The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-11-22
CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM.

CONSTRUCTION PhOUnAN.
Tn the report of the National Foreign Trade
Council, which met recently to take up problems
nf restored peace, the construction program OF
the Shipping Board discussed ana lt was
pointed out that it's completion would mean
fleet roughly estimated at at least 14,ooOooo
GROSS tons The report showed that 1t has been
tbe experience of Great Britain during long
period of years that about sixty per cent OF tne
CARRYING power of British shipping IN foreign
trades is employed in bringing imports into ana
taking exports from the United Kingdom, ana
It pointed out that on the basis of the British
precedent, the expected American fleet OF a.
100000 gross tons will be ample to meet the needs
of American foreign trade.
The report then discussed the fact that con-
siderable portion of the fleet will be unavali
able for off-shore service. This refers partlcu-
larly to the wooden ships which constitute so
large part of the Shipping Board construction
program The committee recommended the ad-
Instability of curtailing the program of wooden
construction at the earliest feasible date and the
nrenaration to transform into barges the surplus
of the wooden steamers over those which can be
ennploved economically. The machinery thus
made available could be used with advantage IN
steel hulls.'
Referring to the fabrication of steel vessels as
the DEVELOPMENT of entirely new industry IN
shin building, the committee said that 1t is IN
evitable that the fabrication yards erected under
the supervision of the Shipping Board Will con-
stitute an important factor IN American snip
construction, after the war. The commlttee
nointed out the fact that more than 385, 900 en-
plovees are now at work in American ship yards,
whereas two years ago there were fewer than
5O 600 The existence of this large body of labor
trained in ship construction, the committee point
ed out will constitute another important factor
in the permanent retention of an adequate mer-
chant fleet under the American flag.
The report emphasized the fact that the ex-
perience of the great maritime nations or the
world "'has taught them that it is necessary tc
provide certain proportion of passenger carry
ing steamers in their fleets" and that it is most
essential that fleet comprise the various
types of passenger steamers in addition to cargo
vessels
After discussing the diminution of world ton
mage that has occurred during the war, as a re-
suit of submarine and other losses, which IS es-
tinated at more than four million gross tons, the
committee report emphasized the important of
"the continuation of the present accelerated pro-
gram of construction for a considerable time
after the var, in order to bring the worlds ocean
tonnage again to the point where it is adequate
to meet the worlds needs. The committee de-
clared that it may even be necessary to extend
the present program of steel construction in
order to assist in making up for the depletion of
tonnage that has occurred during the war.
Discussing the essential factors in the furnish
ment and operation of ships-the cost of capital,
the cost of construction and the cost of opera
tion-the committee concluded that so far as
costs of capital and of construction are concerned
the United States will not be disadvantageously
situated after the war compared with other mari
time nations.