Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1918-05-01
UNCLE SAM AT WORK.
Rapid Construction of Great De-
stroyer rlant at Quincy, Mass.

stroyer iIant at Quincy, Mass.
Thinking some OF my friends and read
ers OF THE AMERICAN might be interested
to know what our government IL doing in
the way of preparedness, IwiIl give brief
outline OF the construction OF torpedo
boat destroyer plant in my home city of
Quincy, Mass.
Last fall the navy department selected
tract OF land for ship building plant ON
the Neponset river in Quincy. Friday,
Oct. 5, the deal was closed, and the con-
tract for the construction of all required
docks, buildings, etc, let TO The Aber-
thaw Construction Co. of Boston. sun
day, two days later, great quantities of
lumber and building materials began to
arrive, and the next day large force OF
carpenters and lsborers commenced work
upon temporary wooden buildings.
As the site chosen was mostly msrshy
ground, the first thing required was a ser
viceabie road for entrance, which was
constructed of four-inch plank with a
thick coating of gravel, for distance of
carpenters, besides other mechanics and
lRborers to the number OF 5000 were en-
ployed. Buildings sprang up as II by
msgic-first an office building to accom-
modate a clerical force of 200, a restaurant
capa BILE of Catering to the wants OF 100,
fifteen bunk houses with sleeping accom-
modations for forty-eight men each,
moving picture theatre where entertain
ments were given and where the Y. NJ. G.
A. maintained piano, other musical in
struments, books, etc.
A well-orgsnized police force and
fire department were maintained. Soon
barber and a cobbler appeared,
and mems furnishing goods store
was established, all tending to keep the
workmen on the premises at all times.
Owing to the formation of the SOIL, fifty
suto-trucks were busy night and day
drawing gravel for streets and grading,
and force of 200 two-h horse teams were
daily employed. Much grading along
the water front was accomplished by q
hydraulic dredge, which carried deposit
OF mud . great distance through large
tubes, and which was maintained at great
expense.
Two bridges were built, one for steam
railroad accommodation and the larger
one for teams and passengers, and over
which the Boston Elevated Railway Co.
maintains car service, making the trip
from Dudley terminal to the plant in
thirty minutes. Several hundred work
men were employed at night as we'll as
many teams, and every inducenent
offered the help to do their best, good
wages being paid and rubber quits
Furnished when required.
All material entering the plant was
carefully inspected by an officer OF the
navy and by one for the contractors.
Permanent buildings OF steel and concrete
soon began to rise, and as soon as COM
pIeted were turned over to the govern
ment, and force OF ship builders and
mechanics installed in each. Now there
may be seen q huge assembly building,
plate and angle building, machine, boiler,
sheet metal and paint shops, a storehouse
and warehouse. and ten building slips
where, on Apri %, Secretary Daniels Of
the navy laid the keels OF five destroyers
and formally opened the plant for govern
ment use by an interesting address to all
employees.
Some idea OF the amount OF material
| required IN the construction OF the
buildings may be gained from the fol-
lowing approximate figures: 400 cars hard
pine lumber, 800 cars structural steel, 100
cars cement, 80 cars ribbed glass, 90 cars
sfa
gravel, rs cars roofing pitch, 10 cars roof
ing paper. In addition to this, large
quantities of material were delivered by
local dealers, which greatly depleted the
stock OF retail lumber dealers and hand
lers of building materials.
The docks and wet slips where the
destroyers will be towed after launching
machinery are as yet uncompleted, but
progressing rapidly. Twelve thousand
oak and pine piles, besides much heavy
timber, are required in their construction.
Much OF the work about the docks and
dredger has been accomplished under
the greatest difficulty, requiring the
cutting OF much ice and great hardship
anu uhbgtEs
1t is estimated that, when completed,
seven miles of steam railway track will
| be required on the premises, the roadbed
OF which will all have to be constructed
OF material brought from distance.
| Considering that most OF the work has
been done during the winter months
and in the severest Of weather, it tends
to show what our government can do
when it sets about task, with the CO.
operation of reliable executives and loyal
workmen.
And soon we will have the "victory
yard" of tie Bethlehem shipbuilding
Co, launching destroyers for the defence
OF humanity and the maintenance OF
justice.
HARVEY ID. BLACK.
woiisston, Mass, April q.