Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-02-27
Army of Workmen
in Fleven Ship Yards
Along Delaware R've'

Philadelphia, Feb. 2,.-More than
one-third OF the war vessels and mer-
chant ships called for by the program
Of the United States government are
building in ship yards along the Della
ware river. according TO figures which
have just been made public with the
permission Of the emergency feet cor
poration. The tonnage contracted for,
according to government officials. has
transformed the Delaware valley into
the greatest shipbuilding center in the
world .s.
". B. Ferguson a representative or
he fleet corporation. estimates that an
army OF about $4,000 shipworkers viii
be required 20 complete the 212 ships,
Including war vessels, contracted for
by the eleven shipbuild!ng plants be-
tween Trenton and Delaware CITY.
Work on 100 carriers at the
new government yard at Hog Island
IS progressing and this plant is enSas-
ing to turn out s,OGO. 600 additional tons
in 1913 More than 2,250,000 tons will
be the Delaware rivers first quota in
the feet which Uncle Sam relies on to
help win the war.
Al the ne" SUIps dI u d. iSl'it o.
forty ships are contracted for. Here
more than 5000 men are at work and
it is expected that 10000 more will De
necessary to complete the vessels on
schedule.
Ten vessels are being constructed at
another new yard at Cornwells. Pa.
| The force there Of 500 men will be in
creased to 1000. At a well-known l'hil-
adelphia shipbuldng plant more than
sixty ships are to be turned out. Most
Of these are government craft on which
more than 5000 men are engaged. An
other thousand is needed.
In the big yard at Camden. y. j.,
across the river from Philadelphia,
I, 200 men are building twenty-f four
ships. More workers are needed here
also.
| Two yards at Gloucester. \. J.. are
turning out sixteen ships with a force
Of about 1000 men. Twice this num-
Der OF shipworkers is needed.
Two large plants. one new one. at
Chester, Pa, have contracted for eigh-
teen and twenty-six ships respective
~. One plant has only loo men on the
payroll and requires at least 5000 more,
according to the government figures.
The other yard Is employing 1000 men
whereas, at least 5000 are necessary
to complete it's contracts.
The plant at Hog Island is now en-
ploylng 10000 workers and officials
there estimate that at least $4,000 are
needed.
Work in one plant at Wilmington.
Del. is progressing on thirteen ships
or which $500 ne" arc employed This
company is in the market for another
1000 workers. At another plant in
that city eight ships are being built
by a force Of 1000 men and officials
require 1900 more.
!. drive under the auspices Of the
government, Is now being conducted
turnout the country to register all mer
in the eighty-seven trades allied witt
; shipbuilding. Many Of these mechanics
are now engaged in other occupations
and it is planned to transfer them t.
the seaboards without disturbing in.
dustry.
Labor difficulties and shortage o.
steel and other materials, it Is ex
pected, will treble the original estimate
of the cost Of the ships contracted for
Recent investigation Of the Delawar,
river plants indicated that most o
the vessels being built will he com
pleted in schedule time.