Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-04-08
The demands for such add.
materials have, been successful

ulAtcTAdlS nave, Ueeu huCCcocLuI.
ly met.
In the case. of certain materials,
considerable, effort has bee necessary
needs. The principal difficulties OF
this kind have been with steel and
iron materials. With the assistance
of the American Iron and Steel Insti-
tute the tonnage needed has been dis
among all mills having pro-
per capacity and facilities.
In the 8 of some items, such rs
chain. the industry Is being severely
to get u the production
shortage. Efforts are being made to
new sources OF supply.
In its purchases the Navy Depart
ment has st~eadfastly held to the prin-
ciple OF competitive buying. this
method giving most satisfactory re-
suits to both seller and buyer.
Heavy Buying Increase.
The tremendous increase in the buy
the purchasing machinery to a e
test. BY increasing the working force
of the various bureaus, and particu-
hrly by calling into service men Of
large business experience and special
technical training. it has been possi-
BILE to meet this increase without
change in method or organization.
The Navy Department had prepared
q design for a submarine chaser be-
fore the outbreak Of the war. The
ideal design for this purpose would
obviously have been a vessel Of arma-
ment, speed, sea-worthiness, and cruis-
ing radius closely approaching the
characteristics Of a modern destroyer.
1t was equally obvious. however, that
vessels of this type could o be
quickly built in large numbers, be-
cause of h limited capacity of the
country for steel-ship construction
and for producing prore:ling machin-
cry for the power and type needed. As
it was considered desirable to con-
serve the capacity for stcel-hull con-
%struction to the building OF d]estroyers
and cargo Vessels. Il woodruff con-
struction was adopted, Off the sub
n1arine-chaser program, sc as to take
advantage Of the yacht inc boat build
ing industry.
1t was found also that there was no
possibility of obtaining steam power
plants for these boats in the large
numbers needed in the short space OF
time. An entirely satisfactory design
Of submarine chaser was prepared
having a length of ITO feet and driven
by three 220-horsepower gasoline en-
sines. OF these boats several hundred
were contracted for during the middle
of April. 1917, and practically all of
these boats have been delivered. The
contracts were distributed among 81
private concerns. and 6 navy yards,
The construction at many Of the plants
was completed in record time. The
boats have given splendid service. ard
have proved yer more scaworthy
than was anticipated, although sea
worthiness was the principal design
consideration. Many OF these boats
have crossed the Atlantic Ocean ir
weather which has done considerable
damage to accompanying larger shirs
These boats have proved TIER un.
doubted superiority to any other type
of boat built of wood for this pur.
pose.
New Eagle Glass.
The new patrol boats, named the
Eagle class. being built at the Ford
plant, are to be considerably 'args,
than the submarine chaser:. and viii
correspond very closely to the earlics,
destroyers.
American battleships are the larges,