The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-31
SCHWAR'S WORK
 AS SHIPBUILDER
By HOLLAND

l New York, Dec. 30.-(Special)- Charles M. Schwab with his customary tact and willingness to acknowledge all services given to any interests of l which he is the leader, referred in a Christmas address to the cordial and enthusiastic support which the news paper press of the United States has given to every endeavor that has been made by the shipping board under his leadership. MT. Schwab's modesty caused him to refrain from saying that he himself had made it possible to furnish valuable and almost sensa- tional news. in the best meaning of that term, so that the newspaper press was influenced not only by a desire to serve the government but also by the fact that MT. Schwab was almost daily so acting as to place under the eye of the newspaper men of the United States matter which in the highest sense was news.
 Speedily MT Schwab will return to the management of the Bethlehem Steel company prepared immediately to take up some of the great questions raised by the resumption of nonwar activity in the steel plants of the United States with intent to produce products that are useful and even vital In aiding in the restoration of do- mestic industry of all kinds. Presum- ably MT. Schwab will turn his atten- tion in part to the great development of the iron ore industry in Chile which was established by him and which was apparently suspended after the war be- gun.
 Several years before the German troops began their march toward Paris MT. Schwab obtained concessions from the government of Chile whereby he was able to begin the mining of iron ore in one of the districts of Chile. The deposits of ore there are very large. Mir. Schwab reasoned that at the op- ening of the Panama canal for naviga- tion he would be able to mine the ora and transport it by way of the Panama canal to some point on the Delaware river, whence 1t could be conveniently and inexpensively shipped to the Beth. lehem steel plant
 HE NEEDED THE SHIPS
 To do this however to the best ad vantage MT. Schwab was confident that he needed ships of peculiar construc- tion especially adapted for carrying ore. Had it not been for our naviga- ton ana Snlppln& laws ne undouDtedly would have caused these ships to be built in the United States Economy compelled him to make contracts with shipbuilders across the sea, so that he would speedily have fleet of at least six ore bdaring steampships The Chilean mines are located so near the coast that it is practicable as well as economical to carry the ore from tho mines to the steamers by means of gravity In this way MT. Schwab counted upon receiving at all times an adequate supply of ore An ade- quate supply meant a very large amount for at that time MT. Schwab was contemplating great increase in production of steel products and per- haps steel rails.
 THEN THE WAR BEGAN
 Then the European war began. In the twinkling of an eye almost, Mir Schwab found himself in touch with Great Britain so that it was possible for him to accept very large contracts for certain munitions of war of which England then stood in need Tho lack of ships and the danger of navi- gatinE the sea after the submarine war began interferred somewhat with the development of the Chilean iron mines. The presumption now prevails in business circles that one of tho first things to which MT. Schwab will turn his attention after he resumcg E