The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-01
SH|PYARDS BOOM
Great Lakes Industry, After
Idleness, Thrives Again.
Many Millions in New Con-
tracts for Merchantmen.
SUBMARINE WARFARE FACTOR
Number of Vessels
Have Gone to Bottom.
Foreign Yards Exclusively En-
gagged Building Warships.

Chicago, March 1.-The shipbuiId-
ing industry on the Great lakes, after
lying dormant more or less for half
decade, is enjoying a revival of pros
perity, according to reports from ship
yards at and near Cleveland, O, De-
troit, Mich, Toledo, o., Duluth, Mich,
Buffalo, n. Y, Chicago and smaller
Great lake ports.
The opening of the Panama canal
the activities of submarines and the
healthy increase in exports are con-
Sldered the immediate causes of the
shfpbuilding boom. The claim is
made, without denial from the build
ers, that old ships and vessels now
under construction are bringing bet
ter prices thar iE many years.
rms boom will bring millions of
dollars of business to the dozen or so
of shipbuilding companies. has ere
ated new work for hundreds of men
ana already has caused the rebuilding
of old yards and the planning of sew
eral new ones.
Can't Handle All Orders.
Tho demand is strong for both lake
and ocean vessels and only the in
ability of the builders to give assur-
ance of delivery of the ship by 1917
stands in the way of even heavier or
ders. Foreign interests are prominent
among the BUYERS
With The first clash of arms in Eu-
rope, shippers saw the necessity for
obtaining boats quickly to carry mer-
chandise to foreign and domestic
ports. One New York capitalist OBJ
tanned at least four huge Great lake
package freighters. At the Welland
canal these ships had to be cut into
sections before they could continue
the trip to the coast.
The tremendous amount of shipping
that has gone to the bottom IN the
war zone together with the fact that
many of the shipyards in England
have been turned over almost exclu-
sively to ships of war, has forced
Foreign buyers to look to American
ShlpbullderS for new vessels and some
foreign buyers are ready to pick up
any ship for sale on the seaboard-
Cleveland Has $S,OOO,OOO Contracts
Cleveland alone reports the closing
of contracts for as vessels at an ag-
gregate cost of more than 100000
and that negotiations are in progress
being filled at Cleveland, Toledo
Lorain and Ashtabula, O., Ecorse
and Manitowoc, Mich, and Buffalo
N. Y. The yards at these cities are
said to have all the business now that
they can handle during the year.
The Toledo Shipbuilding company
| is working on an eastern order foi
five schooners with auxiliary powell
| plants to be used in coaStwise trade
A lake freighter 900 feet long also
/
tonnage of the Toledo contracts is
| said TO be 10000.
Detroit reports the receipt of orders
for q score of ships by Michigan com
pauies and Ohio firms not mentioned
in the Cleveland reports. The ton
mage of the vessels that will be undei
construction in Michigan harbors dur
ing 1915 is estimated at 10000.
First Building Since 1910.
| Duluth says the first ship to be
built at the Superior. Mich, yards
since 1910 will be constructed this
year provided the steel can be Sc.
cured" The scarcity of steel also is
mentioned from Detroit. The inability
to purchase greater quantities OF
| building material, Detroit says, has
prevented several companies from en-
| larging their plants.
! At Chicago, the Calumet docks which
have been occupied with repair work
during the last eight years, have just
received an order for the construction
of a freight steamer, $50 feet long
and 43.6 foot beam. This boat, which
is TO be launched the latter part 81
April, was ordered through New York
agents for a concern in Norway, the
name of which is not known at the
] "a 1nTnef docks