Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-05-09
BUILD 5,548.T0N
SHIP IN q DAYS.
All Records for Rapid Construc.
ton BrOken-Vessel Is
Launched at Camden
IS A STEEL COLLIER
Will he Ready for Cargo In Is Dnyf
-Distineuished Company Attends
Launching Ceremony

Philadelphia. May 5.-All records for
rapid construction Of ship were broken
to-day when the 5,54S-ton steel collier
Tuckahoe was launched at the yard Of thu
New York Shipbuilding Corporation in
Camden, N. J. The keel Of this ship was
laid on April and only twenty-seven
working days were required to prepare
the hull for launching. The boat was
ninety per cent. completed when Il slid
into the waters of the Delaware and In
fifteen days more 1t will take IT'S place In
tho commerce OF the world. complete ard
ready for cargo.
A distinguished company Witnessed tho
launching. including Charles NJ. Schwab,
Girector-general ot ship construction:
Chairman Edward VI. Hurley of the Ship
ping Board, ice-president Charles Piez,
Francis r. Dowles and Senator Fletcher,
chairman of the Senate coinnicrce COM
mittec. Miss Helen Hurley. Chairman
Hurley's twelve-year-o! daughter. chris
tened the ship.
Speeches were made to great crowd
Of workmen and members of their fami-
lies by Chairman Hurley Mr.. schwab and
Mr.. Piez. Mr.. Hurley read letter from
President Wilson, as follows:
ITO the workmen and executive staff
of the New York Shipbuilding company:
my Dear Friends:
II want to congratulate you on the
extraordinary record you have made in
your work on the steamship Tuckahoe.
I wish / could be present in person to
express to you the feeling that | have
that we are all comrades in great
enterprise and that you have played
your part with extraordinary devotion
and Skill eliciting not only my admira-
a m fhn aI,, ,tyat ;Ny, -
all who will learn of what you have
accomplished. congratulate you and
bid you Godspeed.
Cordially and sincerely yours,
"WOODROW WILSON"
Mr.. Hurley also read n copy of
cablegram he had sent to General PERISH
ing which read
Management and workmen of New
York Shipbuildng company have lust
established a world record by launching
a steel ship of $500 dead weight tons
in q days. The army o. $50, 600 men in
the American shipyards thus show that
they are working shoulder to shoulder
with their comrades in the trenches.
The patriotic spirit shown by the work
men of this company exists in every
shipyard in America"
Mr.. Hurley announced that each man
who worked on the Tuckahoe would be
presented with a silver medal as a mark
or distinguished service, and also n fac
smile copy of the Presidents letter
Mr. Schwab was cheered repeatedly
| by the thousands of workmen. He de-
| clared that the record breaking work
on the Tuckahoe is the most decisive
| blow that has been administered to
| our enemy in many months. THE news
| will fly around the world" he said
that in twenty-seven working days
ship has been built In America, some
thing never before accomplished, ant
1t will be bad news for Germany
Washington deserves no credit for thi.
| accomplishment The credit belongs tc
the workmen in this yard and I shall
| be the first to see that they get it
Boys, in going around the magnificent
| shipbuilding plants in the Philadelphia
district 1 have been struck with the
energy, loyalty. enthusiasm. and
patriotism of the workmen. No better
men exist anywhere in the world than
those in the United States. Go to il
and see that the seas are filled with
American ships. See that your hearts
are filled with patriotism and say TIC
h with the Kaiser every time
you drive a rivet"
shoulders of Tommy" Mason, hui
superintendent. who built the ship. Mr.
Schwab presented that official witt
a gold watch as a token of apprecia
ton.