New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-08-12

very early date the fact that the lin
itations lay, not in hull construction,
but In machinery, equipment and in.
stallnt0n, and their policy with regard
to concrete ships resulted from recogni-
ton Of the limitations and not from
any inherent prejudice against the con-
crete ship, nor from any lack OF cour-
age to try new venture.
Drew Designs in December
AS a matter Of fact, the Fleet Cor
poration began work on the actual de-
sign Of concrete ships in December and
has developed technical division for
this character Of construction UNI
equallcd anywhere. Construction of five
government owned yards having four
ways each, but capable Of considerable
expansion, was begun months ago, and
these yards are now being constructed
at nm expense Of $5,0O00 900, represent
ing about s250,000 a way instead oil
100000 way, the figures specified by
the author of this statement.
THE statement quotes at length
from report made by II. J. Wig, chief
OF the concrete ship department of
the Emergency Fleet Corporation, and
accepts the statements and recon-
mendations Of a gentleman who is an
enthusiastic supporter Of the concrete
ship as representing the actual produc-
ing capacity OF the country. Mr.. Wigs
estimates in regard to the cost Of yards
has undergone serious modification,
and his estimate of possible ship pro-
duction has. in the light Of broader
and moro intimate experience with con-
ditions surrounding all character of
ship construction, undoubtedly under
gonc similar REIMBURSEMENT.
"The Emergency Fleet Corporation
has gone through Il year Of experiences
which have demonstrated conclusively
that the hopes and promises of CON
tractors are but frail foundations on
which to base expectations Of output.
Statements of relative cost, of rapidity
of production, Of sections Of the coun-
try that arc available for the produc-
ton of ships because they are not
gorged with war work, are all glibly
added to give semblance of real re-
search and analysis to statement
that, after all, has been prepared after
but superficial review and INSULT
Gent knowledge Of the subject.
Obstruction Is Denied
"The statement that the Emergency
Fleet Corporation and the United
States Shipping Board, while prac-
tically doing nothing themselves, are
using their large powers to keep others
from doing something, and that they
actually seem to obstruct concrete
ship plans of the Army Transport Ser
vice, is wholly lacking in truth. The
Fleet Corporation has never stood in
the way of capital and enterprise in
undertaking ship construction, unless a
new yard interferred with existing or
contemplated operation. The Fleet Cor
poration has objected to the ship con-
struction programme of the Army
Transport Service purely because that
programme was undertaken without
either consultation with or knowledge
of the Fleet Corporation and because
several Of the contracts were placed
liz districts which, by reason Of exist
ing congestion, were giving grave con-
Germ to the officers of the Fleet Cor
poration. 1t would seem in the highest
degree unwise to permit collateral
branches of the government to compete
with each other for the labor and
material entering into ship construc-
ton, and this is bound to take place
when two separate branches undertake
the same line and character Of con-
struction without consultation or CO.
operation. The War Industries Board
has ruled that all ship construction
shall clear through the Emergency
Fleet Corporation, and that after a
very much fuller knowledge Of the
facts than was apparently available
tC the author of the statement"