Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-14


type are TO be constructed in from eighteeI
10 twenty-four months
General Goethals reveals for the first tim,
MS program and plans in a letter TO VIII
liam Denman, chairman of the Shippin,
Board. The letter follows.
Now that the President has autborizod
the Emergency Fleet Corporation TO ex-
ercise the powers granted by Congress N
ouId ana commander ships, intend on
Monday to start ship construction which
Will complete my shlpbuilding program
My full program Is as follows:
Ships now building-Contracts for
S4S wooden ships have been let or agreed
upon with a tonnage capacity OF 1s9IS
700, at cost completed of approximately
S174, 900, 900.
In addition I have under Negotiation
contracts for about 100 wooden ships
contracts for seventy-seven steel shina
nave been let or agreed upon. with a
tonnage of 6i2.SO0. at a cost of approxi-
mately s1O1,66O,356.
There are thus provided 425 ships ~
all sorts with an aggregate tonnage Of
l,S6O,OOO, at a cost of Approximately
$275,000,00O, besides 100 more woodoD
ships under negotiation shall contlnue
TO let all contracts for wooden shine ~
design approved by the naval architect
of the corporation, for which l can Get
responsible bidders
Construction Of standardized ships-mv
main reliance for getting the greatest
amount of the most seryiceable tonparo
in the shortest time. will be on the con-
struction Of fabricated steel ships of
standard pattern. For that purpose
shall use, TO some extent, the existing
yards.
TO BULL, OWN YARDS
On Monday I shall offer contracts for
the building Of two plants TO be owned
by the GovernmenO for the construction
OF fabricated steel ships to produce 400
ships of an aggregate tonnage capacity Of
100000 tons within the next eighteen
TO twenty-four months For tho building
OF these two yards and the construction
OF shlps IN them l shall offer Campensa-
ton TO the agents who undertake the
work, fee of approximately G per cent
OF the total cost of the work. with re-
wards Tor savings on cost and for sDeed
IN delivery. Provision will be made for
decreasing the fee to prevent unnecessary
cost. The contracts will give the Gov
ernment the benefit Of Government fixed
commodity prices and will provide for
cessation of work at any time so that
the appropriation may not be exceeded
Opuons Will be given to the contra ctors
= 10 purchase the plants at arbitrated
Nalues on the completion of the work.
the design of the ship 10 ready. the
plans OF the yards are ready, the dis
ulouion or the work Of furnishing the
material and Of fabrication is arranged.
This part Of the program will take all
the S550,OO0,000 available not absorbed
by contracts made or making. as stated
at the beginning Cf this letter The
program will more than redeem nv esti-
mates to the congressional committee M
the time this appropriation was asked for
of 100000 tons of new construction
within eighteen months
The additional contracts for wood ships
which l expect to place, together with
the full number of fabricated steel ships
which II is planned to build. will require
more money than Congress has au-
thorzed When I know how much will
be needed, it will be necessary to ask
Congress for further sums.
WILL SEIZE 1900, 900 TONS
On Monday I shall deliver to shin
builders a general statement of the pro-
gram which | have long been maturing
for Communicating ships now under con-
structon for pri'ate account (such ships
having an aggregate tonnage considera-
bly, in excess of 1900, 900 tons) I in
close a copy of that scheme. The essence
of this program Is to commander all
such ships and expedite their construction
by adding labor and cutting out refine
ments. BY thus Federalzng each yard
giving 1t Government help and putting
it on n speed basis, we shall produce its
greatest efficiency. As fast as these are
cleared each yard will be deYoted to the
production of a single type OF tonnage
for which It is best suited I count upon
the complete Cooperation Of the yards.
This program is made comprehensive
because expedition cannot be obtained in
a yard engaged partly on rush work and
partly on pre-wartime schedules. My in
vestigation has satisfied me that citizens
of the United States and of our allies
will pay the cost of eXpediting ships now
building for them and take them of our
hands II this policy is made it will con-
serve our fund.
| agree that IL is essential for the Ship
ping Board to requisiton at once the neu-
tral ships which are constructed and ready
to sail I have no data to make an esti-
mate as to how many of these ships there
are or how much money will be required
for this purchase / shall, therefore, cut
my program to the extent of S50,O0J, 900.
Please notify me at once whether this
Is enough.
Each days delay in summer-in COM
Wandering or contracting-means two
days' loss of time in throwing the work
into the winter months. 1t Is for that
reason l am urgent that the program
start on Monday.