The Washington herald., 1918-04-14
U. S. TO BUILD
MANY VESSELS
OF CONCRETE
President Wilson Approves
100000 Estimate
for New Type Ship.

President Wilson yesterday ap-
proved the Shipping Boards esti-
mate of s50.000,oo0 for concrete
ships. An effort will be made to
rush the appropriation. as an ad-
ministration measure. through Con-
gress in record time. Fifteen mil
lion dollars will become immediate
ly available IL the proposed legisla-
tion is enacted.
The present plan is to have the
$50,00o,oo0 appropriation go through
as an amendment to one OF the bills
now pending. Chairman Hurley. of
the Shipping Board. has an engage
ment to discuss this phase of the
matter with Chairman Sherley, OF
the House Appropriations Commit
tee, Monday at noon.
Congress Favors.
Congress is understood to be very
favorable Ito concrete ship con-
struction. The Shipping Board is
confident that with the support Of
the President the proposed appro-
priation will have easy sailing
through both branches.
The new fund Is urged specifically
for the acquisition or establish
mept of plants suitable for concrete
ship building. or for the enlarge
ment or extension of such plants
as are now or may be hereafter
acquired or established, and for the
cost of construction purchasing,
requisitioning or otherwise acquir-
ing such concrete ships"
With this large appropriation be-
lieved assured, Chairman Hurley
said last night that rush work will
be Immediately begun at the pro-
jected plant in Wilmington. N. c.
The Shipping Board already had
planned to construct three launch
ing ways for 3.50o-ton concrete
vessels. II these prove to be sue
cessful. the board had then intended
to adopt the 7.5o0-ton type. Re-
suits of the work at the Whining
ton plant will provide the basis on
which the Shipping Board will
standardize their plans.
The Shipping Board, as q result
of exhaustive investiga tions by ex-
perts, Is enthusiastic over the pros
poets for the success of concrete
ships.
r. 8. Wig. head of the depart
ment on concrete ship construction.
has received q photograph OF a
concrete tug boat which was used
during the past winter to break ice
and keep a channel open in a Nor
wegian harbor. This treatment
caused no appreciable erosion. al
though the concrete was not pro-
tected from the direct abrasive
action of the ice.
Affecting Prorrnn
As to the Eject of the concrete ship
program on the construction of wooden
and steel vessels. Wig said:
THE construction of concrete huIIs
should not interfere with the present
program for the construction of wood
and steel hulls. insofar as labor or
materials are concerned. 1t should be
recognized that the reinforced con-
crete hull cannot be built more rap
idly than a steel hull In a well-organ-
ICED yard.
THE advantage Of the concrete, in
30 far as speed in construction is con-
cerned, lies in the fact that a very
simple plant, consisting OF concrete
mixers, hoists and other simple equip
ment. which is obtainable in any large
city. is all that is needed. Aside from
the foreInen and superintendent, COM
mon labor is utilized in the construc-
tion of concrete ship. This simplifies
the labor problem, as well as the
equipment and material problem
Cost IL Less.
The cost Of a complete concrete ship
will vary between 800 and sl25 per
ton deadweight. Steel ships cost from
$50 to 500 per ton. The Shipping
Board has decided that a 3,5O0-ton
cargo ship is uneconomical to operate.
Future efforts will be concentrated
on ships Of larger capacity. Plans
have been completed for a 3,5OO-ton
concrete ship and three ships of this
size will be constructed, while await
ing the completion of plans for 1900
ton ships.
Senators Fletcher and McCumber
have expressed themselves to the
Shipping Board as being heartily in
favor Of the $5O,0O0.0OO appropriation.
Senator McCumber said:
81 have talked with experts in re-
gard to this type G,5oo-tons) ana
must confess I am very much i'm
pressed by its possibilities. II we take
up the building Of it and on a large
enough scale. I believe that We can
put 5000 900 deadweight tons afloat by
January ], of next year"