Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-12-26
THOSE NEW SHIPYARDS
Virginia Council of Defense to Cor
slider Matters Concerning Them II
Its Meeting on Friday Next.


to be held at the Capitol next Fridal
the Virginia Council of Defense r.:
consider, among . !lumher OF othc1
matters, proposal from Washing
ton. sent at the request Of tie Unite
States Shipping Board and the Emcr
ycncy Fleet Corporation, looking =
cooperation between the Councils Of
Defense Of all the states in the wori
of carrying ont the national ship
building program. One Of the lead
ing shipbuilding authorities n this
country, Homer l.. Ferguson, prcsi-
lent OF the Newport News Shipoui!d-
..ng and Dry Dock Company, is .
member of t.lr Virginia council.
The facts in the case, as now PIE
scnted, and the specific suggestions
to the state councils. were given OK
today as follows:
The immcnsity Of the task of builG-
ing vessels sufficient in tonnage n
transport our army TO France, main
ain il there, supply the increase;
lcmand Of our allies for munitions,
foods, and supplies, and At the same
:ime overcome the inevitable loss
from submarines, has been until re-
Gently lost sight Of in our recent
military. diplomatic and economic
activities. We are separated by ...a
atlantic Ocean from the field ot bat
&c, and the fundamental fact IS thu;
without adequate shipping we sn&I
3c wholly unable 10 do our share N
winning the war.
The immediate program OF II"
Emergency Fleet Corporation IN
cludcs 1,409 vessels Of varying ton
,aec. with q total lightweight ton
mage of S,G35,a0S tons.
In order 10 carry out this huge
program dozens Of new Sh!pyards
lavc been established; Sone Of then
cor the building merely Of snl"l"
wooixn vessel, of = feH t'"hsa&s!
ions. This gives some lI,a Of rA'
enormous problems involved n TIC
ga, totals required. Si'ipyards ar:
now in oocrat;on or under consTdc-
ion in twenty-five states, including
practically al touching on ciln2.
ocean. the gali ana the great lakes.
The United States Shipping Board
and Emergency Fleet Corporate"
have been reorganizcd and are II.
lacking This great problem W!tn ir'
ncwcd vigor and effectiveness. 'as
:b,sn remains. much important con-
structiye and administrative work
which must be done on the spot Il
each shipyard and in each %h'pHafd
community.
The work asked Of the State Cot.'-
.ils will N general Wy be m thr"e
stages.
The first stage vii! DC:
(aj-To make certain that the cog
ditions in ard about nc yards arg
ready for an influx OF mechanics.
rhi> will include assistance IN III
oroving housing conditions and Inc
utilization of The system OF employ
m.nt exchanges now being developed.
lbl-To create the feeling IN SHIP
ward. communities that ship con-
srruc;ion is of the highest Importance
ord that the artisans III the >ll:j-
cards must receive recognition from
the pu,I;c as patriotic members of
III, community, entitled to Gooc Nv
:nr conditions, flospitab!c reception
ana entertainment. The Government
ret.ornizcs the work aS patriotic o}
treating the service as parallel w;t1
that of Tie Army and Navy, i@c'
that should be widely published "N-
ing each stage Of thT work.
The second stage will be 4 cam
pa;cn to recruit men already N
shipouilding trade for immediate" en-
ploymcnt III the yards.
The third stage will De:
(a,-Tc continue the recruiting q
trained shipyard workers. lol 1c
obtain artisans skilled III rel",e"
trades and train them in snip COZ
struct!on under service conditions
means for which will shortly tie N
stalled in the larger sh;pyards.
Living conditions in some snip
building communities are such tnA
n, second stage of the work may d
entered upon at once, and at Suc'
roints the State Council: will ~
asked shortly 70 begin recruiting. I!
sall osher places, the first work Of tn
State Councils wil! be 10 see ina
their local committees Work VIZ!
H., ,,,-,.s;.. IN S1uT,ir,0 and I'M