Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-30
TO BUILD FORTY
U.S.CARGO SHIPS
Work Starts at Bristol on
Plant to Make 5000
Ton Vessels
FOR EMERGENCY FLEET

Definite announcement is made Of the
| initial plans OF the Merchants Shipbuilding
| Corporation, a new organization under the
direction OF w. Averil Hartman, OF New
York. son OF the former railroad magnate.
T.. II. Hartman to build forty 9000-ton
cargo ships for the Emergency Fleet Cor
poration The ships will be built on the
immense 274.acre tract at Bristol Pa,
twenty-three miles above Philadelphia on
the Delaware River. where the worlds
greatest shipyard is now developing, as
exclusively published by the EVENING
LEDGER on July s. Todsy's announcement
was made by r. n. NJ. Robinson. of New
York. president OF the new corporation,
The American Bridge Company now is
at work the first units CT structural
steel for the big vessels and the keels will
be laid for twelve ships in row as soon
az the slips can be built, the great electric
cranes and other equipment put in place
and the steel laid down alongside by the
Pennsylvania Railroad, whose tracks skirt
the property.
The entire number of vessels will be com
peted within eighteen months, Mr. Robin
son said
SHIPS OF STANDARD UNIT
The ships are to be built on designs
drawn up by the Merchants Shipbuilding
Corporation and approved by. the Elmer.
gency Fleet Corporation. All vessels turned
standard unit construction so far their
ward is concerned, thus greatly facilitating
the production of the great American fleet
Of freighters that are relied upon to succor
the Allies and defeat the German C.boat
blockade,
Twelve slips are under construction at
the Bristol yard along a river frontage Of
about 1900 feet close to the former $1,000
600 plant OF the Standard Cast Iron Pipe
ana Foundry Company, now absorbed by
the Hartman corporation and constituting
the nucleus Of the immense development
that will ultimately cover the great tract.
stretching for nearly two miles along the
river just above Bristol. They will be $50
feet long and will accommodate the sixty
foot beam OF the new steel ships
5000 MEN TO BE EMPLOYED
The plant will be run for the present as
a fabrication yard. the American Bridge
Company supplying the structural steel
parts. This material will for the most
part be transported to the Bristol yard
over the Pennsylvania Railroad. although
there are ample docking facilities included
in the Standard Pipe Conpanys layout
force of 5000 men will be employed for
the time being.
All Of the shop buildings have steel
frames with concrete foundations and brick
hiled walls. The power house and pumping
station on the river bank supplies all the
current for power and lighting water and
steam for heating; it is $50 feet long by
80 feet wide. The general foundry is 12O
by 200 feet, divided into three longitudinal
bays, the center Of which is served by a
thirty-ton. electrically operated crane and
four fve-ton travelling jib cranes The
machine shop is an 80 by 200 foot structure
and completely equipped with ma chimes OF
all sizes. The pattern shop is a two-story
building likewise adequately equipped.
The main offices of the new concern are
In the Finance Building. sha aring the rooms
Of the Chester Shipbuiding Company. The
ownership and officials Of the two concerns
are the same.
The official roster, as made public by Mr. |
Robinson. is as follows: Chairman of the |
board OF directors. w. A. Hartman; presi- |
dent, r. H. NJ Robinson: vice president |
and comptroller G. b. Seger. all Of 165 |
Broadway, New York vice president G. w |
Hamilton, so Broad street ~ Y: general |
manager, w. T. Smith consulting engineer !
Charles p. M. Jack; engineer manager. Max
WillemStyn. all of the Finance Building, |