Evening journal., 1918-08-20
SUN COMPANY TO
DOUBLE CAPACITY
Chester Shipbuilders Need
Workers to Carry Out
Big Contracts
COMPLETE SHIPS
BUILT IN YARDS

The sun shlpbullding Company, OF
Chester, which has bson building
ships for the Emergency Fleet Corpora
ton, has again gotten orders 10 dou-
Bile It's present output. but the scarcity
Of unsklllod labor is proving a great
handicap to tho company officials.
Skilled mechanics are not 90 precious
as are the unskilled. The sun Com
pany builds ships Of the larger type,
and at The present time Is building
1900 ton transports. C.. ]. brennan,
the employment manager OF the Ches-
ter Corporation. was very emphatic In
his expression OF the dire need OF men
TO do laborlng work lie has started a
big drive 10 set all kinds OF mechanics
as well. Already 1900 Wilmingtonlans
are employed there. Six employment
Offices have been opened In Philadel-
phia. Nothing is being left undone 10
provide for the comfort OF the sun Ship
employees new commisssry 10 being
erected In the main yard OF the com
pany. Lunch counters are also being
built and additional houses are under
constructed for the use Of the men
that bring their lunches. The big new
cafeteria will accommodate more than
5000 men. There are two shifts and
plenty OF room Is provided for each
individual. The food served Is pur-
chased direct from the farms near
Chester. During the lunch hours en-
tertainments are held such as musicals
by the company band and vocal artists.
Both volunteer their services. Boxing
shows are staged twice a week Swim
ming in the Delaware river 10 another
nOon-hour popular sport. Protection
10 given the swimmers and as a result
no deaths have occurred from drown
ing.
J. y. Pew. Jr. president Of the sun
stated that the labor con-
ditiOns were extremely serious in view
Of the fact that the draft is constantly
taking away from the present labor
supply, which is far below what IL
should be. lie remarked that this is
lhe biggest opportunity IN the world
Tor a man 10 help himself and still be
In the highest degree. "The
boys over there are begging us for
ships. They are signing the cablegrams
with their own blood asking for boats
10 send supplies. It Is up TO US stay
it-hOmes 20 send them what they want
md Il Is up 10 every individual as an
Individual 20 do his share In building
he ships 10 send over there. There |
s a chance for every man regardless
u what his previous occupation was. |
schools are running in full swing and
nen Will be taught the trades that they
IRE Interested in or best fitted for.
The sun Company builds its own
boilers and machinery that goes in the
ship. In fact. there Is not a single
part OF a boat that is not built at the
plant. When a ship Is turned out from
The yard 10 Is complete and ready 20
lake Its place in the ocean Bridge Of
ships.
According 70 c. J. Drennen. the com
oany will Immediately let a contract 10
lave 1000 tents put mp along side OF /
he plant 10 house the new laborers. !
This Is another revelation in the ship
industry. The camp will be
,rovided with electric lights and other
nadern necessities In Housekeeping line.
. Leonard Mason. former head Of Phil
recreation centers. and whose
esignation has caused a stir In pollti-
al circles, Is now connected with the
un Company as service manager. Mr.. /
iason is devoting much time to The {
ousing situation. More than fifteen ,
undred houses have been built on the
uiskirts Of Chester. Several are now ,
nder construction. Col. J. II. Brown,
Of the North Chester
.ealty Company, the corporation that is {
uilding the houses, is seeing TO IL that
My the best OF material is being used.
Ie has turned down many shipments OF
Oods because Of deficiency.