The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-22
First Completed Ship viii Be
In Operation the Day After
Christmas
HURLEY RESPONSIBLE
FOR ENTIRE PROGRAM
Seven Major Problems Remain
to Be ooIved-Many Delays
in Obtaining Material Rave
Been Encountered


Washington, Dee, 2t.--America's
shipbuiidng program il q. onc-man.
-, V'i'- 'i'A ID @'A@"'
Inc senate's shipbuliding inVesti-
cation today surprised the probers
with the first disclosure ana <,a~.,os
,ta,,, ,,t.s. ~
e'S f. A. - ofieF'
cf'a iftftah o. the shipping board was
the central factor In each revelation.
After resttf,1tre. ,t.,. r. ,.,...x.-u,,..
$780,, ,
- Nel anu accepted an snip con-
tracts, as president of the emergency
feet corporation. Mr.. Hurley was
fntes+ior..s b,-- eor,,.,,- 1y.....,......
A'''' 'i'ts
All the finances Tor TINS big pro-
gram rest I'm YOU. hands?'
Yes sir"
Not I'm tbs hands az ,t,o s4;r,;....
board"
s.>ro asa
men II the whole thing falls, il
~iii he your fault ?"
Absolutely" said Hurley firmly.
Senator Nelson brought out the fact
that the program is a ene-ship ar
fair to date
How many ships have been wholly
completed since the emergency feet
corporation took charger" lie ack-
ed
One" replied Hurley
Only onsF"
One And II will he In operation
the day after Christmas ~
There are under contract and under
construction, however. 1.427 ships OF
"a total tonnage OF 257sfos tons.
Chairman Hurley was permitted to
read a detailed statement OF the work
the shipping board and the emergency
fleet corporation have done. After
emphasizing the fact that they had
TO walt until seventy-four ship yards
could be built, Hurley was questioned
by Senator Harding on the difficulties
that stand In the way Of the great
program that IL counted on to win
the war for the allies.
Problems to nc Solved
= -.
,>r.+,..r, ~, ~ .eSs tl'"s' seF9n u'alos
pIo1ne'I17 ~ VI "i'ich nave hinoeren
49,. 49, , a. ~ n,lIe' n.ns ,e
- 80 Slo0e'Iesss'4'T untit me
800 800 VI A"e ~
$50 O. "a "'''R-' '1N'" ~ tA0' 'oS AVA
-, .,,
opPrs' u -' y" ''SYsol'te oft1h"S.
Labor ,,r-oet
Shortage Of materials. such as steel,
on which deliveries are very slow.
SUPPLIES ordered three months ago
only now available.
TRANSPORTATION difficulties.
Inability to ind big enough timber
of the right kind for wooden ships.
Housing troubles shipbufIders not
being aha IN and LODGINGS for the
skilled labor ir,oarted to their conn
rnunities
Disarraet,erts with shinh,tfldars
over their profits.
General friction with shfnhuttders
thar has had tendency 10 delay
oneratfons
Cbafrnan t4uryex, Indicated that M
peu, 1er3siafinn Is ahSo,,,ta1v' necea-
CO.. MI tbat y. ,n.., ,,acr;-a aor,c
assjstsnce h nroytdtnv bnrnea far
u,rrl,ers ~ ths shin Yards he ana
htu o,.,,,,4rattor, viii he shfe ia banfla
ali 80 90, tro,,hfax ba xsia
f-haf,.,,1st, tf,,rlarss stat,,,s,,.
...t,1, t,,5 t..1.,T r,-u,,,,,o.s ~ - -,
go. ~ Saxa+nr r.ia+.,hor ct,a{r~,s,
~ tha vars+e co,r, ,,1arcf o,,,r,1,ttae
tt,a erst roy,, nrats,sit.e rs,r;,,,y,
- a. st,t,h,,;,si,sr fft1atton tr,o,,-
othar rnirtS ba hrorcht o,,t tLa fots
1esss,t,,
what 'ias oe~h Accomplished
Whsh AotnHai tapps ana l"ln-
eo the emergency Fleet corporation
ca Sho J ano n 's'e wefe u1 h,n @o1 40
,crs ~ ,enr,Tassto sh,rs apd ssr ooa
TONS OF composite snlPs ana 2st w"
TONS "l stee' shlpS, ana o"9toVV 'ot's
WOODEN SH1DS n.