Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-07
SHIPBUilOING REQUIRES
THOUSANDS OF WORKERS
vast Number ~ Mch skilled In
Trades. Hcsidcs Army of tn
skilled l.nDOrcrs

WASHINGTON. September Ship
building. the inany-sided task in which
much OF America mechanical genius
is to-day engaged as part Of the war
Hi"sr"hi' REQUIRES mechanics skilled
IN more than thirty trades. beside an
army OF unSkillcd workers.
WIN gigantic building program
ahe. a.. yast force is emptoyed alone
800. 900 men are at work In the ship
yards with $4,000 engaged Ia trades
that provide material tor the snip
builders.
Here are the skilled workers who
are doing the Worn on The steel ship.
shipattrrs, blacksmiths. rivetters. chip
pipcfittcrS. maciInists. toiners. carpcn-
l"rs, patteInmakcrs, foundrymen. cop
persmi,hs. heavy iorsers, stee! metal
workers. furnace men. shcarcrs, punch
crS. ang !csuiths, sntpwrigiits, Triggers.
hangers. drop forScrs. "rect"rs. boilers
up crane operators locomotive "u"I-
'ic.rs, hremcn. lottsmcn, painters and
helpers IN all tGcs.. trades.
SiNtS per cent OF the worh Oh a snip
IS ia constructing tn. hull. and The re-
naming So per cent * installing me-
chuuical parts. a. .Gr- ish.nGs aud
"-h"r cquipment mat goes 10 make the
finished vessel
~ sinH!e oHi one trHi ina r '"e ,."rt
Important All contribute IN 'nakins
the finished product ana .pu, ~.
on" - complete sh!n coul" result
!.oftsm"n. however. play a great part.
snip plans are frs, mauo ia "rdli-
inG-rooln on - small scale. Going 10
IN" mold iO.t-a large building with a
smooth floor Of sufficient sizo :" have
drawn upon X the plans OF the ship
10 fun sizc-the lo!tsinen fashion the
templates or molds i .Ghj wood or
per ircm witch The steel for the null
can u" land N an0 mnrkcd for hear
INK punching planning and other
Inc mods arc made from three plans
thAt give snap" To the ship. These plans.
showing tho lines OF . vessel, are the
sheer pan or side elevation. the halt
breath plan and tn" body plan or end
elevation. Tho body plan is most used
IN making The mo!HS. for it shows bet,
door plat" Inc mo'ds must be ahso-
lately currecl $50 mat tncy viii join
together properly.
metal worker whose trade may be
termed purely shipbUildins trade. lie
marks OF tnc steel material for tn.
parts Of the vessels hull. hy !itting the
ip'tmaUs mold over the steel brIilerS
also play . biz part IN the drilling and
r"amiu. OF holes They are necessary
occaus. tn. rivct holes. being punched
in shop do not always coincide. dcsplt"
careful! workmanship Ia some cases
also holes must be drilled on INC ship
The un"venncss between holes is re-
moved by roaming, which - merely
slight enlargement.
t.Ivclicrs do perhaps tho most spec
taCular work. the rat-a-tat-tat OF their
pneumatic '"p!S having - !haCi MAJ l"h
reminiscent OF the anvil OF The village
blacksmith. RiVettiuG holds the ship
together. and ships plans specify
every rivct for each has a certain
function. clippers and calkcrs trim
OF or smooth the edges OF plates, cast
!nSs and other parts and make them
water tight. Shipwriehts install the
wooden decks. maSts. spars and hooms.
other ship woodwork Is done by
JOincrs
rs Ventilation. piping and light metal
work is done largely IN shop by sheet
metal workers. Plumbing and piping
also is done IN shop by plumbers, ma
chinists and nipciittcrs
shop work on the hull proper is done
hcndinp rolls rinnrrs and o,her ma
chimes. and the frame Blenders. aCety-
lcne burners, furnace men and angie
smiths perform the preparatory work
to the erection Of plates. brackets.
clips. beams. bulkheads and parts re-
Qulreh for The NM of a shin.