The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-03-28

with seventyfour ways are on the
Great Lakes.
/ We found twenty-four old wooden
shipyards, with seventy-three ship
ways. The capacity for wooden snip
building has been increased until we
now have eighty-one wooden ship
building yards, with 332 ways COM
pleted or nearing completion
Assuming that these ways VIII each
produce two standard ships per year
We should turn out about 100000
deadweight tons OF wooden ships an
nually. These 332 wooden shipbuild-
ing ways, now nearing completion.
added to our sos steef building ways,
viii give us a total Of 730 bcrths upon
which to build steel and wooden YES
sells When you consider that we had
only l62 steel building ways a few
months ago and seventy-three wooden
sAipbuilding ways "A total of -
an increase IL shown of 495 wooden
and steel bertbs on which we can
build ships.
With our total Of 100 WOOD and
steel ways, we viii have 52t more
berths than Sir Eric Geddes In his
recent speech stated England has at
the present time.
In Regard to Labor.
Now az TO labor-our strong right
arm, There has been much talk Of
iconscripting labor, OF forcing it into
shipyards S our soldiers have been
drought into the camps. | do not be-
lieve conscription necessary. for / be-
lieve labor itself will produce con-
dttions which will render idle all
thought of corscripting workmen.
1t would be useless to manufacture
material and supplies and pile up the
products on the wharves if there are
no ships to transport them. So, I'M
less our ship workers do their best
other industries must slow down or
halt completely. with the result that
thousands of workers throughout the
country will suffer for lack OF en-
ployment.
believe that labor has begun to
realize that fact but want to drive
III home to them; for there are sonle.
] regret to say, who do not vet sense
their responsibility.
The vast majority of laboring men
are patriotic. the leaders whom +
have known through close contact in
Washington, especially Mr.. Com pers
and his immediate associates, have
my confidence, and the country rec
ognizes their patriotism, with only
one exception, the leaders OF the ship
yard crafts generally have shown a
spirit Of cooperation, ready to sink
their personal differences in the com
mon pool OF patriotism.
We have recruited volunteer force
OF ESQ, highly skilled mechanics
who have with a patriotism that has
made US all proud. agreed TO hold
themselves in readiness for our call
In 1915 there were less than ~ 600
men employed in all the shipyards OF
the country and on March 9. 1913. We
had increased this number TO 236. 600
Of which 170,6Se were working on
a ctusl ship construction. and the re-
mainder in yard construction and 9TH
cr branches OF tbs industry.
This h~'~~7 rae 20 the point where
desire to make a brief reference 10
what have been popularity termed our
three fabricating shipyards, These
yards, located at Hog island. Newark
bay and Bristol, Pa. are IN reality as.
sembling yards, The shiphuilding ma
tNrials which will go into the making
Of vessels launched at these yards rae
being fabricated In scores Of steel
plants, scattered throughout the coun-
try as far west "a Omaha, Neb In
some instances. % per cent 81 the
work on these materials is being done
at points far remote from the shin
Yards
These three assembling yards with
their fifty WAYS at Hog island, twenty
eight at Newark bay. and twelve
Bristol, will. when they arc in FUN
operation. produce In single ynar
more ships than england. the greatest
maritime nation OF the world has eve.
bean able to turn out In the same
length OF time Already az the var Is
OF the Submarine Roat company at
Newark bav Afteen kcels have been
laid. and thirteen more W.T. be puti
down as soon as the remaining ways