The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-03-02
CHEAT S..IpBUILDIEu CENTER
ihi.adciphia is Center OF Greatest
Sil pbu.iIiEg District OF World.

Philadelphia, Feb. 27.-More than
| Cne-thlrd of the war vessels and mer-
chant ships called for by the pro-
gram of the United States govern
ment are building in ship yards along
the Delaware river, according TO fig
ures which have just been made pub
lie with the permission of the Emer-
gcncy Fleet Corporation. The tonnage
contracted for, according to govern
ment officials, has transformed the
Delaware Valley into the greatest
shipbuilding center lin the world.
W. h. Ferguson, a representative of
the Emergency Fleet Corporation. es-
Inmates that an army of about 5000
shipworkers will be required to COM
plete the 272 ships including war yes-
sells, contracted for by the eleven
shipbuilding plants between Trenton
and Delaware City.
Work on 12O cargo carriers at the
new government yard at Hog Island is
progressing and this plant is engag-
ing to turn out 100000 additional
tons in 1918. More than 2,25O.O 600
toms Will be the Delaware rivers first
quota in the fleet which Uncle Sam
relies on to help win the war.
AT the new shipyard at Bristol, Pa.
forty ships are contracted for. Here
more than 5000 men are at work
and it is expected that 10000 more
VIII be necessary to complete the yes
sells on schedule.
Ten vessels are being constructed
at another new yard at Cornwells,
Pa The force there of 500 men will
be increased to 1000. At a we'll
known Philapedlhia shipbuilding
plant more than 60 ships are to be
turned out. Most of these are gov
crnment craft on which more than S.
900 men are engaged. Another thou
sand is needed.
In the big yard at Camden, N. j..
across the river from Philadelphia, T.
200 men are building twenty-four
ships. More workers are needed here
also.
Two yards at Gloucester, N. j., are
turning out sixteen ships with
force of about 5000 men. Twice this
number OF shipworkers is needed.
Two large plants. one a new one, at
Chester, Pa, has contracted for
eighteen and twenty-six ships re-
spectively. One plant has only 1900
men on the payroll and requires at
least 1000 more, according to the
government figures. The other yard
il" employing 1000 men whereas, at
least 5000 are necessary to complete
it's contracts.
The plant at Hog Island is now cm-
ploying about 10000 workers and Off
cials there estimate that at least 80,
900 are needed.
Work in one plant at Wilmington.
Del, Is progressing on thirteen ships
on which $500 men are employed.
This company is in the market for
another 1000 workers. At, another
plant in that city eight ships are be-
ing built by force Of ], 900 men and
officials require 1,60O more.
A drive under the auspices oe the
government, is now being conducted
throughout, the country to register
all men in the eighty-seven trades al.
lied with shipbuildng Many Of these
mechanics are now engaged i'm other
occupations and it is planned to trans
fer them to the seaboards withou.
disturbing industry
Labor difficulties and shortage OF
steel and other materials it is expect
ed, will treble the original estimate Of
the cost Of the ships contracted for
Recent investigation of the Delaware
River plants indicated that most OF
the vessels being built will be complet
ed in schedule time
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TIE, p1CKERC