The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-06-17


12,ooo-Ton Freishters at STAG a
| Deadweight Ton, Far Below the Es.
timates-Plans for New Type Yes.
sci Were Designed to Afford Great.
est Degree of Economy in Operation,
Efficiency and Comfort for Crews,
Since the armistice afforded breath
ing spell in the rush work on ship con-
struction the greatest bogy regarding
the continuation of Americas shin
1 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
American-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 1916 American prices
ranged between $50 and 500 a 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 a fiat
offer to build 12OOO-ton steel cargo
steamships at $149 per lightweight
ton.
Hurley is Pleased.
Chairman Hurley made this reply:
"Your proposal to build eight 10000
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 with our 1915 American
prices of from $64 to $6s per dead
weight ton on oil tankers, and of from
$50 a ton for 5000-ton cargo steam
ships to 500 ton for high-class 9,200-
ton cargo steamships with speed of
from eleven to twelve knots. Most
prices mentioned and talked about for
1919 have. been from S1S5 to 1925.
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 well-managed and eff
GENTLY run American shipyard, that
knows its cost of production, can do
in competition with the leading ship
yards in this and other countries.
1.-THE receipt of such bid from one
of our best yards at this period in
the development of our shipbuilding
indu stry will be most gratifying to
the country, as it is safe to assume
that if we can build ships at those
figures now, in short time the prices
will be further substantially reduced.
Such a reduction also will give us an
to firmly establish our
industry and will allow
us to obtain ships at prices reason
able enough to compete with foreign
ship operators. 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, a naval architect and
marine engineer, formerly of the firm
Of Cary-Smith & Ferris. Designed
to afford the greatest degree of econ
omy in operation, efficiency and COM
tort for the crews, this type is to have
many characteristics which do not ex-
st in vessels under foreign flags.
Will Be oil Burners.
The vessels will be Of the oil-burn-
ng type and will be equipped with !
team propelling machinery or Diesel '
Engines, an advantage which cannot be t
Lttained by vessels burning coal for e
uel.
They will be equipped with self =.
obtained cargo-handling equipment. g
n addition to the ordinary electric
ights, arc lights will be carried, en- v
bling the crews to load and unload il
argoes by night. p
Equipment for handling cargo will be =
0 distributed that the vessels can load n
nd discharge uniformly.
BY the elimination of wood and all a
Their infiammable material the fire \
lsk will be wholly for cargoes. The Y
ull and machinery risk will be min =,
mized through stanch construction q
nd careful installation. Damage to d
argo by external causes will be min. c,
nized by matches Of type to afford
EST protection against sea and p
Gather. ~
There will be no forecastle. Sea- a,
en- and firemen will be berthed in Of
eek houses, allowing the greatest al
mount of fresh air and light. No m
God will be used where metal can be az
nployed. Continuous hot and cold
alter will be supplied. /
Mushrooms and shower baths will
} provided for seamen and firemen,
, well as for the officers.