The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-24
KEEP THE SHIpYARDS BUSY.
Otherwise the Cost Of Construction in
America VIII Be High.


America VIII Be High.
To THE EDITOR OF THE suN--sir: Be-
foro the war the cost Of building steel
ocean steamships OF good type in
the United States averaged between 80
and 80 per cent. above the cost OF
similar tonnage In Great Britain. So
far as low speed. rough cargo vessels
or the tramp type were concerned. the
difference was sometimes even wider.
Steel plates and shapes and timber
were cheaper here. as a general rule.
than on the other side OF the Atlantic.
That British--and, Of course, German
shipyards could underbid our own yards
was held by technical authorities to be
due. frst. to the far higher range of
wages In America, and second. to the
equally important fact that British and
German yards were more constantly
employed on moro nearly standardized
types OF hulls and machinery. and were
thus in a position to realize the econ
omies that attend full and continuous
production.
Full and continuous production OF
ships--a working day after day up to
maximum capacity for long time on
ships OF fairly homogeneous types-is
the one thing indispensable just now to
a steady reduction Of this abnormally
high cost Of American built steam
shipping. 1t 10 very disquieting. there
fore. to note that some American steel
shipyards which have most expedi-
, tiously fulfilled their contracts for Gov
eminent owned tonnage now apprehend
that IN few months they will be with
out employment and compelled to un-
dertake whatever they can get--tug-
boats. barges. yachts or fishermen. or
perhaps an occasional naval gunboat Or
Destroyer diversity OF work which
in the same yard has historically made
for anything but efficiency or economy
OF production.
For several weeks one OF the new
steel shipyards on the shores of New
York harbor has been daily advertising
| for private contracts after early next
summer. when all It's Government ships
will have been completed. But 1t may
be assumed with certainty that until
| the question OF Government owned and
operated or privately. owned and oper-
ated merchant shipping Is determined
private orders for important ocean car
| riers will be few and far between.
Are We not facing a grave risk OF
progressive paralysis in our new ship
| building industry unless Congress arms
| the Shipping Board with the requisite
money and authority to 60 right on
| producing ships, not only In the great
Government fabricating yards but in the
ether yards that owe their origin to
American individual initiative and en-
| terprise? Under the spur OF war neces-
sity the United States. through an ex-
penditure OF several billion dollars. has
rapidly created an immense shipbund-
| ing capacity and the beginnings of a
new overseas merchant marine. Unlike
most Of the other new war industries
| the merchant marine is ore that can
| be made TO return an enduring profit
upon the immense first cost OF the in
| vestment. But in order TO secure such
| profit the Government must either
itself supply continuing full employ
| ment TO the really efficient shipyards
| which have responded to the war emer-
| Eency or stand out OF To way and
with we'll considered national aid permit
| private American shipowners 10 supply
thi. employment
British ehipyards with reported
Government guarantee behind them are
now taking contracts for steel merchant
steamers at from 500 to $40 n dead
weight ton. Our Government is paying
American shipyards-most Of them new
from $3.50 70 upward OF 5000 a dead
weight ton for the same kind OF con-
struction. Nothing but constant employ
ment to a maximum production will ever
enable American yards to come measur-
ably near these British prices. II Is
not necessary to emphasize the impor-
| lance of the factor OF first cost OF
tonnage In the problem OF national
merchant marine.
To hesitate now is 20 hazard the par
| tiai or complete loss OF an enormous
national investment Every dollar which
| the United States Shipping Board may
Immediately require and ask for further
new construction of steel steamships
should be promptly granted by Con-
gress. All the new ships which our
yards can launch in the next two years
our army and our merchants need and
will need. Earlier than was anticipated
our now merchant marine has come to
the parting Of the ways. which lead.
the one to victory. the other to failure
WINTHROP L. MARVIN.
Boston, January %.