Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-10-17
Little Texas To,pn
Suddenly Becomes
Big Factor in War

Orange, Ten. Oct. 1-.-Sixteen yes
sells already nave been sent down the
ways at Orange. twenty-tour others
will be ready for launching before
Christmas, and contracts have been
placed for construction Of siX.y-cne
more at the earliest possible date The
tonnage Of vessels launched. building
and contracted FOR here totals 5l,,3"o
Before the program IS completed here
more than half a million acres of yell
low pine forests Will have been laid
bare.
The ship building program brought
prosperity to this little town, whose
population has nearly doubled since
America entered the war. Fifteen
months ago the industry was htue
known or understood here. One or two
small yards located along the banks Of
the sluggish Sabine river, were de-
voted to repair work on tugs and
small launches.
Then came the cali for a Bridge
for the Atlantic Almost over night
the r!-e- hanks snrang into life. The
ring Of axes reverberated through the
forests nearby The hum OF industry
banished the festive alligator from his
old hannts and the steel ribbed Skele-
tons Of ships began rising almost n
the midst of wilderness.
The shipyards now employ approx
mately 1000 men. who draw wages
totarlinC SIS. OnN weekly Notwith-
standing more than a thousand homes
have been built in eleven months.
workmen still are forced 20 live in i'm
provised shanties and tents while
housing facilities are being increased
with all possible speed.
The National Ship Building Com7a-
ny of Texas has launched SIX ships.
has eight on the ways and contracts
for eighteen more. all for government
use except two Of those already
launched which went TO the British
Cunard lines. The Southern Dr. Dock
& Shipbui,dfng Company has launched
one ship, has five on the ways and
contracts for five more. all for govern
ment account: the International Ship
building Company has launched eight,
has ten on the ways and contracts for
thirty-eight 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 4.940 tons each.
The first two Of these ships, which
were classed by authorities as among
the innovations Of the war, ara now
on their maiden voyages. ApproXim-
ately 1890 dead weight tonsIarger than
Ferris type vessel. the new ship
requires nearly 500 900 fewer feet Of
timber to build and fewer steel bolts.
1t was designed by A. \. Dougherty
on engineer who at the outbreak Of the
war was building an oil refinery here.
His employers were in need Of tank
ers to transport crude oil from MeX!-
co and Dougherty designed a tanker
3I5 feet long. with a foot beam and
IS feet depth of hold. His design vas
radically different from the common
type, having the boilers and engine
IN the stern. and his propeller drive
shaft was only nineteen feet, as against
q drive shaft Of 11a feet in the Ferris
type Of vessels. A fore peak tank bal
ances the weight. The emergency
fleet corporation officials were i'm
pressed with the the Dougherty idea
and awarded the company a contract
for twenty-six Of the vessels.
Worixmen at the National yards
cfaim a worlds record Of setting up
the seventy nine frames for Dough-
erty ship No. PAP in thirty hours and
fhfrty-fiv minutes and have chal
Ienged other yards to equal the rec
ord. A pacific coast company held the
record Of forty-four hours for fran
ing a ship.
One Of the greatest problems con-
fronting directors Of the shipyards here
has been protection against German
agents. On Independence day the
torch was put 70 the shipyard Of the
Z Orange Maritime Corporation by an
enemy agent, resulting in the yard
and three large vessels being destroyed
Now armed soldiers patrol every foot
o. every yard while agents Of the
department of justice round Up all sus-
\ picious characters.