Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-07
NAMES SHARE
Ask Propositions for
Wooden Hulls
Committee Issues Memo as First
Step in Big Work

Portland. Me-, June 6-Within a very
short time it is expected that Maine
shipyards, including many which have
been idle since the days of long ago.
will be in operation as the first actual
step towards securing contracts for
the construction of the fleet OF wooden
ships to be used against Germany's
submarine warfare, it was announced
in this city today.
Today the Maine Shipbuilding Com
mittee through Lemuei Sponagle. ex-
ecutive secretary, and with the APP
prevail of W. II. Hand. Jr.. the district
officer representing the Emergency
Fleet Corporation of the United State
Shipping Board. sent to Maine ship
builders memorandum TO enable the
shipbuilders of this state to make A
proposition for complete hulls in ac-
cordance with plans and specifications
prepared and submitted by the Emer-
gency Fleet Corporation.
In the letter the Maine Shipbuildin-
Committee states that the Maine shin
builders are offered an opportunity IN
''~~A Np'i a. DuSlHeSS Undertaking
leasohapie ana fair to all concerned
me letter further states that ships are
urgently required and any propositiop
that the shipbuilders may make for
promptly building one or more shin,
VIII be appreciated and given due con-
slderation, and that bids are IN h.
iilade upon the dimensions rather than
upon the dead weight capacity. TIL.
memorandum reads.
ioposit'ons are requested from all
MAINE shipbuilders for building comp,.,.
i.uiis IN accordance with plans and sneci.
,.oauohs prepared and submitted nv tia
emergency Fleet Corporation.
ihese propositions must be on n ..ur,n
sum OASIS 1. e., the building will he "a.
quireu 10 ngure price at which he will
oulid complete hull or bulls. in accord
ahce with the plans and Specification,
ana also state when he will deliv.r ~.
nrst and such other ships as he NAV n.
able to construct properly and nror,,.,,.
II the builder will specify the amour,
of lumber and the price per foot a, -.
ne hgures it landed at his yard. and Also
cover otner items OF materials according
~ ana state that he will pay for his la
DOT scale Of wages equal to the scala
Vi wages paid for the same services in
the United States navy shipyard nearest
10 contractors yard. the contract will b.
arranged to protect him against anv Adj
vance in materials or wages resulting
from any cause beyond his control.
Inc emergency Fleet CORPORATION "a
serves the right to accept or reject anv
and all bids. 1t also reserves the right.
TO supply lumber or materials TO IN.
builder, and in this event will sub,rac,
from builders proposition price the
amounts figured for materials sunnlied
The Emergency Fleet Corporation IN.
made arrangements with the lumber deal
ers in the South and can supply all hard
pine items promptly and at COMPARE
| lively low prices.
Before contracts will be signed for
the building Of these standard wooden
ships in accordance with the above
mentioned plans and specifications, Il
will be necessary that the builder shall
have his yard and equipment ready to
proceed with the actual work on the
ship. and Furthermore to have the ap-
proval Of the Maine shipbuilding COM
mittee whose office is Rooms 6o3-sO4,
Union Mutual building. Portland, Me.
In the case of ships built in Maine.
the frames may be Of Maine hard wood.
l. e.-the floors and futtocks may he
OF hard wood and the tops Of Georgia
pine, black spruce or hackmatack. The
use of hard wood floors and futtocks
will permit reducing the moulding Of
floors and futtocks to 16 inches over
keel and II inches at turn Of bilge.
t;al lAtn tal
and specifications may be altered 70
properly suit local conditions. end the
builder is requested to submit his
views concerning such details. to the
Maine Shipbuiding committee.
Upon receipt Of same the commit
tee will Immediately bring these sur-
gestions to the attention of the dis
! trict officer, who will pass upon them,
and who will approve changes which
will not weaken the ship or cnuse the
rating under American Bureau OF
Shipping rules to be less than the re-
quired IS years.
! 1t may be desirable and proper 10
i expand certain existing yards: /. e.. TO
add extra ways and machinery for the
building of these ships. and equally
desirable to establish new yards for
f, the express purpose of building in ac-
cordance with the foregoing plans. In
! all cases where such expansion and
establishment may properly invoke the
assistance of the government. the pro-
spective builder or owner liz requested
/ to submit his proposition to this com
mittec with the understanding that all
such propositions will be considered by
! the district officer and accepted only
upon his approval.