The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-12-13
j. S. TO REPLACE
W0RLO' s SHIPS:
100000 TONS
By FREDERICK M. KERRY,
N. E. 4 Staff Cnrr.AS,,nndonf

| ~ Y. -. stall correspondent.
New York, Dec. ii.-There are AGO.
ooo employees busy in the shipyards
OF the United States today, and the
| present program of ship construction
Will keep them busy for at least three
years to come.
Inat is the meaning Of the state
ment by Charles NJ. SchWab, that the
United States program for construc-
ton of the f3,O00000 tons of mercan-
tile shipping will be carried out in
spite of the cessation of hostilities.
The United States cannot afford to
stop for an instant in shipbuiIding.
There is at this moment deficit in
the worlds shipping OF 10000, 900
deadWelgnt tons. This represents
about eight times the seagoing capac-
ity OF ship construction In the United
States in 1917. The great new industry
is thus going to furnish employment
for an army of workers for a long
time
Its demand for steel, wood and ma
terial OF all kinds is going to keep
many other subsidiary industries busy
and the finished ships are going to
furnish employment for many thou
sand additional men as crews.
Even after the big program is NOM
inally completed" the constant wear
and tear, including the necessary new
construction, which must continually
go forward, will probably keep the
larger portion of the ship building
trade busy permanently.
Work For Allied Trades Also Assured.
Besides the 100000 workers actual
ly engaged on ship construction, there
are 25o,0oO workers employed in
trades allied to shipbuilding, and
hoh 1u in,
Der as our program gets further un-
der way.
s This is how the biggest men in the
shipping industry view the outlook
for prosperity in their line.
1t Is estimated that Europe will take
from two to three years to recover
IN a shipbuiiding sense, and in that
time we shall prepare in the way to
make the United States the greatest
shipping country in the world Here
after the ship men believe South AM
erican countries will come to the Uni
ted States for its ships also,
!. e. N. Hurley, chairman Of the ships
ping board, has pointed out that the
high price OF staples now existing is
largely the result of lack of shipping,
and thesprogram OF the board will in
large measure bring prices OF the
necessities down in every corner of
the world. Mr.. Hurley believes that
America will compete with the world
in all lines, owing to high efficiency
and scientific development In ship
ping.
U. S. May Take Over Mercantile Marine
The refusal OF the government TO
allow the International Mercantile
Marine to turn over nearly 100000
tons of vessels to British interests,
undoubtedly mean that these ships.
which include vessels like the Olym-
ping board. Negotiations along these
lines are now under way.
During the war, the United States
lost $4,000 tons OF shipping, of which
354, 449 tons were mercantile The
shipping board has under way or re-
Questioned, .f5,5OO, 600. This shipping
will cost an average of $40 ton. I
1t is believed in shipping circles here
that the u. S. at the peace table will
ask that an equivalent in tonnage to
the American vessels sunk by subma-
rines during the war, shall be kept by
our shipping board. These would in
clude some of the largest ships afloat1
vessels that would ordinarily take
from two to three years to construct
The prediction is made unequivocal-
ly among the shipping men, that all
the great American shipping lines, in
Guiding the Mercantile Marine, United
Fruit Atlantic Gulf & West Indies,
Munson. Ward and Pacific Mail lines
will probably be combined under the
supervision of the government.
Insurance and all other risks will be
eaken by the United States, and tn all
ESSENTIAL respects. shipping will be-
come a governments owned industry, to
be developed until this becomes the
greatest shipping country in the world