Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1918-02-27
DELAWARE RIA
BEEHIVE SHIP
CONSTRUCTION
MORE THAN ONE-THIRO WAR vES-
Sells AND MERCHANT SHIPS
CALLED FOR IN BUILDING
PROGRAM BUILT THERE
GREATEST IN THE WORLD


third of the war vessels and mer-
of the United States government are
building in ship yards along the Delaware
River, according To figures which have
just been made public with the permission
of the Emergency Fleet Corporation. The
tonnage contracted for, according 10 gov
Delaware Valley into the greatest ship
building center in the world.
W. b. Ferguson. n representative of the
Emergency Fleet Corporation. estimates
that an army Of about $4,000 shipworkers
will be required To complete tho ships
including war vessels. contratTed for by
the eleven ~hipbuiIdine plants between
Trenton and Delaware City.
Work on 100 cargo carriers at the new
government ward mt IIo. Island j. pro
crossing and this plant i enga"in" to
turn ont Il. .OON.O 600 additional tons in 1918.
More than 2.50o.Ooo tons will be the Del
aware Rivers first quota in the fleet
which Uncle Sam relies on to help win the
war.
Al the new ship ward nj Bristol. Pa.
forty ships are contracted for. Here
more than 5000 men are at work and II II
expected that 10000 more will be neceS~a-
rv to complete the vessels on schedule.
Ten vessels are being constructed ut
another new ward nj CornwellS. Pa. The
force there of 500 men will he increased
Ia 2.000. At a well-known Philadelphia
Shiriuirl no plant more than 60 ships are
to he turned out Most of these are
government craft on which more than
5000 men are engaged. Another thou
sard j. needed.
In the Inc ward nj Camden. \. j. across
the river from. Pl.iladelpria. 200 men are
lni, 'ng t~eptr-'our ships. More work
err are na-G"d lore also.
Two wards nj Gloucester. \. J., are
turning ont sixteen ships with force q
about 5000 men. Twice this number Of
shipworkers is needed.
Two large plants, one a new one, at
Chester. Pa. have contracted for eighteen
and twenty-six ships respectively. One
plant has only 100 men and requires ut
least 5000 more. according to the gov
ernment figures. The other yard is en-
blowing 1000 men whereas. mt least D.
600 are necessary To complete lts con
tracts.
The plant nj Hog Island l. now em-
blowing about 10000 workers and officials
there estimate that mt least $1,000 are
needed.
Work in one plant at Wilmington. Del,
| i progressing on thirteen ships on which
. 600 men are employed This company i
in the market for another 900 workers.
Al another plant in that city eight ships
are being built bv force Of 900 men
and officials require 1.600 more.
! A drive under the auspices of the gov
ernment is now being conducted through
ont the country to register all men IN the
aichtv-seven trade allied with ~hphnlld-
ling. Many Of these mechanics are now
engaged in other occupations and II y
planned 10 transfer them To the seaboard~
without disturbing industry.
Labor difficulties and shortage Of steel
and other maxerialS. il i expected VIII
treble the original estimate Of the cost OF
the ships contracted for. Recent nve~tI-
CATION of the Delaware River platS indl-
Gated that most of the vessels bcing butt
will be completed in schedule time.
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