Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-23
may LIMIT EXPENDITURES
FOR WOODEN SHIP FLEET
Serious Doubt Arises rs to Wisdom
Of Using All OF S5o,OOo,ooO Avail
able in New Project.
NO DECISION is YET REACHED
Some Members Of National Defense
Council Favor Using Much Of Sum
y Authorized to Purchase of Foreign
Tonnage Now Under Construction.
ESPECIAL 10 The Times. Disratchl


Tonnage Now Under Construction.
Especial 10 The Times Dispatch.
WASHINGTON. April 2c.-SerMus
doubt as 20 the wisdom OF cxpcndins
the whole Of tho $4,000 600 available
for merchant tonnage upon the con-
structIon OF feet Of wooden freight
ers has been manifest in adminstra-
ton circles for tho past three days. not
withstandins the fact that the United
States Shipping Commission has pro-
ceedcd with this policy Ia tho point
of awarding contracts.
Leading members OF tho Council OF
National Defense take tho view that
this Is a lot or money 10 invest in an
experimental project, and that much OF
The sum authorized should he used
for tho purchase OF foreign tonnage
now under construction in American
yards. for tho Austrian tonnage in
termed here and for the rebair OF the
German merchantmen seized Al the out
break OF tho war.
1t has Just been learned that a
group OF administration officials was
In conference yesterday TO take up
further the matter of wooden ship
feet and that tho advisahility Of en-
s5oooo.0o0 for this purpose was Ques-
toned No decision seems TO have
reached. however, recomr cndinC "A
reconsideration by. the shipping Com
mission Of is plans.
TWO IMPORTANT OBJECTIONS
URGED TO INVESTMENT
Two important objections arc urged
to the investment of SO much money
in wooden ships. First of ali. there arc
not enough ship carpenters in the
country to do the work required with
sn even reasonable time. and house
carpenters. az rc-cnforcemcnts, are of
doubtful efficiency. Secondly, only sea-
soned timber was used in the con-
struction Of ships IN the days of tn"
clipper and other successful wooden
craft The seasoning process takes
time, and time is the one element in
the situation which cannot be con-
trolled.
On the other hand, there is a great
volume OF steel tonnage belonging to
foreign owners under construction in
American shipyards. This tonnage
could be taken over by payment In
zulu for It Some OF tho vessels are
nearing completion. Others will be
commissioned within two. three or four
months. and many more could be
rushed to completion before "A fleet OF
wooden ships could he built.
OF Austrian tonnage. there is some
thing like hfteen ships. They will be
seized. as were the German ships. II
war between Austria and the United
States materializes. 1t Is known that
all Of these vessels even now on
the market. and. of course, could lie
taken over without likelihood of fric-
t!on with Great Britain. This could
not have been done while the United
States remained neutral
Whether or not any OF The Shipping
Board money is used for the repair ot
the 100000 tons Of German tonnage
nov in the hands O: the government,
those ships WI! oa reh;;ed and used
for rue-chza, sa5 ;-ans78r, purposes
The navy NAY u-ae-ta.A this, hU; q
~cv!d stt- . h mare practicable :c-
RE Shipr;-E Cor.-2.ss!5n actually =
operas 80 y@ss.ls
ACTING UNDER PRESSURE
TRoM EVERY SIDE
:: sA--:t :. s:s,.t Ia: aa-a ihe
s:sc;-g c--sEer conceived th-
Yea :. :-@- -: = tat - more
v<.-1.- :-..g.:.-s .s=: BODY ,yss act
i-s --t.- c-sss-'. :-:-l +v=-y source
t-- .1s-E =. z--y NEEDED them: ne
zsvr -..5.- Ken 80 export interests
r..3+c -He- 80 -E.+- america. allies
- 49, .ss1s1 tls,n- -h- Hp5d-.
ssip Par, =ht-sry vas. sncyn, Q.
,carsEe -ieha. - sGdsd 20 shipping
With oar s.:e lively sho-: ti-re
-.e-asi - :. ire hes, possible cir.c-
;:on - which - spend the s5e.oat. hno
Even nov. with the hzr6icaps o.
labor and seasoned material 8, i. no,