The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-26
U. s. CANCELS STEEL
SHIP CONTRACTS
Shipping Board Abandons
Plans for 100000 Tonnage
IL Keels Not Laid.
ARE ON WAR PRICE BASIS
Bids for Wooden Bottoms Are
Asked For as Part Of
New Programme.

WARRINGTON, April 25.--Cancellation
or contracts made during the war for
construction of 100000 tons of steel
ships was announced to-day by the Ship
ping Board, which Ia preparing 10 Close
Government work in many yards
throughout the country. The action
brings all canceliat on since signing Of
the armistice to 1900, 900 tons.
In the brief announcement issued from
tho offlco OF Chairman Hurley no ref.
erence Is made to the actual number Of
contracts involved or to yards affected
by the order. II was explained that
action at this tine would not come as a
surprise to builders. as months ago no.
tice was served on them Of the boards
new policy, the chief feature of which
was the elimination OF blu lding plans
for all ships under $4,000 tons.
At the end OF March about 400 ships
for the board had been launched, but not
delivered. These ships represented a
tonnage OF about 100000. At that
time keels had been laid for some 500
ships aggregating 100000 tons. sh p
ping Board officials said they were I'M
able to give the actual number Of con-
tracts outstanding or figures later than
those OF March 81. II was indicated that
yards like HOG Island and smaller plants
on the Atlantic. Pao hc and gulf coasts
would lose some Government business.
Hurley Makes Statement.
Mr.. Hurley issued the following state
inent: 'tSince the signing OF the arms-
tlce on November II, 1918. the Shipping
Board has cancelled cont~a ~ts - moe
than 100000 tons OF steel ships. u
ieuring out the balancing o. va. fleet
we md II necessary to cancel an addi-
tional 100000 tons Of steel ships. In
some OF the old and established yards
we are paying from $l95 to s225 a ton
for cargo steamships and Oil tankers.
In some OF the new and Inexperienced
yards We are paying as high as $500
ton for cargo ships. As these are
war prices. and as We feel that we
should be building only on peace prices.
we are considering cancelling all con-
tracts where keels have not actually
been laid"
Three days after the armistice had
been signed Chairman Hurley announced
| that the board had made q complete
resurvey OF It's construction programme
| and contracts. From that time, he
said. 1t was planned TO build ships with
reference to suitability for special SER
vice and with particular r<erehce to
more economical cost of operation.
Ask for BIDS for Wooden Halls.
Bids for purchase OF 43l wooden
steamship hulls and thrty-one wood
barge hu'ls were asked to-day by the
Shipping Board as part Of It's programme
for disposing Of surplus bottoms con.
structed during the war emergency.
| The building programme was %
gigantic in proportions and 90 successful
In accomplishment that with the sudden
ending Of the war II was found more
keels had been laid and ships completed
tran will now be required by the Gov
eminent" the announcement said.
| Ship fittings such as engines, boilers
winches. cables. &C. can be furnished BY
the Emergency Fleet Corporation e
| complete the ships IL necessary. In the
| majority OF cases material for the com.
pletion of the vessels has been accumu
lated and Is in the yards. which permits
OF arrangements being made for theii
quick completion. II was said that tn,
vessels could be converted into sailing
vessels or barges or equipped with in
ternal combustion engines IL desired in
stead OF being equipped AZ steamships
Bids must be in by May rs and accom-
panied by certified check for 10 per cent
o. the amount OF the bid The HULL
vary in the percentage of completion
Most of them are $500 tons, a few ar,
OF 400 tons and the barges are o
$500 tons.