Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-07-14
MAY TAKE over 29
WILMINGTON BOATS.


they had received no notification from
the Gobernment or from the Emery
ency Corporation OF its intention 70
take over the ships now under con
struction I'm the Wilmington yards.
/ The fifteen ships arc in various
courses OF construction, from the lay
Ing OF keels and the first frames. 10
the practically completed ship await
ing trial trip.
They are being constructed for
the Standard Oil Company. the Vac
CUM on Company. the Ocean steam
ship Company and United Fruit Com
pany They range in length from the
S30-foot ship 10 the 4S7-f0ot ship of
1000 tons. the largest ever laid
down in the yards.
I =. & J. Go. Has Fourteen B0a's.
Fourteen steamships and vessels OF
various types are I'm course Of con
struction or 20 be constructed for
private owners by the Pussy and
Jones Company OF this city and are
liable to be commandeered by the
Federal Government under the plan
announced from Washington. accord
ing to statement made today by c..
Stewart Lee general manager OF the
company Not all Of the boats arc
under construction az the present
time. and none under construction or
under contract Is for Wilmington own
crs.1 Some Of tho boats arc for Eng
fish owners.
Mr. Lee stated this morning that
The company does not have direct in
formation as to how the boats will
be taken over, but he rather expects
that the government will deal direct
~ with the persons for. whom the
company is TO build the boats and
not with the Pussy and Jones Com
pany direct
Manager Ice was IN Washington
yesterday in connection with boat
building matters
AT the Jackson & Sharp plant Or
the American Car & Foundry Co.. the
statement was made that none OF tae
vessels under construction there
comes wilhin tho class OF vessels 10
be taken over by the government.
425 Ships Already Ordered
General Cocktails reveals for the
hrst time his program and plans IN
letter 70 William Denman, chairman
OF tho Shipping Board The letter
follows:
Now that the President has auth.
orized the Emergency Floet Corpora
ton to exercise the powers granted
by Congress to build and commander
ships. intend on Monday to start
ship construction which Will complete
my shipbuilding program. My full
program is as follows:
Ships now in building Contracts
for 34S wooden ships have been let
or agreed upon. with a tonnage ca
paclty OF 1,24S, 900. at a cost com
pleted OF approximately Sf74.0OO. 600.
In addition ! have under negotia-
ton contracts for about 100 wooden
ships.
Contracts for seventy-seven steel
ships have been let or agreed upon.
with a tonnage OF 642. 800, At a, cost
.of approximately Sl01 .660,356.
There are thus provided 425 ships
or all sorts with an aggregate ton.
mage OF .S60 600 at cost Of approx
mately S2l0,O00 600. besides 100 more
wooden ships under negotiation. /
shall continue 10 let all contracts for
wooden ships. OF design approved by
the naval architect OF the corpora
tion, for which | can get responsible
Construction OF standardized ships
my main reliance for getting the
greatest amount OF the most service
able tonnage I'm the shortest time,
viii be on the construction OF fabri-
Gated steel ships OF standard pattern.
For that purpose shall use, to some
evtent the existing yards.
To Build Own Yards.
ION oAinday I shall offer contracts
FOR the building OF two plants Ito be
owned by the government for the
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 the building OF
these two yards and the construction
or ships in them / shall offer com
pensation to the agents who underg
take the work. a fee OF approximately
per cent. OF the total cost OF the
work, with rewards for savings on
cost and for speed In delivery. Pro
vision will be made for decreasing
1ne rec 10 prevent unnecessary cost
me contracts will give the govern
ment the benefit Of government fixed
commodity prices and viii provide
Tor cessation OF work at any time "a
mat the appropriation may not be ev-
ceeded. Options will be given IN the
contractors 10 purchase the plante az
aroitrated values on the comnIetion
OF the work. 'e''V'
The design OF the shin % road,
me plans OF the yards are ready. the
ulsuiouuon OF the work OF furnish
ing me material and OF fabrication
This part Of the program will
take All the S550.O00.O00 available not
absorbed by contracts made or max
ing as stated at the beginning 90 THE
ietter The program will more than
redeem my estimates to the conrres.
sional committee at the time this an
preparation was asked for of ooo
600 tons OF new construction within
eighteen months.
The additional contracts for who'd
ships which I expect 10 place n.
gether with the fun number OF fah.
ricated steel ships which il is planned
70 build. Will require more money
than Congress has authorized When
l know how much will be needed II
will be necessary 70 ask Congress for
further sums.
WIN Seize 1,5OO.00O Tons.
On Monday I shall deliver to shin
builders general statement CT the
program which ! have long been ma
turing for Communicating ships now
under construction for private ac-
count (such ships having an agere-
gate tonnage considerably in excess Of
! 300 .nnn lnnal LnnIn.n q - -