New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-12
George Baldwin Discusses
1918 Production Before
Chamber of Commerce
Figures Less Than
Federal Programme
Tribute to "President Will
sons Business Battalion"
Is Applauded
[Staf Correspondencel

CHICAGO, April 11.-George J.
Baldwin, senior vice-president of the
American International Shipbuilding
Corporation, told the Chamber of Com
merce of the United States day that
at the present time it seems possible
TO produce in the United States Cur
ing 1918 about 100000 lightweight
tons of merchant ships. This is two
million tons less than the amount
called for in the construction pro-
grammc of the United States Shipping
Board. This comparison, however, was
not made by Mr.. Baldwin.
Mr.. Baldwin said that approximate
ly 100000 additional lightweight tons
could be produced in all other coun-
tries combined. The speaker, who in
addition to his other Offices. is presi-
dent of the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company, was discussing the building
of fabricated steel ships. He said:
"On June 80, 1914, we estimated q
total Of 100000 gross tons of mer
chant shipping then existing in the
world. BY January 1, 1918, this had
decreased to 100000 tons, and after
deducting enemy tonnage informed
neutral tonnage tied I'D and TONNAGE
IN military use, the available tonnage
Tor commerce was reduced to $4,000
900 or about SO per cent of the original
total.
Places Production at 100000
"The foregoing statistics are given
IN gross tons. as it is usual to state
the worlds shipping figures in this
measure. In America the common
measure used is the lightweight ton,
which is equivalent to approximately
threeffths of the gross ton | shall
state figures from now on in dead
weight tonnage.
weight tons were destroyed. production
in the United States had increased
from a normal of 100000 tons to an
proximately 100000 during the wear.
while all other countries had produced
100000 tons. With sinkngs bv sub
marines and losses from natural causes
for 1918 estimated at between $780,
600 and 100000 tons, our problem
* is to compensate for this actual. as
we'll as future, loss by an enormous,
ly increased construction of cargo yes
sells without interference with the
needed building Of naval vessels re-
CURED TO decrease the destructive
force of the growing enemy subma-
srine feet.
AT the present time. it seems pos
-sible to produce in the United States
during 1918 about 1000 900 lightweight
tons of merchant ships, and approx
mately an equal amount in all The
other countries combined, with very
material increase in American produc-
ton for 1919 and subsequent years.
Favors Fabricated Method
From present indications. destruc-
ton by submarine has perhaps passed
IT'S climax, and if continued at no
greater rate for the balance of the
year we may expect by the end of 1918
70 be producing an amount of tonnage
very nearly approximating the war
destruction for the year But this can
only be done by means of the so-callcd
fabricated or assembled ships and by
new methods of construction
"The new shipyard was to become
an assembling floor of colossal ship
factory. whose machinery was already
operating in a thousand cities, whose
employees were the entire body of
American skilled labor. and whose
conveyor belts were the American
railways
ct is the organized power of a con-
ccntrated, unified Germany which has