The sun., 1919-02-04
TO COMMISSION so
SHIPS DURING YEAR
Canada Expects Its Vessels
Will Form Important Part
Of Carrying Trade.
GOVERNMENT GIVES HELP
Large Plant in Montreal, Fin
ished in 1915, Is Complete
in Most Ways.

Canada hopes to COMMISSION my
ships during 1919. most OF them OF
standard .y7es. 5000, 5000 and between
5000 and 10000 tons each. Tho pro-
gramme OF the Imperial Government
provides for the building in Canada OF
forty-three steel ships Of tonnage OF
211,so0 lightweight. and forty-eix
wooden ships Of 12s. 500 tons deadweisht
the former costing s40.00o.ooo and the
latter almost s2b.000.000.
The Dominion Government provided
for an appropriation of s2b,o0o,ooO as
first instalment 1t is not believed that
the signing OF the armistice Will cause
many changes in the plans.
Much OF the steel for the ships Is OBJ
tanned from the United States, but an
Increasingly large proportion Is now
manufactured within the Dom'nions. SO
that an indirect result of the present de-
mands TO- chipping will probably be the
placing OF the shipbuilding industry OF
Canada on a sound economical OASIS.
1t Is realized now that the reawaken-
ing OF interest in Canada in the ship
building and engineering Industries
some years ago came at an opportune
time, In view of the world war, as now
tho various establishments organized
are doing most useful service, not only
In the production Of ships but In the
output OF other necessary articles. the
Dominion. manufacture OF munitions
during the war formed an important
contribution to the Allies supply.
Montreal Plant Cost s11.2oo,ooO.
One of the leading shipbuilding estab-
lishments OF Canada Is that OF Canadian
vickers in Montreal, tho erection OF which
was commenced early IN 1910, but II was
not until the beginning OF the year 1918
that the establishment was able TO exer-
else full influence on the ehipouilding
resources OF the Dominion. The plant
involved the investment Of nearly sll.-
100000 and the utilization of thirty five
acres OF land.
Besides merchant shipbuilding a large
fleet of high speed motor boats has been
built. In addition. the company IN vari-
oue machine shops carried out the manu-
facture of a large number o, projectiles.
The great floating dock which forms
such an important feature OF the equip
ment OF tho establishment was rooted In
70 provide a workshop for the building
OF motor boats In this way thirty boats
could be in progress simultaneously
within the dock, while others were built
To transport them overland TO a con-
venient Atlantic port the boats we're
loaded on exceptionally long and we'll
trussed trucks. with small four wheeled
truck at each end. the bow and stern Of
tho boat overhanging corresponding
small trucks.
A ladder twin screw dredser. the iarg-
est ever built IN Canada, designed for
operation In the North Channel OF the
st Lawrence. Is a product OF the vickers
plant. 1t is constructed to operate to a
depth OF fifty-five feet. and is Of the
hopper type. but is equipped with shoots
for discharging into barses.
some Of the building herths NJ the
plant can accommodate ships up to 500
feet In length. while the width is lo5
feet and the clear height Of shed eighty
seven feet With such dimensions two
ships may be built side by side.
Much Work Done During War.
During the war the plant IN addition
to making repairs on cruisers did much
In overhauling and repairing mine
sweeping trawlers, drifters and other
vessels. An important item in the re-
pair department Is the floating crane
used at the works This crane, which
has lifting capacity OF s.,.n,v-tya
tons. has a length over the platform,
OF 500 feet. width over all OF 1873 fee,
and a depth at pontoon centre Of II
feet
As the end. are open Il can take .
ship OF any length. the lifting capaoitv
being the only limit. and this Is rs. 600
tons The side walls are 40 feet s
inches long. with a height aboye the
pontoon deck o. ~ feet
The dock Is completely equipped, ana
mas proved OF great service In connec-
ton with the shipping in the St Law
renee River. The crane on tho side
walls 's ~ the electric travelling santry
type, and has a lifting capacity Of three
tons.
One OF the largest sea going cargo steam
ships built In Canada recently left The
Canadian Vickers works; It's dimention,
ara; Length between Perpendicular. 8so
feet; breadth moulded. ~ feet: denth
moulded. 80 feet; load draueht, "a feat
The vessel IL a single screw steamer n,
the single deck type with poop. bridge
ana forecAstle. built TO Lloyd's highest
class The machinery Is ftted amid.
ships.