New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-14
Preliminary Work
Begun on First of
10000 Cargo Ships
Ways Being Laid in Texas
as u. S. Authorizes
Builders to Act
From The Tribune Bureau

Washington, April 1S.-The Shipping
Board to-day authorized builders or
both Atlantic and Pacific coasts to
commence az once preliminary work on
the thousand wooden cargo vessels
which are to be constructed by the
board as rapidly as materials ana
workmen can be assembled. The con-
tracts for the new cargo ships have
not vet been drafted, and ii will be
few davs before the designs and speci'
fications are in final form.
The Shipping Board will probably be
empowered to take over the confiscated
German merchantmen in American
norts. First Of these 10 fly the nag
viii be two of the twenty-three taken
IN the Philippines. They will be ready
for service in three weeks.
In order TO expedite CONSTRUCTIONS
tte Shipping Board to-day sent out
,ottar 20 builders instructing them to
nroceed with the laying of ways Tor
the ships. and to begin cons'ruc''o"
as soon as possible on the basis OF eoS'
nlus a profit of 10 per cent.
According TO officials of the Ship-
n.nc Board the 1000 wooden vessels
will cost the government approximately
s2oo 100000. The board now has sou
100000 at it's disposal, but expects an
additional appropriation by Congress
within the next few weeks
Private capital is also interested IN
,ae shipbuilding project. 1t IS beheVed
that by fall the nation will be turning
ont 100000 tons month.
The Lone Star Shipbuilding Com
many Of Beaumont, Tex" a concern
be,nc financed by New York capital
LIS already commenced laying ways LOT
.aven ships. Five hundred r,.deu skillen
,vorknen have been sent from Eas 81
,..t;es 10 the Texas plant, ana II
named TO raise this force "l'Hin .mI
novt few weeks to 100 men, "a.
pacific Coast shipbuildlng concerns ~ a.
$50 10 commence laying ways '"''
week ooroo ships.
The designs Tor the he" sl I'LL
when completed carly next "eeh' ",.'
n~escnt a radical departure N cii coist'U W ~
lion. The new designs, aecoiu'i's dro,rn
oficials of the board nave 0ee" oi sbin
by adapting the principles OF stee' Th;s Tb;s
ooi'' '.',ii aFect thev say. both an economy
VIZ I,,n,ber and will give greater
- 'rore,tb and carrying capacity 70 inc
vessels. -, VII. r,orina
V. 7. Donnclly. New ORR MAJ, o.', ,rv
constructor. is responsible LOT Int ~ 20
stvlc OF ship. which may revoiutiohl@e
the entire industry. .;dorab1,
Il is expected that a consloetap"
nart of the new cargo snip programme
Lii no constructed on the Gun , aho
~ Pacific ports. The long-leaf yello"
n;pe which is available in great guam
Pt;t;es in The South, will be used eN,
tons;velv. Officials say that plenty oil
tb;s lumber. cut and held for better
imr,her market. can be dispatched 10
IL"nhrild;ng establishments lmmedl-
otefv II is estimated that each snip mp
T,;li require from 100000 to l'ooo'VoV
feet. - hn laid and
tho first ship turned out. CONSTRUCTION
cvnerts of the Shipping board state
+hat the work can proceed OF the rave
~ three ships from the same ways IN
OF IN en ultimately, it is stated. il the
a. Continues more than year, Ameri-
wal war sbipbuilders will be able to re-
can % 'n,p as much tonnage each month as
pIe'9 pc German U-boats have been thus lar
ohg M 20 sink. Moreover. the wooden
aoIe 'vessels will offer more diff
cnisO cur, orohlem for submarines than do
cur cur pyossels. 1t is said, that when
sSef, &c. cargoes are shipped in sealed
Sne,l mel as will likely be the practice
IN snnr,apcyticslly unsuitable by shell fire.
Vessels that can be spared from the
Atlantic and Pacific coastwise service
and the Great Lakes trade may also
he drafted for cargo carriers between
De U@;.sd state. and her allies.