South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-06-11
Chairman Edward N. Hurley
Explains Shipping Program

ing 90 South or 20 Central America;
very few going 10 England. France
or Germany We had Still fewer
gOing 20 Russia Japan and China
There was just one line or old and
com paratiyely slow ships crossing
the Atlantic. one lire crossing the
Pacific. arid a Few lines 10 Central
America and TO the Caribbean
countries, none 20 the west coast Of
South America. none TO the east
coast Of south America, none 70 our
cousins in Australia: none 20 India:
and none 10 Africa. There were
American tourists everywhere.
There we're also American products
ready 10 20 anywhere. but AIneri-
can ships nowhere. We could not
serve the world as we should have
served it. because we did not have
the vehicles Of trade.
Vow We are beginning 70 fulfll
our destiny. on the first Of June OF
this year We had increased the
American built tonnage 10 over s.
500. 900 lightweight tons OF shipping.
In the II months from July 1. 1917,
10 June ], 1918. VIC constructed in
American shipyards a tonnage equal
10 the total output OF American
yards during the entire previous
four years In short, the shipping
board has added approximately
] 600, 600 tons of new construction 10
American shipping in the last 10
months. for 10 was not until Aug. 3
OF last year that our commander
ing order went into effect We have
also added lis German and Aus
trian vessels. with total dead
weight tonnage Of 7SO.176. We have
requisitioned from the Dutch under
the order OF the president. SO yes
seis with total deadweight ton
mage Of 562,532 In addition we
have chartered from neutral coun-
tries 215 vessels with an aggregate
lightweight tonnage Of 953,661. This
tonnage together with the vessels
which We have been Obliged 10
leave in the coastwise and Great
lakes trade. gives us a total Of more
than l,400 ships with an approx
mate total lightweight tonnage OF
100000 tons now under the con-
troll Of the United States shipping
board
Rapidly EnIarging Fleet.
'In round numbers. and from all
sources, We have added TO the
American Flag since our war
against Germany began. nearly A.
100000 tons Of shipping We are
adding 10 this tonnage rapidly and
viii continue TO do so. II has taken
as some time TO apply 10 the ship
building industry OF this country
the principles OF organization and
progressive manufacturing which
have made our other big institu-
tions the marvel OF the world
Since January OF the present
year. when our new quantity pro-
duction of ships may well be said TO
have just begun. we have steadily
risen in our monthly output until
in the month OF May we turned out
a total OF $50 900 tons for that one
month alone. making total for
the hrst five months Of this year Of
lis steel ships. aggregating 500. 600
lightweight tons Now. in the year
ending July /. 1915. IN. shipyards
weight tons Of steel vessels Of over
/ 500 lightweight tons each. Thus. in
! the month OF May We produced So
| 600 t,ns more than We produced in
/ the entire year 1915. During the
year ending July /. 1916. 2S1.4OO
! lightweight tons OF steel vessels
/ were delivered Adding the 1915
/ tonnage with the 1915 tonnage gives
/ d total OF 46S.10O tons With a ton
mage for the first 1--WE months OF
/ this year OF S05,000 tons. We deliver
I ed in I'VE months CSC goo tons OF
I shipping more than was built in
I American shipyards in the years
1915 and 1915. I do not believe 7
an over optimistic in saying that our
/ tonnage output will continue to in
/ crease until before this year closes
I we will be turning out a half mill
\ lion tons each month
/ We have established ship
4 building industry that will make us
a great maritime nation. We have
/ today under contract and construc-
Z tion $40 shipbuilding ways including
I wood, steel and concrete, which is
twice as many shipbulding ways as
! there are in an the rest Of the ship
! yards OF the world combined. Our
\ program for the future should ap-
I peal TO the pride OF all loyal and
/ patriotic Americans In the early
part OF May the members Of the
/ shipping board appeared before the
\ appropriation committee OF con-
/ gre>s with a request for additional
/ funds for our extended program.
Calls for 1856 ships.
Our program calls for the build
T ing OF 1855 passenger. cargo re-
; frgerator ships and tankers. rang
ing from 1000 10 1900 tons each.
/ with AN aggregate lightweight tom
I mage 81 12.0oo Geo We are also
/ contracting for zoo wooden barSes.
so concrete barses 100 concrete oil
carrying barses and 80 steel wood
and concrete tugs OF 1000 horse
power for ocean and hsrbor serv-
/ icc which aggregate q total dead
weight tonnage Of $4,000.
Exclusive of the above We have