Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-31
MOTOR-DR|VE WOOD
: SHIPS FOR PACIFIC
Shipping Board Permits Con-
tracts to Be Awarded for
$50 in Oregon Yards.
PRIVATE INTERESTS MOVE

A new shipbuilding program for
private interests was approved yester-
day by the shipping board, as further
offset to the drive against allied ton
mage which is being made by German
submarines.
Chairman Hurley announced that the
request of the Atlantic and Pacific
Steamboat Company for permission to
place contracts with shipyards in Ore
gon for $50 motor-driven wooden ships
of 5000 tons each had been granted
Nnder certain restrictions. Since the
new contracts will not interfere with
the government program either in tim
t3rs or machinery. officials of the
board were frankly enthusiastic over
the idea
we want to encourage American
shipowners to put their money into
building more ships" Mr.. Hurley de-
clared 'If all owners would follow
the idea. the American flag would soon
get back on the seas"
Goal Surpassed in March.
The government building program for
March surpassed the goal set in
launchings by $4,000 tons. the shipping
board announced but fell short in de-
1ivering, because of shortage of steel
plates. Thirty hulls of es2,7S6 tons
were put into the water and twenty
vessels of 1862 200 tons We're completed.
Growth of the submarine toll has
spurred officials to greater EFFORTS to
hasten the building of ships. The four
official announcements issued in Lon
don this month contained the records
of eighty-one British ships sunk, Of
which fifty-four We're of more than
1900 tons each. In February the loss
of sixty-seven British ships. of which
forty-nine were more than 1900 tons
each, was recorded. The total increase
was fourteen ships. or 20 per cent.
Senator McNary Presents Plan.
The proposal of the Atlantic and Pa
ci7c Company to build the fleet of
motor ships was presented to the ship
ping board by Senator McNary of Ore
gon. Eastern capitalists We're said to
be financing the scheme. Their identity
could not be confirmed officially, bu-
the du Points were said to be among
those interested. Each ship probably
would cost between s3o0.0O0 and $780,
coo.
Senator McNary asked that the fol-
lowing ruling be granted by the ship
ping board.
THAT wooden shpyards not employed
in the construction of wooden ships for
this government shall be free to con-
tract with private interests for the con-
struction of wooden ships: such ships
to be built by American organizations
and sailed under the flag of the Unit
ed States of America. steamers to be
approximately 5000 tons DIV. capacity.
That any wooden ships that such
concerns shall contract to build, with
IN the limitations of this ruling and
under any contract dated prior to
further orders. by this government
changing such limitations. they. the
att cl,oG hull
complete and deliver to the parties en-
titled to the same under the contract"
Mr.. Hurley's Reply.
In his reply. Mr.. Hurley gave this
decision on that point:
Ruling is hereby granted. but sub
sect to the further conditions that the
regulation of shipping rates shall be
:. under this shipping board. that said
board shall be informed from time to
capacity and equipment of the ships in
process of construction by the ship
building concern that shall engage in
business under the ruling above set
forth. and further that all such con-
Germs will comply with all instructions
as to wages or conditions of employ
ment of labor, or process of materials
in writing by the shipping board or
other agency of the government having
jurisdiction or control of the subject
matter"
The motor ship was said to possess
many advantages in construction at
this time. 1t can be built of smaller
timbers than required for the stand
ard Ferris type and, being driven by
current generated from a Diesel engine,
will not require boilers, steam piping,
condensers, vacuum pumps and other
apparatus used in steam vessels. AS
the ships will burn oil. they will not
need f1remen. and as the auxiliary sails
TO be carried by them will be operated
mechanically 1t is claimed that they
will not make heavy demands for man
ming and interfere with the operation
of the government vessels.
For Pacific Trade.
The motor vessels probably will be put
into the Pacific coast and China trade.
officials declined to estimate the time re-
auIred for completion Of the ships. Their
designed speed is from eight to nine knots
Shortage of steel plates is causing the
shipping board much anxiety and may
lead TO change in the policy of allotting
the output of mills. SO that there will be
10 danger of stopping work in any yard
through lack of materials. AS the re-
st1ctions on coke production during the
winter are only now beginning to be felt
in steel production. April Is expected to
be critical month In tho building pro-
gam.
Work in tho yards. officials said yester-
day. is speeding UP. The fve plants of
tho Bethlehem Steel Company last week
drove 1,500.0 900 rivets, equivalent to two
complete hulls and II per cent more than
In the week previous.