Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1918-01-04
NO SHIPS FROM
HOG ISLAND THIS YEAR
Ferris Admits That Boards
Contracts Cannot Be
Filled on Time
NEW YARDS FOSTERED
AT EXPENSE OF OLD

WASHINGTON. Jan. 4.-Theodoro E.
Ferris, chief constructor in the tech
nlcal department Of the Emergency
Fleet Corporation and designer Of the
Ferris type Of wooden ship. as we'll as
OF the various types Of fabricated steel
ships which the Fleet Corporation Is
constructing, admitted on the stand
yesterday at the Senate Investigation
into the affairs OF the Shipping Board
that the prospects for actual deliveries
OF ships from the three so-called Gov
ernment-owned yards were very slim.
Pinned down by Senator Johnson, Of
California, to a definite expression Of
opinion, Mr.. Ferris said 70 was doubt
ful If any ships az all were finished in
the yard Of the American International
Shipbui1iing Cooperation at Hog Island
in the year 1918 1T Is possible. Of
course. but in my judgment not prob
able, that the Hog Island yard viii de-
liver ships In 1918" said Mr.. Ferris.
Would the same opinion apply to
the the other two Governmeni-owned
yards-that is, the Submarine Boat
Corporation at Newark and the Mer-
chant Shipbuildng Company at Bris-
toll" asked Senator Johnson.
THE Submarine Boat Corporation is
further advanced than the other two"
answered Mr.. Ferris. The yard Is
getting on faster toward completion.
and they have already laid down a few
keels ! think they Will launch some
ships there this year. The Merchant
Shlpbuilding Company Is making the
next best progress toward the compile
ton OF its yard. and will possibly also
get In shape 10 build some ships in the
last qua ter Of the year. But the plant
OF the American International is no.
where near completed and 10 is an i'm
mense Job"
Il notice, according 90 the contract
with the American International Cor
poratlon. It Is TO deliver the FIRST twen-
ty-fve ships by The last Of October,
1918" said senator Johnson. DO you
mean that you think those ships will
not be delivered
Il don't say that they won't be de-
livered,' answered Mr.. Ferris, but /
think It is extremely improbable"
The next deliveries. according to this
contract. are for another twenty-five
ships by the m ddle Of December. 1918.
Do you think that these ships will be
delivercd?"
Il think that it is extremely doubt
full. We may gel few Of them by
this time"
"The next deliveries" went on Sem
ator Johnson, ARE for twenty-flyf ships
5y the last Of February, 1919. What
about these ships?"
Il think there Is a good chance q
our getting these twenty-five said Mr..
Ferris Il think that they will be
about catching up with the program by
that time"
"You mean that we may get the
whole seventy-iive by the end OF Febru-
airy. 1892"
POSSIBLY. or course, that judgment
is based on the assumption that all
goes well with the labor and material
situations. want 10 be perfectly frank
with you"
Yes, we want you to be-" said Sena-
tor Johnson f'Thcn prospects look
pretty dark for a great amount q ship
construction 10 the new yards during
the coming year?'
Il am afraid that Is the way it will
work out as a practical opoSition,
Mr.. Ferris admitted And, Of course,
II we fall down IN the labor and ma
terial situation, thlngs will be still
worse"
This admission by a practical ship
designer. a man who knows his job and
has had an extensive experience with
most Of the shipbuilding plants Of the
country, Is perhaps as important a
piece Of testimony as has yet been
brought out in the course Of the Senate
inVcstigation. Mr.. Ferris faces, with
out evasion, the fact that the new Gov
ernment-owned yards Will not be prop
erly geared up for work according to
their announced program until q year
from the present time. and that the ef-
nclency Of their construction during
that time, as well as their power 20 de-
liver ships after they are completed
depends upon certain fundamental un.
known factors II all goes we'll with
these factors, big things may be eX-
pectcd Of the future. II all does not
go well. the ability Of The yards TO cope
with their contracts will be put or to
a still later date.
This means very plainly that the old
shipyards Of the country Will deliver
the bulk Of the new tonnage for the
year 1918. And this, in turn. logically
throws open the question Of the policy
OF stimulation to be pursued. Is the
shipping Board. as policy ilXer for To"
Emergency Fleet Corporation, 10 con-
tlnue to foster the new yards at thu
expense OF the old yards, or is Il going
to Try and keep the balance Of labor and
material true and live up TO its profess
sions Of striving TO build all the steel
tonnage possible?
The fact is that. according TO the
policy pursued during the last six
months, the Fleet Corporation has not
built all the steel tonnage possible. in
spite of It's ardent assertions TO this