The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1919-05-15
BIC CUT IN COST
OF SHIPBU|LDI|NC.
Hurley Delighted at New Jersey
Firms Bid.
BAN|SHEs GREATEST BoGY

tirates-Pians for New Type Yes.
sci Were Designed to Afford Great
sst Degree Of Economy In Operation,
Efficiency and Comfort for crewA
Since the armistice afforded a breath
Ing spell in the rush work ON ship con,
struction the greatest bogyo 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 result
American-bui1t 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 SEQ ton for
12-knot freighters. For this year esti-
mates for the same type run between
$195 and 1925 ton.
Now comes the Submarine Boat cor
poration Of Newark, N. j., with fiat
offer to build 1200O-ton steel cargo
steamships at $149 per deadweight
ton.
r.. Hurley 10 Pleased.
Chairman Hurley made this reply:
''Your proposal to build eight 1900
ton American Type steel cargo steam.
ships at the fiat price Of $40 per dead.
weight ton has been received. This
proposal is most Interesting at this
particular time when war costs have
reached figures that are out Of all
proportion wish our 1915 American
prices of from $64 to $68 per dead
weight ton on oil tankers, and Of from
$50 ton for 5,O00ton cargo steam
ships to 500 ton for high-class $500
ton cargo steamships with a speed OF
from eleven to twelve Knots. Most
prices mentioned and talked about for
1919 have been from $1S5 to $225.
Your proposal most effectively an
swers the question as to whether our
steamships can compete in prices with
foreign shipyards. You have demon
strated what q well-managed and ell
GENTLY run American shipyard. that
knows It's cost Of production. can do
in competition with the leading ship
yards in this and other countries.
'The receipt Of such bid from one
of our best yards ut this period In
the development Of our shipbuilding
industry will be most gratifying to
the country, as 1t is safe to assume
that II we can build ships at those
figures now, In q short time the prices
will be further substantially reduced
Such a reduction also will give US an
opportunity to firmly establish our
shipbuilding industry and will allow
US to obtain ships at prices reason
able enough to compete with foreign
ship operators. I shall take the mat
ter up at once, and advise you"
Plans for this type Of vessel, tenta'
lively known as the new American
type of ship, have been drawn by The
odore e. Ferris, q, naval architect and
marine engineer, formerly Of the flrm
OF Cary-smith & Ferris. Designed
to afford the, greatest degree Of econ
omy In operation, efficiency and COM
fort for the crews, this type is to have
many characteristics which do not ex-
mt In vessels under foreign flags.
~. viii Ba OH Burners.
The vessels will be Of the oll-burn-
ins type and will be equipped with
steam propelling machinery or Diesel
snR1nes, an advantage which cannot be
attained by vessels burning coal for
fuel. -a
They will be equipped with self
contained cargo-handling equipment.
In addition to the ordinary electric
lights, arc lights will be carried, en-
abling the crews to load and unload
cargoes by night g q
Equipment for handling cargo will be
80 distributed that the vessels can load
and discharge uniformly.
BY the elimination Of wood and all
other inflammable material. the fire
risk will be wholly for cargoes. The
hull and machinery risk will be min.
imized through, stanch construction
and careful installation Damage to
cargo by external causes will be min
imized by matches of type to afford
best protection against sea and
weather.
There will be no forecastle. Sea.
men and firemen will be berthed in
deck houses, allowing the greatest
amount Of fresh air and light. No
wood will be used where metal can be
employed. Continuous hot and cold
water will be supplied.
Mushrooms and shower baths will
be provided for seamen and firemen.
as well as for the officers.
In order that beef, fowl and other
perishable provisions may be carried
for long runs, and II necessary with.
out replenishlng until home port Is
reached, cold storage rooms will be
provided. Thus the best food can be
served to all no matter where the ship
may be.