Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-12-18
SHIP BUILDING FOR
 BIG MERCHANT FLEET
 MUST BE CONTINUED
Report of Shipping Board Co-Opera- tiOn From Owners Whose Craft Has Been RequisitiOned.

of the great merchant marine pro- gram of construction a sit now stands modified to meet the coming or peace and still further extension of shipbuilding is recommended by the United States Shipping Board ill it's second annual report to Congress. The question of a permanent mer- chant marine program is left for fu- ture determination, the Board indicat- ing that it will have suggestions re- garding both development and opera tion at the conclusion of investiga- lions now in progress.
 Describing the tremendous fleet now operated by the government the report shows how enemy tonnage was secured not only by taking over vessels interned in United State; harbors, but by purchasing and char tering from other nations which like wise had seized German and Austri- an ships. Cuba, China, Siam. Brazil, Uruguay, and Peru all aided the Uni ted States and the Allies in this re- gard. The cost of repairing the German and Austrian vessels amount ed to approximately $11,194 652.S0.
 The Emergency Fleet Corporation of the Board owned on November 21. according to the report. total of 4a3 new ships. of 2,64S 1892 dead weight tens: 59 former German ves- sels of 343, ,206 deadweight tons: six former Austrian vessels aggregating 35,62G deadweight tons: and 36 oth- CT ships of 137,24S tons.
 ho Int 4o1, under Presidential proclamation. 52, of 236,334O deadweight tors were managed by the Shipping Board and the others by the Navy. There were BPS foreign ships of 1.366,361 dead weight tons under charter to the Board on this date and 450 American ships of 2,910e766 deadweight tons under acquisition, making a total fleet of 1886 vessels aggregating 7,49S,075 deadweight tons owned, managed or chartered by the Ship ping Beard
 With regard to the requisitioning of American tonnage, the report says:
 Perhaps no phase of the Shipping Boards work has been more difficult to adjust fairly and satisfactorily ehetii 1he', III OlVSu III luo IGu ing of ships for use Nevertheless, most owners have cooperated With excellent spirit"
 Contracts and commitments of the Emergency Fleet Corporation for the construction of ships made during the year, provided for 1.296 steel cargo ships. of S,S77 605 deadweight tons :; so steel tankers of 737.000 deadwefght | tons: 94 steel troop ships, of 7S7,OOO deadweieht tons; two steel hospital ships of 20,000 deadweght tons; four steel refrigerator ships of 37,O00 deadWei2ht tons; 103 oceangoing steel tugs and eight steel harbor tugs: and 16 steel ioarges. of 54.S0O deadweight tOnS
 The wood and composite ship con tracts called for 1S1 complete wood ships of 7O7 300 deadwo: gh+ tons :s 519 hulls. of 1,S41. 900 deadweight tons: 14O targes of 359,50C daadweight tons; 162 wood tugs: and 32 compo- site ships. of 116,00O deadweight tons From the time of it's organization | up to August S1, 1918. says the re- | port. the corporation had nagotiatel 495 contracts, aggregating 229S yes sells. with total of 14119,130 dead weight tons. involving an estimated cost of $2,319, 216, 20.
 1 Dealing with th,. steel ship pro. i gram the report states that effort: of the steel ship construction t,iyi- sion have been devoted to accelera- ting the construction nf ships. op- l talnins ships suitable for war pur- l poses, improving the quality of new construction, and obtaining ships q, reasonable prices. D,uin. ;ha yea, ending August 31, 566 keels were laid 3oS ships launched, and 2S7 ships ot 1,S0O.00O deadweisht tens completed l. The reports declares that matcri-
 ally better accomplishment is conf. dently expected durin. the comina year and that gratifying progress along technical lines wa? made. par. ! tcularly ill the simpificaiiou anc 1 improvement of ship and standard.
 lzatlon of the many fittings ,auu,r. 1 ed.
 With regard to the wood ship pro.
 gram the report says the board has recognized more careful attention
 should be given to ships of large
 size, and after investigation has de clded to recommend that efforts bt
 concentrated upon the construction Of 5,000-ton flush-deck wood shin
 which would be as strong as the s.50(
 ton types now being built. and whic1
 could be produced at saving o
 approximately s20 ner ton. At th. i present time. ten types of wood shin,
 of $500. 1000 and 5000 deadwesh tons are being turned out
 Since August 1, wood ships produc
 tlon has averaged at least one com
 plete ready-for- wood staamsb;,
 per calendar day and the report de
 clares that this average will increa $, Concrete ship construction has bee,
 limited, the report says. because thi,
 type of vessel is admittedly less er flclent than the steel ship as carg,
 carrier and because the present hull i lroduclng capacity of marine engin,
 makers, and machinery for operatin,
 concrete ships could not be made ay
 allable. However. contracts for con
 structlon of five government-owne,
 shlpyards for concrete constructio, ' nave hppn cir