Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-14


ships. intend. on Monday. to star,
ship, construction which will complete
my shipbuilding program. My full pro-
s& gram Is as follows.
-. Ships now building--Contracts for
3ts wood shirs have been let. or agreed
8 upon, with a tonnage capacity OF l,2IS.-
600 tens at a cost, completed. OF APP
7 proximately sl74.ooo.coc,
'.ln addition. have under nego,ia.
tion contracts for about 100 wood ships.
Contacts for Seventy-seven steel
ships have been let. or agreed upon,
with tonnage of 6i2,S0o tons. at Il
cost of approximately Slol66o.3jS.
There are thus provided 49, ships
of all sorts. with an aggregate tom
mage OF 1.S6o,soo. at a cost OF approNi-
mately s275.Oo0.oCO besides loo more
wood ships under negotiation. shall
continue to let all contracts for wood
ships tof design approved by the naval
architect of the corporation. which |
can secure from responsible bidders
80. Construction OF standardized ships
My main reliance for getting the
greatest amount Of tre most service
able tonnage in the shortest time will
be on the construction OF fabricated
steel ships Of standard patterns. For
that purpose, | shall use. to some cN-
tent. the existing ads
TO OFFER CONTRACTS
FOR BUILDING TWO YARDS
On Monday shall offer contracts
for the building OF two plants Cto he
owned by the government For the con-
struction OF fabricated steel ships. 10
produce 500 ships OF an aggregate tom
mage capacity Q: 100000 tons within
the next eighteen to twenty four
months. For The building Q: these two
yards and the construction OF ships il.
them. l sha. o:ter. a conipei.satio. 10
the agents who undertake the work,
fee oi sp79oNin!ace!y . Pc cH-t ri the
total COST o! ihe '-ork u-''h rzo ards
.oE savings - cos an. ~ sNaaa III
delivery. Provision viii b. made ter
decreasing the ,-e 70 prevent unreces-
ssry cos; The contracts will give the
government tie beaea; Q: government
fixed co.:mod!;y prices. and will pro-
vide toI cessation OF work al any time.
SO tina, the appropriation may not be
Exceeded Options Will be given 10 the
rNat: actors 70 purchase Ire plants at
e->!tTated values on the completion ot
thr ork.
The design rf the sh.r is ready. the
plans of the yards are ready the dis
distribution of the work OF furnishing
the material and Of fabrication is ar
r.uced.
This part OF the program will take
all The s5o.ooo. 900 available no, alb
sorbed " contracts made or making.
as stated a the beginning of this let
ter. The program will more than re-
deem my estimates to the congressional
committee at the time this aPpropria-
ton was asked for OF 100000 tons
of,-pe construction within eighteen
months
The additional contracts for wood
ships which | eXpec, to place together
with the full number Of fabricated steel
ships, which il is planned to build, will
require more money than Congress has
authorized. When l know how much
Will be needed, IL will he necessary TO
ask Congress for further sums.
STATEMENT TO BUILDERS
=. on COMMUNICATING OF SHIPS
tt'3. Communicating of ships in yards
On. Monday shall deliver 10 shipbuild-
ers general statement of the pro-
gram which I have long been matur-
Ing for Communicating ships now
under construction for private accounts
Isuch ships having an aggregate ton
mage considerably in excess of / 500. 600
tons).
The essence of this program is to
commander all such ships and expc-
dite their construction by adding labor
and cutting out refnements BY thus
federalizine each yard. giving il gov
eminent help and putting IL on n speed
basis. we shall produce its greatest
efficiency. AS fast the herths are
cleared. each yard will he devoted TO
Inc production OF single type of ton
mage for which il is best suited 7
count upon the complete corporation
of the yards
This program is made comprehen-
sive beca4Se expedition cannot be OBJ
tanned in z. yard engaged partly on
rush work and. partly on prewar sched :
ules- My investigation has SATISFIED NJ 2
that citizens OF the United States and
Of our allies VIII pay the cost of ex-
pedtting ships now building for them.
ana take them of our hands II this
policy is adopted. /, will conserve our
fund
II agree that II is essential for the
Shipping Board to requisition at once
the neutral ships which are constructed
and ready to sail. / have not date 10
make an estimate 10 how many of
these ships there are or how much
money will be required for this pur-
chase. ! shall. therefore. cut my pro-
gram to the extent OF $4,000 600
Please notify me a once whether this
is enough.
Each days delay is summer-in com
Wandering or OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES two
days loss of time in throwing the work
into the winter months. II is for ma,
reason ! am urgeH. that the program
start on Monday.
BIG ORDERS FROM AMEpInh