Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-01-10
100000 TONS qF
SHIPPING IN 1918
Vast Increase in Number of u.
s. Merchantmen Is Fore
cast by Expert.
REALLY NO LIMIT.
America Can Build Almost Any Amount
Of Ships under Proper Conditions,
Says Homer l.. FergusOn.

Washington, Jan. e-America's probable
output of merchant ships in 1918 was put
at three million tons to-day by Homer l..
Ferguson. president and general manager
OF the Newport News Shipbuilding COM
pany, testifying at the Senate shipbuilding
inquiry. Estimates frequently made OF
from hve to eight million tons, he de-
clared. were misleading to the public and
should not be permitted to go unchal-
lenged.
The greatest obstacle now in the way
OF rapid construction, Mr.. Ferguson said
Is poor housing facilities for shipyard
workers. His story of housing conditions
at Newport News so stirred the committee
that subcommittee comprising Chair
man Fletcher and Senator Harding was
appointed to confer tomorrow with the
proper government officials with a view
to obtaining immediate relief there and
elsewhere.
The testimony Of Mr.. Ferguson, for
II years naval constructor, made q
visible impression on the committee and
ne was kept on the stand most Of the
DAY. lie did not hestate'to criticise the
shipping board and the emergency feet
corporation and held them to blame in
large measure for the slow development
OK the governments program.
THE housing program Mr.. Fergusoa
declared, lis one Of the most vital facing
the government in the conduct Of the
war. You cannot get the ships unless
houses are provided for workmen. We
want to add 5000 men to our force and
there is nowhere in Newport News for
them to live. 1 understand that condi-
lions elsewhere are equally as bad.
There Is no limit to the amount of
ships this country can build IL it really
sets itself to the task. The shipyards
already built and those building can turn
out hve million tons of ships annually
under proper conditions and the country
could, If put to it. add still other yards
and produce ten million tons a year.
But 1t cannot be done without man power
and man power cannot be obtained I'M
less housing is provided
1T Is just as necessary for the govern
ment to build houses for shipyard work.
! ers as 1t is for soldiers. 1t must do it if IL
gets ships. If / had the power 1 would
commander houses and think the gov
| eminent should do this. There is talk of
WORKING men two and three shifts. In our
| yard we have not CROUCH men to work one
| SHIFT and in one hoLSe / know of IS per-
| sons who are living in five rooms. We
have not the money to crud houses and 1t
Is the duty Of the government to put them
/ w. we are READY TO 1urn1SI the land"
Declaring that 100000 tons IL. sta proba-
bic maximum production this -er Mr..
| Ferguson said that Lloyd's special sport
estimates the steel output at only 2aOo.
600 tons. Although he did not condemn tn
| wooden ship program Mr.. Ferguson SAID
| that he doubted If the vessels after they
were built would be fit for transatlantic
service. They could be used to great ad-
| vantage, he said, on coastwise runs.
Members of the committee were inter
| ested to know what had caused the delay
in the governments providing housing IA
| cilties for shipyards and Mr.. Ferguson
replied that he thought 1t was due to a
lack of coordination by the war and navy
departments. the shipping board and the
council of national defense. In Newport
News. he said the growth of the military
| establishment had absorbed all available
housing.
Concentration of shipyards in the Phil
| adelphia district was criticised by Mr..
| Ferguson as likely to increase housing
| difficulties and to add to railroad conges-
| ton. The industry, he said, should have
been scattered more along the coasts.