The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-04-26
SITE SELECTED FOR
CONCRETE ship PLANT
Model Yard Planned at Wilmington.
n. C.-F'ive Plants Proposed.

The United States Shipping Board
has decided on the construction of a
new yard at Wilmington, N. c., for
building concrete ships. This plant
will be a model for similar yards in
other sections of the country if Con-
gress appropriates the $50, 100000
asked for the construction of yards
for concrete shipbuilding.
The Shipping Board does not feel
justified in using the appropriation
for steel and wood ships on concrete
shipbuiiding, since concrete ships are
still in the initial stage of develop
ment. The successful launching OF
the Faith the first large concrete
steamer constructed in this country,
has done much in showing the prac-
ticability of this type of vessel.
The experience gained with con-
crete ships thus far, it is held, war
rants the belief that this type of
construction is worth finishing. If
the new appropriation of $4,000
600 is granted, 100000 would
be kept apart as an authorized fund
to be spent on concrete construction,
the other SIS, 100000 being immedi-
ately available for starting the de-
1t is proposal to build five Govern
ment concrete shipyards, probably
two on the Pacific Coast, one on the
Gulf, and two on the Atlantic Coast.
The sites for these plants have not
yet been decided upon definitely, but
probably will be announced soon.
The tentative plans call for the con-
struction of $500 ton tankers, the
- Ill Il %I,1
necessity for rapid construction of
the concrete type of vessel having en-
tered into the decision of the Ship
ping Board in this respect. Plans
for the vessels will be ready within
six weeks. They will be equipped
with reciprocating engines.
F. j. Wig, head of the Department
of Concrete Ship Construction, be-
lieves that the reinforced concrete
ship can be built structuraily equal
10 any steel fs--A MIR. Wig was seat
by the Shipping Board to San Fran
cisco to see the launching of the
Faith and look into all the de-
tails of its construction.
MY information" he said, "as-
sures me with all the certainty pos
sible short of actual experience that
concrete ship will be durable for
several years or throughout the prob
able duration of the present war.
There are deteriorating elements
which may limit the life of a con-
cete ship to three or four years, but
this can be determined only from
experience. Our present emergency
calls for ships, and their life is not
of great Importance just now.
The construction of concrete hulls
should not interfere with the present
program for the construction of
wood and steel bulls in so far as la
Dor and materials are concerned. 1t
is not true that the reinforced con-
crete hull can be built more rapidly
than steel hulls in a well organized
yard, but concrete offers this adyan-
tage, that a concrete hull can be
built in a very simple plant, calling
only for concrete mixers, hoists and
other simple equipment obtainable
in any large city, while steel ships
must have an elaborate plant, cree
ted at high cost and requiring con-
siderable time for installation. The
steel ship plant also requires high
skilled labor, while the common la
Dor answers the purpose in construc-
ton of concrete ships except for the
foreman and superintendent. Thus
the labor problems, as well as the
equipment and material problems, is
simplifed.