Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-11
u. s. SAFEGUARDS
WORLD MARKETS
Great Trade Fleet Will
Keep All Seas Open
After War
TO HAVE Is, 1000, 900 TONS
Chairman Hurley Declares
American Merchant Marine
Will Aid Every Nation
south Bend. Ind. June II.

w..
Edward n. Hurley. chairman Of the
United States shipping board. in his ad-
dress at the commencement exercises
at Notre Dame University, told how the
United States will use her vast mer-
chant fleet after the war. Chairman
Hurley declared that in 1920 America
will have a merchant marine Of u.s.
900. 900 dead-weight tons. He said:
1.-THE vast merchant fleet we are build
ing must become the greatest instru-
mept of International policy. honesty
and square-dealing at the close of the
war. It must become the vast and
vital machine whereby America will pre-
vent the oppression Of the weak by the
strong the crushing Of right. by might.
by mobilizing all the resources OF
America for after the war this nation
will he able to prevent the garnering Of
raw materials to be use for any selfish
purpose by any selfish nation. The pur-
pose and motives OF the United States
need no explanation or defense. The
life blood Of the nation Is being shed on
French soil for an unselfsh purpose, and
the whole course Of America in this war
is a guarantee of the nations integrity
In = safeguarding the weak against the
strong after the war.
mo longer can there be any question
that we will have the means as we'll as
the desire to safeguard the nations Of
the world from selfish intrigue and sor-
did manipulation Of the worlds markets
in the future. The great fleet we are
building guarantees the achievement OF
this unselfish purpose. Inspired by the
enthusiasm and energy Of the greatest
organizer America has produced =
Charles NJ. Schwab-whose unmatched
abilities and splendid services the Gov
eminent recently Communicated. and
Charles Piez. vice president. who hat
spent six months developing an organi-
zation. Dur %shipyards are getting ther
gait and setting a pace that would have
seemed incredible in those very recent
times when steamships required from
six months to two years to build.
Increase Rapid and Great
Before the war ocean trav.
eled in bottoms owned and operated by
private capital. Now this gigantic mer.
chant fleet which we are turning on,
Is to be controlled by one central body
by the greatest corporation in the west
ern world. the United States of America
ION July l, 1916, we had no mer.
chant marine worthy of the name en-
gagged In overseas trade. 1t Is true. we
had under the American nag a ,tota
deadweight tonnage on that date OF
2,412.3sl tons but approximately 80 pei
cent Of this tonnage was engaged II
coastwise and Great Lakes trade.
Now we are beginning to fulfill oui
destiny. On June 1 of this year we hat
i.oraaAl tho 4, arioa -hYilt tannn~x
to more thar $500. 900 lightweight toni
Of shipping More than 140O ships. will
an approximate total lightweight ton
mage Of 1000, 900 tons, now are unde,
the control of the United States shipping
board.
I'VE have added to- the American ial
since our war against Germany begal
nearly 100000 tons of shipping.
we have g. total OF $40 shipways Il
the United States. OF these. 76l. all o
which except ninety are completed. ar
|. beng utilized by the Emergency Flee
:. Corporation for the building OF Ameri
can merchant ships.
In 1919 the average tonnage of stee
wood and concrete ships continuousl,
tuilding on a way hould be abou
e000 tom II we are using ISL ways o
cargo ships and can average three ship
a year per way, We should turn out l
: one yea 13,51s.QO0 tons. which Is NOR
than has been turned out by Great Brit
ain in any Ave years of her history.
When all our wood, steel and cor
, crete ~shipyards are thoroughly organ
: lied. with a keel laid on each of tn
$40 ways. our fabricating plants drivin
Z ahead at full speed and employees moi
thoroughly trained in the art of shI
construction, 1t is estimated that we ca
turn cut from each way more than thrs
ships a year.
VIII Have 100000 Tons
! "Our program calls for the buildin
= Of 1856 passenger. cargo. r~efrigeratc
/ ships and tankers. ranging from S0S
: to 1900 tons each. with an aggregal
deadweigbt tonnage Of l1.eoeseoo- ~
2 are Rlao contraetpg Tor ~ Nee1<