The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-08-17
cement MEN CR|T|C|SE
j. 5. SHIPPING BOARD
Want More Important Place in Build
ing Program for Vessels Of
Concrete.
HURLEY MAKES REPLY.
This Is No Time for Experiments, De-
clares Executive, Who Says Work
VIII Go Ahead on Established
Lines.

Washington, Aug. 16.--War indus
try has curtailed building operations.
Building operations made market
for cement. Cement makers are the
enthusiastic advocates of an unlim-
tied program for the construction of
concrete ships.
This is the A 3 C of the propa- =
ganda which accuses Chairman Ed
ward n. Hurley, of the United States
shipping board, and Director General
Charles NJ. Schwab. OF the Emergency
Fleet corporation, OF blocking the way
to the building of concrete hips.
Cement makers sent a strong lobby
to Washington to urge the shipping
beard to let down the bars in order
that the government might digest the
overproducton of cement under the
curtailment of building operations.
The concrete ship offered the open
door, Chairman Hurley told the
cement men that the concrete ship
was an experiment and that. no mat
ter how gladly the shipping board
might welcome what they believed
was successful experiment, the pro-
gram of construction OF steel and
wood ships must go on in the effort
10 win the war
The answer of the cement lobby
was that they would strike back in
such ID way as 10 make 1t uncomfort-
able for the men In charge of the
shipbuiidng program Mr. Schwah
has answered their challenge frankly.
and he is in charge of the manufac-
ture of ships. but in order TO infu-
ence him a New York newspaper has
accused Chairman Hurley OF obstruct-
ing the manufacture of concrete ships.
Il would build more concrete ships
than Carter had oats" said Chairman
Hurley, III the concrete bottoms
would run by themselves. The men
who want TO unload their cement on
the government do not seem to reckon
on the filings of q ship, We can
launch hulls until the whole sea board
is lined with ships. but they must have
motive power. they must have fittings
before they are ready for sea duty,
If any man wants to challenge me.
/ Will show him that the United States
shipping board has done more to pro-
mote the interests of concrete ships
| than any individual or corporation
since the idea was first preached We
are ready 10 be shown II a man can
make ship out II refuse. he Will find
an honest welcome in our Offices II
/ he comes in the interest OF sonnet hing
that somebody wants to unload on the
government. just because il Is war
times and the men behind him need
the money, he is going 10 get a
mighty cool reception We are NOT
going to plunge or gamble with the
peoples money. / hope that is plain.
/ The shipbuilding program Will &c
ahead despite the attempts OF outside
influence. Watch il and see IL am
right"
The attacks of the cement lobby in
| Washington, however. have forced
the shipping board and the F.mer-
gency Fleet corporation TO refute
some of the accusations and propa-
ganda that have been put out. In an
official statement today the Emer-
gency Fleet corporation makes the
following explanation:
The fleet corporation is at present
building all the wooden ships tina,
( the resources of raw and finished ma
: terial necessary VIII permit. Its pro-
gram OF steel ship construction is like
wise planned up TO the limit of the
steel. machinery and equipment posi-
bilittes The output OF steel ships
ana OF wooden ships Is constantly in
creaStng, but we have not yet reached
anything like the possibilities of out
pat IN steel construction. The output
: OF steel plates and shapes of our roll
ing mills is StIil considerably greater
than the needs of steel shipbuilding
at its present rate of production. and
MIR, Sehwab's concern in securing a
proper distribution of the available
steel supply is not that the steel out
put. may not meet our present needs
but that il may not meet the greatly
! expanded needs Of our future plans
he is bringing the subject up in time
so that steps may be taken TO in
crease the steel producing capacity In