Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-11-06
TEXAS SHIP YARD
BUILDS LINKS TO
BRIDGE ATLANTIC

Orange, Texas.-"Sixteen vessels
already have been sent down the
ways at Orange, "a others will be
ready for launching before Christ
mas and contracts have been plac-
ed for construction OF 81 more at
the earliest possible date. The ton
mage of vessels launched, building
and contracted for here totals 3l7,-
800
Before the program is completed
here more than half million acres
of yellow pine forest will have been
laid bare.
The shipbuilding program brought
prosperity to this little town. whose
population has nearly doubled since
America entered the war. Fifteen
months ago the industry was little
known or understood here. One or
two small yards, located along the
banks of the sluggish Sabine river.
were devoted to repair work on
tugs and small launches.
Then came the call for a bridge
for the Atlantic" Almost over
night the river banks sprang into
life. The ring of axes reverberated
through the forests nearby. The
hum OF industry banished the fes-
tive alligator from his old haunts
and the steel-ribbed skeletons of
ships began rising almost in the
midst OF a wilderness.
The shipyards now employ ap-
proximately seven thousand men
who draw wages totaling S225,000
weekly. Not Notwithstanding more
than a thousand homes have been
built in IL months, workmen stiu
AFs- forced TO live in improYised
shanties and tents while housing
facilities are being increased with
all possible speed.
The National Shipbuilding com
pany of Texas has launched six
ships. has eight on the ways and
contracts for 1S more. all for gov
ernment use except two Of those
already launched which went to the
British Cunard line. The Southern
Dry Dock & Shipbuilding company
has launched one ship, has five on
the ways and contracts for five
more, all for government account a;
the International Shipbuilding com
pany has launched eight, has 10 on
the ways and contracts for 3S more,
all for the Italian government, and
Ed Weaver & Sons has built one
and has one on the ways.
The National yard is building the
new type of vessel of 1910 tons
each. The first two OF these ships,
which are classed by authorities as
among the innovations OF the war,
are now on their maiden voyages.
Approximately fifteen hundred dead
weight tons larger than a Ferris
type vessel, the new ship requires
nearly five hundred thousand fewer
feet of timber TO build and fewer
steel bolts. Ii was designed by A.
A Daugharty, an engineer who at
the outbreak of the war was build
ing an oil refinery here. His EN-
ployers were in need OF tankers to
transport crude oil from Mexico,
and DaIgharty designed a tanker
3l5 feet long, with 48-foot beam and
26 feet depth OF hold. His design
was radically different from the
type ndFiHR the DOiltES
and engines in the stern and his
propeller drive shaft was only 19
feet, as against drive shaft of ll9
feet in the Ferris type vessel. A
fore peak tank balances the weight.
The emergency feet corporation of
ficials were impressed with the
Daugharty idea and awarded the
company a contract for 26 OF the
vessels.
Workmen at the National yards
claim a worlds record of setting up
the 79 frames for Daugharty ship
No. ZAP in 80 hours and 35 min
utes and have challenged other
yards to equal the record A Pa
cific coast company held the pre-
vious record OF "a hours for fran
ing a ship.
One of the greatest problems
confronting directors OF the ship
yards here has been protection
against German agents. On Inde-
pendence day the torch was put 20
the shipyard Of the Orange Mari
time corporation by an enemy
agent, resulting in the yard and
three large vessels being destroyed.
Now armed soldiers patrol every
foot of every yard while agents Of
the department OF justice round up
all suspicious characters