New-York tribune., 1919-10-08
The Shipbuildi1g Crisis
Henry c. Wutbank, in The Rudder
displacement it bids fair to be an extremely

displacement it bids fair to be an extremely
brief one.
The real momentum that has carried
American shipbulding forward in the last
few years has been government orders.
When these cease whence is 8 substitute
motive power to be supplied? In building
contracts from private owners here
abroad? Not in volume to keep the great
bulk of the huge machinery assembled dur
ing the war from rusting into decay. Prices
are too high, thanks to the benevoence of
the government toward every demand Of
labor made during the stress Of conflict. In
Japan only are construction costs higher,
and there the question is not one of labor,
but of materials. And that problem is not
insurmountable. Within year or two.
unless all signs fail. Japan will be turning
out steel in sufficient quantities and at
prices that will enable her to compete in
the worlds shipbuilding market.
Mr.. Hurley's Warning
Only few months have elapsed since
Chairman Hurley of the United States Ship
|. ping Board sounded the warning cry of
"$600.000,000 by. July or work on every
government shipbulding contract will have
to be stopped" The $500 600. 900 has not
been forthcoming and the ides of September
have passed, but the Shipping Board under
date of September 13 announced:
Americas rapid advance from an incon-
sequential place among the maritime
tions to the post of leadership in shipbuid-
ing was not only phenomenal, but is fair
augury for the permanence of its new mer-
chant marine, built under the stress of war.
At the outbreak of the world struggle mer-
chant marine construction had almost be-
come lost art in this country. To-day this
nation has more shipworkers, more ship
yards, more shipways, more vessels under
construction and is turning them out more
rapidly and in greater numbers than now
issue from the shipyards of all the world"
According to the Shipping Board, then,
the momentum Of output is still in full
swing in this country and we are building
more ships and more tonnage than all the
rest of the world combined
Shipping Board Figures
How does this claim jbe with the known
facts? The latest figures on world ship
building are those already quoted of Lloyd's
Register for the quarter ended June so
last These show that at that period when
! American production was considerably
| greater than it Is to-day, The division of
| output under construction in gross tonnage
| and number of ships was as follows:
Gross tons No of ships
United States ......... 1874 900 aq4
| Rest Of world. ......... 4,143.o 600 1532
u. S. deficiency. y...... 269 600 b3s
These figures include all classes Of ships,
but in terms Of steel steamers. which are
| what count in foreign trade, the compari-
! would be as follows:
Gross tons No of ships
United States =, 165. 900 $40
Rest of world. 3, 900 1856
u. S. deficiency. T1f.000 506
But the Shipping Boards own figures are
evidence that the peak of production has
| been attained and the descent begun They
} show that both deliveries and launchings
touched the high water mark in May last.
and have since been diminishing at a rate
that indicates that there is little likelihood
the previous maxmums will be exceeded.
In gross tons the boards figures for the
! current year as follows: