The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-24
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFORMAL TON BUREAU
: FREDERIC J. HASKIN. Director.
{ Washington, d. C
CONCRETE SHIPS.
The United States Government Has
Embarked Upon the Greatest
Gamble in History


so million dollars with which to
build concrete ships, and the REQUEST
is endorsed by the president. This
to spend $50,000,oo0 on a new inven-
ton the practicablIity of which has
not been tried.
Under the circumstances, it is the
only thing to do. IL the concrete ship
fails to stand the test of ocean voy-
age, the nation will lose several mil
lion dollars. But if the concrete ship
does survive the test of an ocean Voy-
age the United States will win the war.
In an emergency like this the gov
eminent has got~to take chance
il can't afford not to.
In spite of all that has been done
to speed up the shipbuilding program
during the past nine months, the
amount of tonnage completed Is 1ar
below the original estimates of the
emergency fleet corporation. Now eV-
cry American is aware that the sltua-
ton on the western front is deSper-
ate The allies are in desperate need
of achievements both in the way OF
men and of supplies, and the only
known method of transporting these
reinforcements is in ships. But in
ships both the allies and the United
States are far behind their require
ments The estimated shipping re-
quirementS for the present year are
23,500,O00 tons. The emergency rect
corporation states that the most that
can be expected of American shipyards
is 100000 tons, or a little less than
one-fifth of the requirements.
Furthermore, we may expect to lose
a goedly portion of this tonnage by
the submarines. Last year Great
Britain lest 100000 tons that way
Plainly, the situation calls for some
new and startling remedy, and engl-
neers state that such remedy Is 10
be found in the concrete ship
In the first place, one of the chief
factors interfering in the construction
of steel and wooden ships is the scar
city of materials. Shipyards are
finding it difficult to procure the
necessary timber. The supply OF
steel s also limited, and shipments
OF manganese from South America
recently were sunk. On the other
hand, there are unlimited quantities of
cement in this country: moreover, all
sections are about equally we'll sup
could be established almost anywhere
along the east or west coast and be
within reach of plenty of material
In the second place, the construc-
ton of concrete ships is much
easier process than the building OF
much as wooden ship construction was
n neglected industry in this country at
the outbreak of the war, it has been
difficult for the government to pro-
cure enough men who understand its
problems AS for STEEL the fabrica-
ton of a steel ship is a complicated
business, requiring extremely skillful
artisans and laborers. 1t also re-
quires an elaborate plant, costing
great deal of money and taking a
Icing time to Install. Concrete ships,
on the contrary, may be built by I'M
hn
ar able foreman, and in a very sim
pie plant, consisting only of concrete
mixers,i hoists and other uncompl1-
Gated apparatus, such as may be
found IN any large city.
Concrete is also less expensive than
steel The cost of a concrete ship will
range between 500 and 1925 per ton,
it is estimated by the Emergency Steel
corporation, while the cost of steel
ship ranges from $3.50 to 5000 per ton.
According to the latest estimates of
engineers who have studied the ques-
ton of concrete vessels, a concrete
hull with a capacity of from eight to
ten thousand tons. can be completed
every thirty days-which means that
American tonnage could be advanced
ten million tons in a year.
One other important claim is made
for the concrete ship. 1t is claimed
that it will make a much more diff
ficult victim for the submarine than
the steel ships. TESTS have shown"
says one engineer, that while the con-
crete ship is as elastic as steel, it does
not take up vibrations valuable as
set in the submarine zone.
When a torpedo strikes a steel YES
sci, it not only damages that partic-
ular section with which it comes in
contact, but it causes a looSening of
plates and rivets thruout the entire
hull. But in the concrete ship the
damage will be purely local"
A repairing squad with repair ma
terial will be carried on board every
concrete ship, and as soon as a tor
pedo strikes it's hull the repairing
squad will be lowered and will pro-
coed to fill up the hole with some new
concrete.
1t is not proposed to let the con-
structfon of these new concrete ships
interfere in the slightest degree with
the construction of steel and wooden
ships now going forward in American
shipyards. With the exception of the
steel bars that reinforce the concrete,
the concrete vessels will require none
of the materials used by the others.
Nor will they be robbing any other
war industry. The United States is
one of the largest producers of Port
| land cement in the world, but hereto
fore little cement has been needed for
war purposes. Hence large supplies
are on hand ready for use whenever
| the Emergency Fleet corporation de-
sires to install a plant.
Concrete ships of such large dimen-
sions are a new invention recently de-
veloped in this country, but concrete
barges first appeared in Europe as
early as 1S49. Apparently its adv
tages were not sufficiently or > er
than other types of ships, or the con-
crete ship would have been developed
before this, but with the outbreak of
the war when ship-builders began to
| look far >ahead and see a coming
shortage of materials, the engineers
of every nation started to study the
question of concrete ships.
| Reinforced concrete barges are now
| heine used on EnoliSh ca nails The