Evening journal., 1918-05-01
APDIL SETS record
FOR SHIPBU|LDIHC
Adds 80 Vessels, Aggregat-
ing 100000 Tons, TO
U. S. Fleet
WOULD MAKE A
TWO-MILE LINE

WASHINGTON, May t.-Americah
shlpbuildIng entered a new stage yes
ierday. when figures for April con
structIon showed a total OF 2lo,oOo
deadweIsht tons. the best monthly
record in the history Of the uhileu
States ,. .,
The April figures mark a gam pi
moro than 80 per cent. over Marcll;
400 per cent. over February anu
almost 200 per cent. over January, |
and are 1900 tons better than previous |
records established In June, i9ih Wheh
pos si5i deadweight tons were Dullt'
The figures showing the enormous
strides Of the construction program
follow: o,su
FEBRUARY sixteen ships...... .t23tOo
March. twenty-one ships. .t66'iUO
Anrl thirty-two ships. ...... .240,OOO
shippine board officials said lnaI
there are now approximately 3OOOOoO
TONS OF shipping under the American
Gag and that the end Of the year VIII
b seS as much more shipping ready 10
undertake the task OF supplying the
army in France.
The announcement Of April construc-
t,on nv the shipping board follows:
"Fueene II Chamberlain, Commis-
sioner of Navieatlon, today reported 10
the shining hoard that up to O'Clock
tbis afternoon his record showed a
total Of 10000 deadweight tons con
sfruction during the month Of April
His report added that two-thirds OF TINS
totaI tonnage, 1888. was constructed
during the last half Of the montn.
"Tbe best previous record IN TINS
nations shlpbuilding was made IN Juh'
M last year when 22si5i tons were
turned out. .A -, ,b,
t,venty-six working days Of April saw
the completion Of a 9,OOO-ton Nessel. :
steamship Of 1000 tons WIN aNSISS a.,
650 feet in length. II laid end TO END thl
April output would extend h,iVO leel
or a little more than two miles
"The White Star liner Olympic i
po,v the largest merchant steamship J.
service Her gross tonnage Is 4o.5o'
This April output Of American shll
Yards Is equivalent 10 three olympic
and two such steamships as the Amer
can liners ST. Louis and St. Paul.
"The shipping boards own hgures iC
Anril construction will not be announ'
ed until complete reports have been II
celved from all shipyards. Those fro
ihe far western yards may not ne
hand until the middle Of next week
additional figures issued by Z
Emergency Fleet Corporation tod
showed that the Philadelphia, sou
Jersey and vicinity district stan
fourth In the United states in rega
20 rivets driven day District no.
which embraces the state OF Washln
ton. was FIRST with $1,000 rivets orlI
dav. while in District No. 10, whi
includes the Philadelphia territo
i3O0O rivets were driven day.
Construction in the Philadelphia o
trict for March was only 80 per ce
OF the promised total, and IN TINS
spect the district was seventh,
honors again going 70 Washhst
vbich completed "a per cent. Of
program.
"ZVlth good weather, growing orga
cations" saws the Emergency Fleet Z
porstlon. 1.-The finishing up Of shipy
construction and the STRENGTHENING
of tangles In material and hanspoi
iion Il Is TO be expected that mi
Yards will soon exceed their asslg
iosks each month and make shoWl
in excess Of 100 per cent
Many yards at the foot OF
present list are finishing their W
shops. cranes and other equipment
concentrating on other classes OF sn
and it is entirely possible for sue
vard 10 advance rapidly from the
Torn 10 the top Of the list as II tao
sciual ship construction. On the
nrinciple. some Of the yards. nov
he Ton OF the list may be called u
a. put farth every effort to main
their position s,
Robert p. Bass. OF New Hamps
now labor expert with the ship
hoard called on ship owners,
onerators and seamens representa-
an conferences today to put aside
ing The war all differences and &C
crate on the common ground OF AT
canism 20 keep ships fully and
petently manned for every nc
service.