Il secured assurances from the
Italian government that its armed mer.
chan ships leaving American ports would
not fire on submarines which warned
them.
The note then sets forth that the Ger
man government did not issue It's new In.
struetions to submarine commanders un.
I'll after Il had como into possession Of
confidential instructions by the British
government 70 the commanders Of Brit.
lsh merchantmen. II is denied that armed
British merchant ships OF any descrip-
ton are peaceful traders. and Il is de-
eiared that the armament on board ali
OF them IL 70 Be used especially for pur-
poses OF attack.
The charge Il made that Austrian sub.
marines also have been attacked by
armed British merchantmen. which the
note declares are not conforming. and
have no intention OF conforming 20 The
assurances given 70 the United States by
the British government IN a memoran.
DUN OF August q. 1914 by Sir Cecil spring.
Rice. the British ambassador. The Ger.
man government says Il cannot see how
the American government. In consideYa.
ton Of thes facts. can regard armed
British merchantmen as peaceful tradina
ships
Submarines win he Careful.
The note makes Il clear that the Ber.
lin government believes It's new instrue.
tons 20 submarines commanders are n
accord with the viewpoint expressed b,
the United States In It's memorandum
proposing modus vivendi to the entent,
allies for the disarmament OF merchant
ships.
IL declares that German submar,n,
commanders have been 90 instructed
that they will not destroy a merchan
ship on a question OF armament, unles,
II is known positively that such arma
ment existA.
The declaration that previous plsde.
viii not be revoked also is formal,
given.
The efforts OF the United States Z,
have the belligerants agree 20 a modu
vivendi which would cause all msrchan
ships 10 be disarmed. Il Il declared. ar
welcomed by Germany.
Then follows q declaration that m
German government viii no longer ALLOW
it's submarine 10 be made the object o
attacks IN violation OF the principles o