Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-16
GOVERNMENT TAKES OVER
STEEL SHIP CONTRACTS
About 100000 Tons, Now Under
Construction, to Be Rushed
to Completion.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY COCKTAILS
Ways to BE Cleared So That Fleet
Corporation Can Begin Work on
Great Program OF Standardized
Vessels
fBv As-ncInteH Press

WASHINGTON. June l5.-The yast
amount OF steel merchant shipping un-
der construction in American yards
probably 100000 tons-will be taken
over imm ediately by the government
under power granted in provision Of
the war budget bill signed to-day by
President Wilson.
The announcement was made to-day
at a conference Of the country's steel
shipbuilders with the Shipping Board
and its Emergency Fleet Corporation.
Shipping now on the yards Will be
hurried to completion by the institu-
Hon Of Il system OF double and triple
working shifts. and when the ways are
cleared Of present contracts the feet
corporation will begin construction of
It's great fieet Of Standardized steel
vessels.
only by taking over contracts for
Itself can the government speed con-
Struction. since Congress failed to give
It power TO rush building for private
owners. Contracts calling for future
construction. and on which actual work
has not been started. probably will tie
ahrogatcd. unless the fleet corporation
decides tpe ships are specially iitted tor
The Sovcrnment's needs
CAPACITY OF YARDS
- ONLY QUESTION
Major-General Cocktails. general man
ager Of the feet corporation. told the
shipbuildcrs to-day that he expected 10
turn out within the next eighteen
months fully 100000. tons of steel
.ihr.ns. and perhaps more. Steel
,".npanies. he said. have agreed TO fur
nish enough steel TO build 5000 tons
a month. The only question. he said,
is the capacity Of the yards working at
topmost speed.
About l.O0O.ooo tons Of the shipping
building in American yards. or con-
tractcd for. is for British account
This the British government has agreed
10 turn over TO the United States vol
UNFAIRLY.
No statement was made concerning
wooden shipyards. but it is understood
the intention is TO commander such
wooden vessels building as the gov
ernment needs. General Goethals
plans TO supplement the program for a
SiChl stCSt Ieel Will some WOODEN
vessels. although he will not build as
many as was originally contemplated.
PRICE OF STEEL IS
NOT DEFINITELY FIXED
The price of steel for the ships TO
be built has not been fixed definitely.
but il is understood General Goethals
is willing TO pay 500 a ton. Some mem
bers of the Shipping Board. who are
directors of the feet corporation. favor.
il is said. Il price around SEQ. Since
Chairman Dcnman. of the board. as
president OF the feet corporation. has
to sign all contracts. il is considered
likely that a price lower than 500 will
be agreed on. The navy is paying be-
tween $50 and $50. but private ship
builders who are selling their output
at high prices are paying In some in
stances higher than 500.
Control OF the labor situation is an
important problem in Connection with
speeding up building. and Chairman
Denman said to-day the feet corpora
ton. through its power to control steel.
would prevent Shipbuilders from taking
each others workmen.