New-York tribune., 1918-05-16
Concrete Ship Advocates
Blame Hurley for Delays
They Appeal President Against His Tactics on Appro
priaton New York Engineers Report Used as Argument
for Policy of Safe and Sane" Experimentation

| Mr. Howes for copy of this report to
print in the proceedings of the com
mlttee. The permission was given, and
presently pamphlet reprint of it was
sent to every member of Congress. 1t
is said to have had a profound effect
adverse to rapid development of con-
crete shipbuildng, fits well with the
ideas Mr.. Hurley is believed to enter
tain on this subject and is directly op-
posed to the position of the Shipping
Boards own concrete ship experts,
who are committed to prompt and Wig
! OrOuS action.
Advocates Experiments
Mr.. Howes emphatically disputes
most OF the contentious advanced in
favor of concrete ships, and holds
that mo considerable addition to our
overseas feet could be designed and
built in reinforced concrete and placed
in service before the last quarter of
1872 because he thinks, there should
should be period of building and
demonstrating with barges of 500 to
1900 tons. Out of gradual pro
gramme of experimentation and de-
veloopment he thinks that ultimately
a design for a 5,000-ton ship will be
worked out, ship driven by Diesel
engines, that will "be cheaper in first
cost and superior in operating econ
omy and cargo space to the steel or
wooden steam driven ship now build
ing And, then. he adds, "but there
is no reason why such improvements
should not be effected in steel ships"
The general idea conveyed by Mr..
Howes is that, with much trouble and
pains, we can, in the course of two
years, get serviceable concrete ship,
but that after we get it we shall
have nothing that we could not have
obtained otherwise. The ideas of Mr..
Howes are said to be those entertained
by Chairman Hurley.
If they prevail, safe, peace time
. course of slow and sure development
will be followed and we shall even.u-
ally get a concrete ship feet after the
need for it has passed.
The underlying motive Of the emer
gency appropriation Of $50,O00,000 was
ditonal tonnage-a legitimate wartime
chance. If it fails we shall not have
one ship less than otherwise; if it sue
ceeds we shall have a great many more.
Appeal Made to Wilson
Now the attention of Congress has
been diverted from this basic IDEA to a
consideration Of arguments to the eff
feet that the risks are great. That was
conceded all along, but now the argu-
ment is being used to foil the decision
to take the chance. An emergency
measure is being blocked by consider
tions that it was assumed already had
been waived. BY this process of in
direction the country's keen interest in
concrete ships is satisfied for the time
being, while the programme goes ahead
on the safe and sane lines that will give
the country ships when it no longer
needs them. Mistakes will thus be
avoided and money will be saved-and
| there will be no concrete ships worth
mentioning this year.
Chairman Hurley is reported to have
written a letter to Mr.. Sherley, chair
man OF the House Appropriations Com
mittee, in which he intimated he would
be satisfied if no special efforts were
made to push the emergency appropria
tion bill. If that be true, it goes with
out saying that the bill will die in tn,
committee.
Friends OF the measure knowing
President Wilson's firm conviction that
concrete constructor should be rushed i
are now advising him of the obstructive
tactics they believe are being useo
under cover, and they hope he will take
action that will lead to immediate .lc
| cision.