Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-17
SHIPPING BOARD WANTS
TO FINISH ITS PROGRAM
Recommends Completion OF Con
struction Modifi To Meet Conn
ing OF World Peace.
REPORT IS EULL OF FACTS
Question of Permanent Merchant
Marine Plan Left Tor Future de-
termination, hu: 1t Is Indicated
That Suggestions Arc to BE Made.

WASHINGTON. December i6.-c'on
pletion OF tn" Src:: merchant marine
lnoaihcd to meet the coming Of peace
and still further extension OF ship
building is recomm ended by the United
states shipping Board in It's second
annual report 10 Congress. made pub
lie to-day. The question Of pcrina
meni merchant marine program is left
ind!catlng that II will have susges-
tons regarding both development and
operation at tho conclusion or invest!-
sal '"ns now in progress.
Describing tho tremendous fleet now
operated by ;.ic government; the re
port shows how enemy tonnage was
secured not only by taking over YES
sells intcrncd in United States har6ors.
but by purchasing; and chartcring from
other nations wh'ch likewise had seized
German and Austrian ships. Cuba.
China. Si:.'n. Brazil. Uruguay and Peru
ri! aided the United States and the
allies in this regard The cost Of re-
pairing the German and Austri-n veg
sells amounted to approximately sii.-
l9i.S62.71.
Tnn Emergency Fleet Corporation of
the board owned on November p. ac-
cording to the report. total OF 30
Gf;y-ninc former German vessels OF
J,A".2o6 dchdweight tons: six former
austrian vessels. asgreEat.ns $685.
ships OF l3T..2iS tons.
OF the ei.hty-onc Dutch vessels
taken over under presidential procla-
nation. hrty-tNsn. Of :36.2i0 dcadwc eight
tons. We're managed by tho Shipping
Brard ,ani the others by the navy
There were BPS foreign ships Of 1856
the board on this date and i50 Amer
can ships Of 2.*l0.7G6 deadwcight tons
under rcduiaition, making "A total Gee;
OF 1856 vessels aggrfSatinG 7i?So75
dcadweight tons owned. managed or
chartered b. the Shipping Board.
IN regard TO the requisitioning OF
American tonnage. the report SAYS
>, Perhaps no phase OF the Shipping
Boards work has been more difiicuit
TO adjust fairly ard Satisfactorily than
s slim ' fnr ms u INC rean,si,ionins OF
ers have cu-orcra ted with excellent
spirit.
Emergency Fleet Corporation for the
construction OF ships made during the
S Tsn n pr t, cd for leo steel cargo
sh1bS OF a S.s',:@oS deadws!Em, tons
weight tons. ninety-four steel troop
ships OF $1,000 deadwcieht tons. TWO
steel hospital ships OF 10000 dead
weight tons. four steel refrigerator
ships Of $500 deadweigh, tons. lU4
oceanso.nG steel tugs and eight steel
harhor tugs and sixteen steel barges
OF $500 lightweight tons.
THE wood and composite ship con-
iiaois called Tor Isl complete wood
strips Of ,o7.5oo' eadweigh, tons. 5io
aulls OF i.s4Looe deadweight tons, ia
wood tugs. and - composite ships OF
10000 deadwciGnt tons
From the time OF its organization up
70 Argus, 81. 1918. says the report,
the corporation had negotiated 4aS
contracts. aSgreEating 2.2sS vessels
WIN II total OF li,ll2l30 deadweight
S2.sls,al6.2o4.
Dealing with the steel ship program
me report states that efforts OF the
steel shin construction division have
hccn devoted TO accelerating tho con-
Structlon OF ships. obtaining ships suit
ao!e tor war purposes. Improving tns
puallty OF new construction and oo-
ia!n!nE ships q reasonable prices. Dur
ing The year endine August 81. 500
keeiS were laid. 35S ships launched and
com nlcltl -