The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-02-27
NEED $4,000 MEN
TO FINISH WORK
ON US. VESSELS
Emergency Fleet Corpora
ton Declares That Number
Are Needed Quickly.
272 SHIPS ARE NOW
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Original Estimate of Ships
Cost Expected To Be
Trebled.

Philadelphia, Feb. 27.-More than
one-third of the war vessels and mer-
chant ships called for by the program
Of the United States government are
building in ship yards along the Del
aware River, according to figures
| which have just been made public
with the permission of the Emergency
Fleet Corporation. The tonnage con-
tracted for, according to government
officials, has transformed the Della
ware Valley into the greatest ship
building center in the world.
W. B. Ferguson, a representative of
the Emergency Fleet Corporation, es-
Inmates that an army of about 5000
ship workers will be required to com
plete the 272 ships, including war YES
sells, contracted for by the II ship
building plants between France and
Delaware City.
Work on 120 cargo-carriers at the
new government yard at Hog Island
is progressing and this plant is en-
gaging to turn out 100000 additional
tons in 1918. More than $3.50, 900 will
be the Delaware Rivers first quota
in the fleet which Uucle Sam relies on
to help win the war.
At the new shipyard at Bristol, Pa,
forty ships are contracted for. Here
moro than 5000 men are at work and
| is is expected that 10000 more will be
necessary to complete the vessels OH
schedule.
Ten vessels are being constructed at
another new yard at Cornwells, Pa.
The force there of 500 men will he in
creased to 1900. At a we'll known
Philadelphia shipbuilding plant more
than 60 ships are to be turned out.
Most of these are government craft
on which more than 5000 men are en-
gagged. Another thousand. is needed.
In the big yard at Camden, N. J.,
across the river from Philadelphia
1900 men are building twenty-foul
ships. More workers are needed here
also.
Two yards at Gloucester, N. j., are
turning out 16 ships with a force of
about 5000 men. Twice this number
of shipworkers is needed.
Two large plants, one a new one, at
Chester, Pa, have contracted for Is
and 26 ships respectively. One plant
has only 100 men on the payroll and
requires at least 5000 more, accord
ing to the government figures. The
other yard is employing 1000 men
whereas at least 5000 are necessary te
complete it's contracts.
The plant at Hog Island is now en-
ploying about 10000 workers and Off
Gals there estimate that at least 81, 00t
are needed.
Work in one plant at Wilmington
= Del, is progressing on 10 ships OF
which $500 men are employed. Thi
company is in the market for anothe
/ 900 workers. At another plant il
that city eight ships are being bull
! by a force of 1000 men and official
require 1000 more.
> A drive under the auspices of tn
=, government is now being conducte'
throughout the country to register a.
men in the 81 trades allied with ship
= building. Many of these mechanic
6 are now engaged in other occupation
q and it is planned to transfer them t
!. the seaboards without disturbing in
dustry.
Labor difficulties and shortage c
steel and other materials, it is ex
pected will treble the original est
mate Of the cost Of the ships con
# tracted for. Recent investigation I
g the Delaware River plants indicate
r that most of the vessels being bui
) will be completed in schedule time.