New-York tribune., 1918-06-23
439, 1886 Tons Scheduled
for Worlds Greatest
Launching
SO in the East, 43 in
West, Rest on Lakes
Exceeds by One Third the
Entire Seagoing Tonnage
Of United States

WASHINGTON, June 22.-Ceiebra-
tion of July a this year viii be made
notable for all time by the launching
from American shipyards of the largest
number of ships Of the greatest aggre-
gate tonnage ever put into the water in
one day.
Independence Days contribution to
the merchant feet on which the world
is depending for victory over the Ger
mans will be at least eighty-nine ves-
sells, with a capacity of 439,8S6 dead
weight tons. In addition, enthusiastic
workmen are strainine every nerve to
complete six other hulls in time for
them to join in the splash that will be
heard around the world, which would
make the total tonnage 470.886.
The conservative estimate Of launch
ing on that day is one-third more than
the entire production Of seagoing ton
mage in United States yards in the
fiscal year of 1915-16 and exceeds
by 42,050 tons the launchings for 1901.
the record pre-war year in American
shipbuilding. The Shipping Boards
paIlueT cOHStfuCtIOH TeCOTO OIL Mey VIII
Be eclipsed in one day, both in number
of ships and in tonnage.
Thirtyrseven of the hulls expected
to be launched will be steel tonnage
of 254,6S6. They will include the 12,-
500-ton cargo carrier William Penn,
the 1200oton Chaliinger of the same
type, the three sisters-Independen
Victorious and Defance-all of the H.
S0o-ton class; three refrigerating ships
of 9,400 tons each and eight of the
8,8o0-ton freighters. The Lake Pearl,
a, 2,3oo-tcn vessel which is to take to
the water on Lake Michigan, will have
the baby honors of the day. The aver
age tonnage of the steel vessels is
$3.50.
SO Wooden Ships
With the exception of the 4,70O-ton
Beechland and two others of 1000
tons, the fifty-two wooden hulls which
aye to be launched are of the 3,50O-ton
type. Their total tonnage is 1S5,2O0
The Pacific Coast yards will launch
twenty-slx wooden and seventeen steel
vessels, totalling 25o,7O0 deadweight
tons. The East will be close second
to the West, making ready for thirty
eight launchings from yards on the
Atlantic and Gulf coasts, twenty-seven
of which will be wooden vessels, total
ling 96,700 deadweight tons, and eleven
steel vessels, totalling 76,4S6 dead
weight tons. making a grand total of
172,1S6 lightweight tonnage. The Great
Lakes will launch fourteen steel ships.
totalling 47,7oO deadweight tons.
The Bethlehem Union plant at San
Francisco will have the honor of
launching the biggest individual tom
mage of any yard in the country, with
three steel ships totalling 35,4O0 dead
weight tons. The Moore Shipbuilding
Company, at Oakland, Cal, also will
launch three hulls of 28,200 deadweight
tons. Seattle likewise will be the
scene of a triple launching, but the
three hulls will be divided among three
different yards.
The Great Lakes Company at it's
Ecorse tMich.), plant will launch three
hulls totalling $500 deadweight tons
and Will launch another vessel at its
Ashtabula yard. Pusey & Jones, at
Gloucester, N. j., will launch the larg-
est single hull when the cargo steamer
William Penn takes the water
Aberdeen, WASH, with the launching
Of four hulls, will have the honored
position among the wooden shipbuild.
ers. Tacoma, Wash, and Portland, Ore,
each will see three wooden huls slide
into the water, and the II. L. Shattocl
yards at Portsmouth, N H., will up
hold the prestige of the East with 8
like number.
Mobile. Penn; Moss Point, Miss. and
Orange. Tex, will lead the Southern
yard, with each city holdinga double
launching. ~