The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1919-05-31

timates-Pians for New Type Yes
eel Were Designed to Afford Great.
est Degree 81 Economy In Operation,
Efficiency and Comfort for Crews,
Since the armistice afforded q breath
Ing spell In the rush work on ship con-
struction the greatest bogy regarding
the continuation of Americas ship
building program for the needs of
peace has been that our shipyards
could not compete with those of for
eign nations and that as a result
Anierican-built ships would be so
heavily handicapped that they would
be unable to compete with the output
of foreign yards.
The prewar figure hung In the minds
Of men. Even In 1915 American prices
ranged between $50 and $50 a ton for
12-knot frelghters. For this year esti-
mates for the same type run between
$106 and $225 q ton.
Now comes the Submarine Boat cor
poration Of Newark, N. J., with a fat
OFFER to build 12,O0O-ton steel cargo
steamships at $14o per lightweight
ton.
Hurley 10 Pleased.
Chairman Hurley made this reply:
"Your proposal to build eight 1900
ton American type steel cargo steam
ships at the nat price OF $149 per dead
weight ton has been received. This
proposal ID most interesting at this
particular time when war costs have
reached figures that are out Of all
proportion with our 1919 American
prices Of from SEA to $68 per dead
weight ton on oil tankers, and Of from
$50 q ton for 5.000ton cargo steam
ships to 500 q ton for high-class 5000
ton cargo steamships with q speed OF
from eleven to twelve knots. Most
prices mentioned and talked about for
1919 have been from $165 to 1925.
Your proposal most effectively an
swers the question as to whether our
stsamships can compete In prices with
forslsn shipyards. You have demon
strated what 4 well-managed and efi-
ciently run American shipyard. that
knows IT. cost Of production, can do
In competition with the leading ship
yards In this and other countries.
'sThs receipt Of such a bid from one
Of our best yards at this period In
the development Of our shipbuilding
Industry will be most gratifying to
the country, AZ It Is safe to assume
that II We can build ships at those
figures now, In = short time the prices
win be further substantially reduced.
Such 4 reduction also will give US an
opportunity to firmly establish our
shipbuilding industry and will allow
n to obtain ships at prices reason
able enough to compete with foreign
ship operators. 1 shall take the mat
ter up at once. and advise you"
Plans for this type of vessel. tenta-
lively known ~ the new American
type Of ship. have been drawn by The
odore y. Ferris, q naval architect and
marine engineer, formerly Of the hrm
az Cary-Smith 3 Ferris. Designed
to afford the greatest degree OF econ
omy In operation. efficiency and com
fort for the crews. this type IL to have
many characteristics which do not ex-
ist In vessels under foreign flags.
viii De OIL Burners.
The vessels will be Of the oil-burn.
ing type and will be equipped with
steam prcpelling machinery OF Diesel
engines. an advantage which cannot be
attained by vessels burning coal fol-
fuel.
They viii be equipped with self
contained cargo-handling equipment
n addition to the ordinary electric
LIGHTS. arc lights will be carried, en-
ablinx the crews to load and unload
cargoes by night.
Equipment for handling cargo viii be
90 distributed that the vessels can Loaf
and discharge uniformly.
BY the elimination Of wood and oil
other infammable material, the fir
risk win be wholly for cargoes. The
hull and machinery risk will be min
imixed through stanch construction
and careful installation. Damage t.
cargo BY external causes will be min
imised by matches Of a type to AFFORD
best protection against sea and
weather.
There win be no f~orecastle. Sea
men and 0remen will be berthed II
deck houses, allowing the Creates
amount Of fresh air and light. NJ
wood win be used where metal can b.
smployed. Continuous hot and colo
water viii be supplied.
Washrooms and shower baths viii
~ provided for seamen and firemen
- wei ~ FOR the officers
II order that beef, fowl and othel
~porishable provisions may be carried
fcr long runs, and II necessary with
ont replenishing until home port 4
reached, cold storage rooms will b,
peoyided. Thus the best food a b,
eesved 10 Ill no matter where the shiI
may -.