The Washington times., 1919-01-14

wilson. The special guests to be in
Vited will include Governor Davis OF
virginia. members OF Congress, and
other prominent men. A military
oand will be hired for the occasion,
ana luncheon will follow the cere-
monies.
The Gunston Hall is described as
oeing or the sherwood type, 4O2 feet
inches long, 53 feet to the upper
geek, 20 feet inches deep, and 81
leet inches to the shelter deck. She
VIII be propelled by reciprocating OIL
burning engines. and the contract
Ealls lof speed of eleven knots an
hour.
After launching, sixty more days of
work on hitting up the ship will pe
necessary before she is ready to far,
forth to sea. She will be equipped
with a powerful wireless plant.
More than 1000 workmen are busily
engaged in putting the finishing
touches on the Gunston Hall.
Have Come to Stay.
Norris L.. Bowen, assistant to the
vice president and general manager
and office managers Of the corpora
ton, told The Times today that the
Virginia Shipbuilding Corporation
had come to Alexandria. to stay.
After we have completed the
twelve cargo carriers for the Emerg-
ency Fleet Corporation, we will be
ready to begin other work." he said
I'VE have. many offers from private
concerns to build ships, SO you sea
We shall be busy here for a long time
TO come
Mr.. Bowen said a total investment
Of $5,000,0o0 is represented in the cor.
roration's shipyards at Alexandria
All the buildings are OF steel.
Does this look as If we weren't GO
ing to stay?" he asked.
Helped Alexandria Grow. :.
The advent of the shipbuilding cor.
poration to the town has had a great
deal to do with the growth Of Alex
andria's population, Mr.. Bowen add
ed. He said that for many scores OF
years the population remained sta
tionary, about 10000. Last year
soon after the shipyards were estab.
lished. there was sudden jump In
the population figures. Mr.. Bowen
claims that the increase from 10000
| to $4,000 in one year is in many re-
spects attributable to the settling in
Alexandria Of the concern
Mr.. Bowen further said:
"A world record for speed in plant
construction is claimed by the Vir-
ginia Shipbuilding Corporation. In
eighty-fve working days-11S elaps-
ed days-a barren tract OF forty
seven acres made land was trans
formed into a shipyard second to
! none in America in point Of layout
construction, and equipment.
Twelve More Launcbings Soon
In building ships. it's progress IS
enviable. Though no ships have been
launched yet, it is expected that two II
our contracts for twelve steel o, 100
ton cargo carriers will take the water
| before the yard is a year old
This company has four concrete
shipways, with room and prospect 70:
six more-a dozen large shops If
ling shipworkers, and a staff ot
young. aggressive officers, under the
leadership of General Manager B. ~
Morse. To the latter goes the chief
credit for the yards achievement
since it Is the direct result Of his
creative spirit and indomitable energq
rising superior to every exigcncy Of
war.
with peace at hand, the year 1918
should witness such strides in this
yard as will turn the eyes of America
with pride toward the Alexandria
shipyard On the Potomac"
Is Subsidiary Concern.
The Virginia Shipbuilding Corpora
tion is a subsidiary of the United
States Steamship Company, which cor
poration has on it's books $40, 000, ,00O
of contracts for eighty-eight ships, oi
which fifty-six abe for private con-
Germs and the remainder for the Gov
ernment.
Although the launching Of the
Gunston Hall has unavoidably been
delayed, Mr.. Bowen expressed himself
AS very well pleased with the progress
made so far. About the only thinf.
that ruffied his feelings was the fact
that the Emergency Fleet Corpora
tion selected the names of the other
eleven ships under the contract.
I'VE are glad Mrs. Wilson picked
the name for the Gunston Hail." he
said, but the Emergency Fleet Cor
poration wished on us some very
fancy names. Here they are: Chan
cook. Carratunk. Betsy Bell, Vanada,
Boshbish, Bellyhoc, Attana, Assunta,
Naishu, Maniski. and Migiski."