El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-05-11
FINDING THE FOUNDATIONS LAID,
SCF4WAB BUILDS WALLS AND ROOF

4ITHEN Charles NJ Schwab recently took the job Of
w building Americas merchant fleet he caused TO be
issued through the committee public information state
u1ent c0mpmeuting his numerous predecessors On the
foundations they had laid.
By the foundations, Mr. Schwab meant the preliminary
work the designation of shpyards already in existence the
construction Of Others and the awarding Of contracts for
the building Of ships Incidentally It has taken more
than year to lay these foundations within which time
many ships ought TO have been built but only lew
have been
One can imagine Nj Schwab, the energetic master
Of the Bethlehem Steel company with difficulty sup
pressing smile as he hands compliment to the asons
Of the foundation OF he realizes that the same
yvorkmen ought to have had the walls well above the
foundations and that the structure Is now considerably
behind its time schedule. However, to pass out good
word for his predecessors, Mr. Schwab recognized as
graceful thing TO do and he did It.
There is disposition to detract from the real value
the these performed IN laying the foundation
solid foundation Is essential to the erection Of large
building far has become known, the foundation
for merchant ship program IS both substantial and
extensive. When construction Of ships was hrst under
taken BY the emergency fleet corporation there were but
few shpyards which could be devoted 10 merchant ship
building Most Of the yards engaged to their full
pay in the construction Of warships for the navy depart
ment Many yard had to be built often in the marshes,
before a keel could be laid.
Thus the foundation has been laid but foundation is
valueles unless something placed top of it It must
be surmoUnted by walls and roof There Is foundation
FL Paso which comes mind as case point It
good foundation, broad Of heavy Stones well cemented to-
getheT But it has stood for two years with no super
structure and It is useless 1t IS unsghty The build
did vel with the foundation but they stopped there
So with the ship program The officials who have had It
charge heretofore laid the foundation, but they seemed
unable get much further with the building Few ships
have been completed spite of all the optimistic state
ments issued by chairman Hurley Of the shipping board
and others. The ships all that count Nov president
Wilson has placed the Job construction super
intendent and told complete the structure
Mr Schwsb has taken hold with characteristic energy
The first thing director Schwab did order the trans
fer Of headquarters to Philadelphia away from the nations
political volcano He went to Philadelphia first to look
fer accommodations. The mayor took him into ten story
building but explained that stories occupied
AH night said Nj. Schwab, an take the upper nine
stories Let the occupants find other quarters Immediately
The order was somewhat Prussian It was such as might
have been issued with entire proprety by official Of
his satanic majesty, Wilhelm Il but it caused adverse
comment because everyone realizes that fire furnishes
Of the best methods Of fighting fire and that efficiency
ike Germznys IS Of the best methods Of fighting
German efficiency. Nj. Schwab took held Of his Job IN
somewhat German way to combat a German menace and
that TACT lies Of the best augues for the success
OF his enterprise.