Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-05

ship theory that there are large num-
Ter Of engine works in this country that
could be utilizel for the manufacture Of
marine engines for the wooden ships but
experienced Shipping men fail to see what
is to be gained by fitting the standard
ships with engines made by amateur ma
rine engineers, which no shipowner wouil
care to incorporate in his own vessels.
There remains the question of insur-
ance. to which we have alluded in pre-
Wious references to the standard wooden
ship question, AS already pointed out,
underwriters will certainly discriminate
against vessels built in such haphazara
manner as is described in the reports
circulated in the daily press about the
forthcoming standard ships This means
that the Government will have to find ITS
own insurance. or run the boats partly
insured or else run them totally unin-
sured.
With the vast resources at the disposal
of the national Government and espec-
tally in view of the present emergency,
any of these contingencies is within the
realm Of immediate possibility But it
must not be overlooked that in the mean
time the nation is wilfullv throwing away
an opportunity which will probably never
recur again: namely, that of building w
a strong American merchant marin,
composed of up-to-date ships while at
the same time taking care Of the need
Of the Allies in the way Of TRANSPORTS
sportation is a two-sided affair Ships
IN 70 a;
freight market. must be two-way boats
That is to say they must he capable Of
voya ging with cargo to and fro and on at
least one leg of the journey 1t is not the
nationals of the country in which the
owners ara domiciled who have the say
in the matter of giving the vessels cargo
to carry. There have been rumors in this
connection that. the standard wooden
ships after discharging their cargoes Of
foodstuffs at Allied ports. would carry
coal from the british coal ports to France
and return here laden with Spanish ore
for the use of the steel mills located near
the seaboard of this Continent
One Defect Of Wood Construction.
Experienced shipowners realize what
such trading implies in the way of strain
ing ships structure. They know that
no large wooden ship ever built has been
able to withstand for more than few
voyages the strain imposed by the cross
ing Of wide marine areas with such car
goes as ore. Composite construction af-
fords better safeguards, but the an
nounced intention of the Shipping Board
is to build the ships entirely Of wood
On the other hand. it is most improb-
able that the shipyards will turn out the
standard wooden ships at the rate of
speed contemplated by the authors Of the
scheme while If their engines are to be
made by shops inexperienced In marine
engineering there will result sequence
of breakdowns that may result In very
costly delays in the transportation of
supplies needed by our Allies in Europe.
1t is needless to dwell again upon the
danger to the future of the American
plated expenditure on wooden ships.
England is now straining every nerve
building standard steel ships with scant-
lings In conformity with the highest re-
uuirements of the standard classification
societies. Such ships will not only serve
a national need in the present crisis. but
when the war is over will constitute most
useful adjuncts for the continued enjoy
ment of Englands old supremacy In the
industry of marine transportation.
This country produces more steel than
England and Germany put together. The
naval program has hardly made den.