Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-10-20

"Before tho American troops over
yonder make a drive on the Hun
they make careful preparations days
in advance. | follow the same prin-
ciplo in getting ready for a rivet-
Ing drive"
SO spoke John Wolf, veteran
shipbuilder and champion general
foreman riveter OF the world. who on
Friday. September 10. swept all past
rivetinE records into the discard at
the Hog Island shipynrds
Tho record for the entire yard on
that day was 1929 rivets in eight
hours, or 3s rlvets per hour per
production gang. But the record OF
Wolf and his iS production gangs In
yards Nos. and 8, lowered over
the work OF all other gangs in the
mammoth shipbuilding plant.
His gangs drove 19,0S7 rivets. or
an average per hour per gang OF
IS rivets. Wolf also has supervi-
vision over two school gangs. who
drove sos riveu or an average per
hour per gang OF 81 rivets.
VOLTS achievement is considered
OF vital importance to every ship
yard in the United States In all
yards speed Is one OF the prime es-
sentials In the building OF ships. The
faster ships are turned out, the
quicker will the allies bring the war
to n victorious conclusion, In the
Hog Island yard wolf has been con-
fronted with conditions which are
prevalent in every yard in the coun-
try. lie has swept aside all handi-
caps and whipped into shape the
speediest rivetlng gang in the world.
There In feeling that his methods
could be adopted with splendid re-
suits by every yard In the country.
Is An Old-Tfmcr.
Wolf is IS years old and sea-
soned shipbuilder OF the old school.
For IL years he has been building
ships, and he In familiar with every
turn and wrinkle OF the shipbulld-
inG game In tho United States In
his time he has had a hand In the
building of between 10 and so steel
riveted ships. many of them have
been Steaming to and fro In the
channels OF ocean commerce for a
score or more OF yeara He is n
small, dark compleXioned man. with
face leathered by years OF work In
burn imperlshahle fires OF energy.
'
years old IN the famous shipyard OF
John Roach at Chester. Pa lilo be
came successfully drillcr. rcamer
and riveter and during his last ~
years at the yard he was in entire
charge OF the ways,
In 1908 he went TO the Boston
Navy Yard. where he served as n
quarterInan for more than ten years,
While in Boston he built fuel ships,
target boats and coal hargcs for the
United states government, and did "A
lot of repair work. er
When this country entered the big
war and Uncle sam needed great
merchant marine In the shortest
kind of notice, Wolf became one of
the most priced men in the United
States He knows most everything
thers Is TO know about building
ships He Is admittedly ono OF the
great shipyard's powerful driving
forces. In addition to being a com
pctent shlpbuilder. he is a natural
leader of men.
"Riveters." no said, "were as
scarce as monkey-wrenches In n par
lor when Uncle Sam opened the ball
in the shiphuilding game. We've
had TO make 'em, that's all
Every one OF my 43 gangs OF
rtveters were as green az fresh pine
only a short time ago. I got en-
from the training school which ha:
been established In the yard by tho
Industrial relations group, United
States shipping board emergencN
fleet corporation.
- have worked like a coal heaveI
whipping his raw material int
IShape, and / want to say right nov