The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-02-27
DELAWARE VALLEY
SHIPBUILDING CENTER
More Than One-Third OF Vessels Called
for by the Program OF the United
States Are Being Con-
structed There.

Philadelphia, Feb. 21-Morc than one
third of the war vessels and merchant
ships called for by the program OF the
United States government are building
in ship yards along the Delaware river,
according to figures which have Just been
made public with the permission OF the
Emergency Fleet corporation. The ton.
mage contracted for, according to gov
ernment officials, has transformed the
Delaware valley into the greatest ship
building center IN the world
w. II. Ferguson, representative OF
the Emergency Fleet corporation, esti'
mates that an army OF about $4,000 ship.
workers will be required to complete the
212 ships, including war vessels, con
tracted for by the II shipbulding plants
between Trenton and Delaware City.
Work on l20 cargo carriers at the new
government yard at Hog island is pro
crossing, and this plant is engaging to
turn out 100000 additional tons in
1918. More than o,250,000 tons will be
the Delaware rivers first quota IN the
fleet which Uncle Sam relies on TO help
win the war.
At the new ship yard at Bristol, Pa,
40 ships are contracted for Here more
than 1000 men are at work, and it is ex-
pected that 10000 more will be neces-
sary to complete the vessels on schedule.
Ten vessels are being constructed at
another new yard at Cornwells, Pa. The
force there of 500 men will be increase
to 1000. At ell-known Philadelphia
plant more than 80 ships |
are to be turned out Most of these are |
government craft on which more than
5000 men are engaged. Another thou
sand is needed.
In the big yard at Camden. n. j.,
across the river from Philadelphia, 1900
men are building "a ships. More work
,rs are needed here also. n
Two yards at Gloucester, \. j., are
turning out 10 ships with force OF
lbout 5000 men. Twice this number of
is needed
Two large plants, one a new one, at
hester Pa, have contracted for is and
'6 ships, respectively. One plant has
My LOO men on the payroll and re-
uires at least 5000 more, according TO
he government figures. The other yard
) employing 1000 men, whereas at least
900 are necessary TO complete its con.
racts. II
The plant at Hog island is now en-
loying about 10000 workers and off
ials there estimate that at least $4,000
re needed.
Work in one plant at Wilmington,
'el.. is progressing on Is ships, on which
800 men are employed. This company
in the market for another 1000 work
RS. AT another plant in that city eight
hips are being built by force of 1000
len. and officials require ! 800 more.
A drive under the auspices of the gov '
is now being conducted through
1T the country to register all men in
he 81 trades allied with shipbuilding. | ]
Lany of these mechanics are now en-
aged in other occupations, and it is = =
aimed to transfer them to the sea
Yards without disturbing industry
Labor difficulties and shortage of steel
I'd other materials, it is expected, viii u
eble the original estimate of the cost
the ships contracted for. Recent in :
stigation of the Delaware river plants
dicated that most of the vessels being P
tilt will be completed in schedule time.