The Washington herald., 1918-03-27

4
cd, let me say that in 1916 there were
less than 1900 men employed In all
the shipyards OF the country and on
March 2, 1918. we had increased this
number to 2ss.ooo. OF which 17o,58 were
working on actual ship construction.
and the remainder in yard construc-
ton and other branches Of the indus
try. Thousands Of others are employed
in taking out the tirnbers for our
wooden construction and at the scores
Of inland steel plants which are fab
ricating the parts for steel vessels.
This brings me to the point where
desire to make a brief reference to
what have been popularly termed our
three fabricating shipyards. The term
Is more or less a misnomer, for these
yards. located at Hog Island. Newark
Bay, and Bristol. Pa, are In reality
assembling yards. The shipbuildins
materials which will 60 into the max
ing OF vessels launched at these yards
are being fabricated in scores OF steel
plants. scattered throughout the coun-
try as far west as Omaha, Neb. In
some instances. IS per cent OF the work
on these materials II being done at
points far remote from the shipyards.
The so-called fabricated ship Ii almost
new method of ship construction
almost as new to England as II Is TO
us. But from the progress OF the work
as II has thus far developed, We are
confident that II will be the means OF
adding millions Of tons to our mer-
chant marine.
A Continuous Vessel Production.
These three assembling yards, with
their nifty ways at Hog Island. twen-
ty-eight at Newark Bay. and twelve
at Bristol. will. when they are in
full operation, produce In a single
year more ships than England, the
greatest maratime nation Of the
world, has ever been able to turn
out In the same length of time. Al
| ready at the yards Of the Subma-
rine Boat Company at Newark Bay
| fifteen keels have been laid. and thir-
teen more will be put down as soon
| as the remaining ways, now In
course OF construction, are complet-
ed. BY the time the last way is I'm
ished the vessel on the first way
will be well on towards completion;
and as soon as II is slipped into the
water another keel will be laid in
its place, and we will thus have a
continuous period of vessels dropping
into the water from this yard at the
rate of two a week, Even greater
tonnage will he produced at HOG
Island, with its larger number OF
ways and the bigger type Of vessels
which are being constructed there.
When the high point in the curb
Of production finally is reached, and
the magnitude OF Americas ship
building program is realized it will
be continuous performance Of pro-
ductiOn and launching.
II you will take q glance at the map
OF the world you will see that three
] fourths OF II is covered with water.
Great Britain long ago made ii her
policy to maintain control OF this
! greater part OF the worlds surface.
J But We also have taken first rank
among the powers, and our first
need now is for a great merchant
marine. Our gigantic program for
| ship construction will place US in
a position where we can rely on ma
! tive resources, rather than be de-
! pendent on the fleets OF our COM
| petitors. as It has been very largely
in the past. No nation can be great
commercially unless it has its own
manufacturing and its own ship
ping. and this IL the goal which will
be passed in peace if We can reach
it I'm war
VIII BE a World Leader.
There is no doubt but that We are
! destined TO be one of the leading
! shipbuildinE nations in the world.
| We will have the largest number OF
! shipyards, the materials and the
labor and when our shipbuildinG
| plants are completed and are well
| organized on sound business lines 50