The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-06-21

the United States Shipping Board
in an address in the University of
Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind, re-
Gently. gave the following facts and
figures relative to Americas ship
building program and accomplish
mcnts in the present war:
On the 1st day of June, of this
year, we had increased the Ameri-
can-built tonnage to over 100000
deadweight tons of shipping. In the
eleven months from July 1, 1917, to
June 1, 1918, we constructed in
American shipyards tonnage equal
to the total output of American
yards during the entire previous four
years. In short, the Shipping Board
has added approximately 100000
tons of new construction to Ameri-
can Shipping in the last ten months,
for it was not until August Sd of
last year that our communicating
order went into effect. We have
also added 118 German and Austrian
vessels, with total deadweight tom
mage Of 730,176. We have requsi-
toned from the Dutch under the
order of the President, sc vessels
with total deadweight tonnage of
526,532. In addition we have char
tered from neutral countries 215
vessels with an aggregate dead
weight tonnage of 953,661. This
tonnage, together with the vessels
which we have been obliged to leave
in the coastwise and Great Lakes
trade, gives US total of more than
400 ships with an approximate
total deadweight of 100000 tons
now under the control of the United |
States Shipping Board.
In round numbers, and from all |
sources, we have added to the
American flag since our war against
Germany began, nearly 100000 tons
OF shipping. We are adding to
this tonnage rapidly and will con-
tinue to do so. 1t has taken us
some time to apply to the shipbuild-
ing industry of this country the prin-
ciples of organization and progress
sive manufa curing which have made
our other big institutions the mar
vel of the world.
Since January of the present year,
when our new quantity production
Of ships may well be said to have
Just begun, we have steadily risen
in our monthly output until in the
month of May we turned out total
If 100000 tons for that one month
alone, making total for the first
i've months of this year of 118 steel
ships, aggregating 805,OOO dead
weight tons. Now, in the year end {
ng July l, 1915, the shipyards in
his country built 186,7OO deadweight
ons of steel vessels of over 1900
leadweight tons. Thus, in the month I
II May we produced $4,000 tons t
more than were produced in the en-
ire year 1915. During the year
nding July l, 1916, 2S1,4OO dead '
weight tons of steel vessels were
delivered. Adding the 1915 ton
lage with the 1916 tonnage gives a
otal of 468,100 tons. With a ton v
age for the first five months of v
his year of 805,0O0 tons, we de- G
vered in five months $4,000 tons a
iore than was built in American \
hipyards in the years 1915 and S
9l6. l do not believe l am over h
ptimistic in saying that our ton
age output will continue 10 increase a
ntil before this year closes we will I
e turning out half million tons t.
ach month.
We have established a shipbuild- a
lg industry that will make us a n
reat maritime nation. We have I
oday under contract and construc- j
on 8l9 shipbuilding ways, inelud- a
lg wood, steel and concrete, which Il
twice as many shipbuilding ways a
s there are in all the rest of the o
hipyards of the world combined.
ur program for the future should Il
ppeal to the pride of all loyal and Il
atriotic Americans. In the early D
art of May the members Of the a
hipping Board appeared before the i
appropriation Committee of Con- 4,
ress with a request for additional !
lnds for our extended program. :,
Our program calls for the building I
1856 passenger, cargo, refriger- =
tor ships and tankers, ranging from a
DO to 10000 tons each, with an /:
deadweight tonnage of j
100000. We are also contract
lg for 200 wooden barges, so con-