New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-09

builder: !. y. Hollis, graduate OF An
napolis; Herbert Hoover and W. l.
Saunders, engineers: .;
"As a result Of this careful investi-
cation it prepared report OF us proJI,
ect, with the suggestion that General
Goethals should be asked 10 manage
it. This was turned over 20 the Couh-
Gil of National Defence, which, after
further investigation. approved II ana
returned it 20 the President. The Pres
ident then gave his approval, and adopt,
ed the boards suggestion that Generai
Goethals be made the manager OF con
struction, and he was employed by the
board in that capacity.
"Mr. Willard. chairman OF the Al
visory Commission Of the Councli OF
National Defence. suggested that from
his investigation of the car steel plate
situation he believed that there could
be obtained steel enough to build many
more ships, but that the Distribution
of material would have TO be altered.
The board, upon further investigation,
came to the same conclusion. II went
further than Mr.. Wizards suggestion
and gave public notice that 1t m
tended to ask for power IN the. gov
eminent TO commander the steel pro-
ducing plants, following the system
adopted b. the British government.
Certain OF the large steel pro,
ducers thereafter requested the board
that there should be a discussion OF the
question, and Chairman Denman asked
General Goethals TO take the mater
up with Mr.. Farrell Mr.. Farrell Of
fered to supply to the board very
large amount of steel plate. far more
than the facilities of the yards could
hope TO handle under the highest
stimulation possible.
Subsequently, Congress voted s50O,-
100000 for the construction of wooden
and steel ships. II is clear that we
will shortly close the contracts for
this amount for vessels practically or
steel and largely fabricated under the
plan suggested by Secretary Redfield
some three years ago.
"The vast resources of quick wood
construction are still far from ex-
hausted, and we believe more steel
contracts can be placed. We need
wooden vessels, both slow and fast
The slower can relieve our coastwise
congestion and our car shortage. They
can obtain our hemp and jute and
grain bags and nickel and manganese
and rubber from the Far East and
South America and release faster ves-
sells for the North Atlantic trades. All
these products and number of others
are necessary for food production, or
for basic war industries. Many wooden
vessels can be built which are faster
than many vessels now crossing the
war zone. Large seagoing wooden
barges can be constructed. to be towed
along our coasts to further relieve
our coastwise trades and shortage OF
railway transportation facilities.
"All that the Shipping Board feared
in February regarding. the effective
ness of the submarine has been real
lied. The present appropriation of
$500 900 900 will not replace in eigh-
teen months over four-ffths Of the
Germans destruction since February
!. Il is TO America that the forces
fighting Germany must look for the
bulk Of the replacement of the sub
marines destruction.
"Since our original project was
framed the United States has entered
into the war, and our army in France
will require an enormous fleet 70
transport men, their supplies and mu-
nitions. Submarines may reasonably
be expected TO appear along our coasts
and compel us TO curtail our naval as
sistance in European waters.
"The members Of the board have
under discussion the investment Of
another s40O,OOO,OOO or $5o0,0O0,0oO in
vessels. Such a proposal requires the
approval of the President before pre-
senting it to Congress. II Secretary
McAdoo can suggest reasonable place
for it in our general scheme of fnan-
cling for the war, and the President
approves, Congress may be asked for
a further appropriation Of TINS