Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-04-26
SHIPPING BOARD WILL
FURTHER EXPAND PROGRAM
Plans for 1910lWiu Be Based OH
Tonnage Output Of Ten
Millions.
FACILITIES GREATLK ENLARGED
Thirty New Shipyards Have Been
Established, While Long-Estnb-
lished Plants Are Now Able to
Turn Out Ships More Rapidly.
(By Associated Press.1

tBy ASSOCIATED freSS.1
WASHINGTON. April 25.-Thc Ship
ping Board has decided on a substan-
tial increase In it's building program for
year. and Indications are that the in
crease will be continued in 1920.
Plans for next year were discussed
Wednesday at n luncheon by Chair
man Hurley and other members OF the
Shipping Board; ce-President Piez and
Director-General Schwab. of the Elmer
gency Fleet Corporation; p. a. S.
Franklin. OF the International ship con-
troll committees; Major General Goe-
thals and other officials. Especial at
tcntion was paid to the question of pas
senEer ships and refrigerator ships for
which the War Department will make
Increasingly large demand as the war
progresses.
For military reasons, tho exact size
OF the future building program was not
made public. From previous statements
of Chairman Hurley, however, It has
been estimated that the construction
in 1919 will be in excess of 10, o0O. 600
tons, the largest amount ever built in
any one year by any nation. Before
January l all the new shipyards will be
in full operation. and many old yards.
which have demonstrated their ability
to build efficiently. will be expanded.
EIGHT MILLION TONS
OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION
OF the total tonnage next year, ap-
proHimately 100000 tons will be steel
T,Ifre were thirty-seven yards building
steel ships when tho United States en-
which were increased to 1876 by tho
Shipping Board. Thirty new yards have
been established. with a total OF 2o3
~ays. Thirty-five OF the yards building
steel ships. and 25s Of the ways, are on
the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, nineteen
yards and s!xty-slx ways are on the
Pacific Coast and thirteen yards and
seventy-four ways on the Great Lakes
IT Is expected that $500. 600 tons OF
wooden ships Will be turned out next
year. virtually all on the Gulf and Pa
cihc Coasts There now arc 332 wavs
Tor wooden ships. Continuation of the
navy building program may be c1.
pectcd. but on completion OF emer.
Eency work. ways for another ESQ 600
tons OF merchant shipping will be 're-
leased
AN International aspect was given 10
the deliberations Of the conference bv
tho presence of Sir Cunnop Guthrie. tho
british member OF the ship control
committee.
COCKTAILS PRESENTS ARMY's
TRANSPORTATION NEEDS
Mr.. Franklin described the number
Typo. tonnage and characteristics OF vc..
sells which should be included I'm tho
ouiid'ns program. General Goethals
presented tho War Departments cst,.
mate as to the number of ships re.
quircd for the army, the speed thew
should have. and the time OF delivery
Discussion OF the military needs occ,,.
pied the greater part OF the time. Whus
details were not disclosed. IL was said
that the board was prepared IN co,.
struct a large number OF passenger.
carrying ships OF high speed for the
army's use. All present agreed with the
Encouragement. who has been told he
can nave free hand in turning on,
vessels ordered by tho Shipping Roa,d