The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-06-27
Contracts for IL Vessels Are
Already Guaranteed by
Government, Stated.
1000 MEN ON
PAYROLL, PLAN
Representative Asks City
Commissioners for Ripar-
ian Rights to Location.

At special meeting Of the city
commissioners yesterday afternoon ].
F. Arringdale, representing certain
eastern shipbuilding interests, re-
queSted a lease on city waterfrontage
adjoining the Alger-Sullivan site on
the eastern bay front, for the pur-
pose of establishing a large ship
building plant to construct - wooden
vessels for the United States, con-
tract for which, it is stated, has AL
ready been secured. No final action
was taken on the matter, as the COM
missioners desired that the ordinance
making the lease be drawn up for
submission. This will probably be
considered at q special meeting to be
held today.
In discussing the plans of the ship
ping interests, Mr.. Arringdale stated
that under their contracts it would
be necessary to finish the first ship
by March Is, 1918. The remaining
eleven would be launched one a month
thereafter. The wooden ships are
| to be built according to the standard
specifications prepared for such YES
! sells by the shipping board. Approx
imately 300 feet in length and $500
| tons.
As soon as the site is arranged for,
! Mr.. Arringdale states, that incorpo-
/ ration papers will be issued, as it is
! impossible to procure papers until the
place of operation is determined. I'm
! til that time however all transactions
| are being made in his name. He
! guarantees that within ten days after
! franchise is granted work will be
! i - - h.
! lost.
While wooden ship building is the
| immediate aim of the company, Mr..
Arringdale states that the plant viii
/ be a permanent industry, as steel YES
/ sells will be constructed as soon as
! the contracts are completed. The har-
Dor, the wood and the proximity 20
steel mills, all entered into the gelec-
ton of Pensacola, said Mr.. AIRING
! dale, and whether this industry shall
locate here, rests with the city COM
missioners.
Upwards of a thousand men would
be employed, according to the plans
of the company, and a wage scale
! equal to that at the aeronautic station
| would be instituted.
Ultimate development of the plant
! includes a 1000 ton dry dock, though
this would not be started until the
| plant itself is we'll under way. Mr..
| Arringdale stated that he understood
that local capital plans to establish
a shipbuilding plant here, and that he
! gives assurance that it is not the in
J tention of his company to open COM
petition, as the two companies would
work on entirely different contracts.
Other sites have been considered
| by the company, it is stated, and
while several could be used, none
combine the natural resources, labor
and supply facilities Of Pensacola.
| For this reason, the company is max
ing a special effort to locate here,
and negotiations for the necessary
real estate and waterfront have al
ready been started. These will be
valueless, it is stated, unless repiar-
ian rights are secured from the city
and the use of certain abutting prop
erty. 1t is this point which the city
commissioners must decide, and upon
which hangs the establishment of the
plant.