The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-01-03
NAVAL PROGRAM
WILL PROVE VERY
EXPENSIVE NOW
mPOSSBLE TO PRACTICE ECON
Only IN CONSTR CTIoN FOR
A NUMBER OF YEARS
TO COME.
PRIVATE CONTRACTS LOST LARGE
SUMS IN BUILDING OF
SATTLESER MS
SISUPl.
SEP BUnDuG COSTS HAVE AD-
4 VANCED 43 PER CENT,
ACCORDING TO TIES
TMONY.

WASHINGTON. Jan. War condi-
tons have oroush. abou. an enormous
Increase in III. cost OF building war
ships, Rear Admiral Taylor. chief Of tn"
bureau OF construction and repair. told
the House naval committee today in dis
cussinr the 1920 naval appropriation
bill. He estimated that IN" hullS and
machinery OF the 10 eattleShps and SIN
battle cruisers authorized IL 1916 would
cost nearly $50. NG0.0h0 more than eSti-
mated-an Increase % almost % per
cent.
Admiral Taylor said he did not think
i, was likely that the end OF hostiNaes
would result in any speedy reduction IN
costs After tho Civil war. ne. Salu.
there was no appreciable lowering OF
costs Of labor and materials Withn
three years.
Increase In Cost.
'sThc battleshp Mississippi: "a new
ship delivered last Year, was ouilt on
contract for s7.l15.oQ0." the admiral
said, but the company which oul1t II
lost large sum al money eHo 49, nd
bids on the battleships California ana
Tennessee were asked for. no contrac-
tor submitted bid under the cSti-
mated cost Of sT.Sp0.00o. The govern
ment then decided 70 build them III ITS
own navy yards and tas ~-St Will
amount 20 probably sl1.26o.ooo each. an
increase Of IS per cent over the esN7
mated cost.
rTh, same increase will apply prob
ably to capital ships authorized IN the
1916 three-vcar program. tor the ~
hattleshins and six battle cruisers pro-
yided for in this program. l imagine
the increase will amount to nearly
$3.50. n00. 900. This applies to the hulls
and machinery alone | would not ven
turc TO say how much III" increase VIII
b. for the arrncr and armament. OUT
I will make inquiries and let the COM
m.ttec know.
Practice Economy. =.
Admiral Taylor said the COS, or COX"
structing merchant ships has Increased
from s75 20 $200 Il ton. while the cost
OF battlsshlrs has Increased less IMAM
so per cent THIS has been acCum-
p,ished. h. said. hy exercising the ErtSt-
est economy possible IN ihc EoE"rnm AZ
nav, wards and ny close Superv!Sipn'ln
private wards which arr building bat
tleshirs O.: n" ''c"Sr-nluS' basis.
The original estimates for the bat
tiesh!us Colorado Maryland. Washing
ton and West virginia. ." when con-
struc,ion has b"en started. Admiral
TavIor said. was stl.aon.00o. IL IS
doubtful II they. can u" completed foe
less than Sl5.550.0o0."
..Ir ,hcre has been an increase OF
st50.0n0. 0N0 over the estimated cost OF
the 1916 ihvee-ycar program what VIII
The increase, b. in the lhrec-year pro-
= -ram Just recommended BY secretary
Daniels" asked Representatives 60'lse
OF Pennsylvania. The cost Is est1-
mated a, $500. 000. 900, but the estimateA
for tho individual ships are no, Huen
larger for thoS', made IL tho l@to pro-
ram surely they cannot b. made any
cheaper than those being constructed
now
Constructive Costs.
-, liraf Taylor replied that there may
BE- Arse reductions in the cost OF con-
struction before the program Is start
cd. The 1916 program Will not DC COM
Melted until 1923. hc SAID. and Inc ~"
program cannot be PITT into fnti SWINE
before tho present one is out OF the
wsr Contracts for all ships authorized
in the 1915 program have been Let eX-
cent' for. two battteShips. ~ torpedo boat
dcstroycrs. nira Submarines and i've
auxiliary vessels. tho witness SAID. VI
oIl IN. vessels authorized in 1916. the
battle cruisers will % completed.
Secretary Daniels. who preceded Ad-
miral Taylor before the committee. saiu
electrically driven machinery VIII giFf
future American battlHshipS and oattle
cruisers superiority WI 80
lighting craft % the other nari"s 81
~ world. Mr.. Daniels described AZ
1anrth the results obtained III trials OF
the now supcr-dr"adnaught New Mexico
= tho first hattleshp il tn" world TO o'
equipped with tn" electric drive
Mr. Daniels said that all capital snip
hereafter completed TOR the navy IN.
Guiding the 10 sup"r.dr"aanauShlS ana
. six battle cruisers in the thrHe-F"af
nrorran authorized i 1915. would have
electrically driven machinery. rests OF
tho New Mexico. h" declared nave DEM
rnstratrd that su"h engines can DC op;r,
s,n6 more econ"npically than any others
and rhat = shin driven by them car
r,,n ~ top speed as long as its t"ei
lasts.