The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-08-18

body. hind quarters and tail haven't
arrived yet. But even the forefront
stretches across more than mile
Of the northern horizon OF this
town.
We first sighted the monster as
20 rounded a bend In the James
river. at Ciaremont. so miles above
Norfolk.
~SOME ELEPHANT.
CROWN EVERY DAY.
skipper Henry Morecock released
the tiilcr OF the little fishing boat
In which we were beating up the
river from jamestown. and Chamber
ed carefully forward.
'fScokee there" he said pointing
to . strange blurred mass stretch
Ing out into the river two miles
further up. "Some elephant. ehFI
she's CROWN every day. Shell durn
near mn the whole river when they
cit her up here"
A. We approached the mass began
10 dissolve itself into a forest OF
spars and smokcstacks rising above
row upon row OF closely .moored
black hulks. SIN nearer. the mass
broke up into groups. In each unit
OF which was distinguishable five or
seven big freight steamers dashed
closely side by side. placed alter.
nately how to stern and stern 10
bow. Empty Of cargocs. all rode
light and high.
Except for an occasional wssp OF
smoke from the center boat In
each unit there were no signs OF
life aboard
VANGUARD or iss
WOODEN STEAMERS
These boats. the vanguard OF las
wooden steamers now assigned by
the shipping board for berth In the
river Mt Claremont. are part OF
the emergency fleet built by the
government during the war. Unable
10 find them either cargoes or pur.
chasers. the board liz now laying
them up IN the river here awaiting
the success or failure OF Americas
merchant marine program.
II the program succeeds. the boats
may ultimately move into service.
They may be sold to private inter.
ests. either American or foreign.
for coastal or tramp freigh, service.
or be stripped OF their engines and
& machinery and converted into
harges.
But II some field for their serv.
ioe not now existing. or utilized. In
mot developed. they win remain In.
definitely IT claremont. charge
on the government for protection
and upkeep. slowly rusunR and rot
ding and becoming yearly more OBJ
so1ete and useless.
In which case, Claremont may be
remembered in history as the worlds
i, greatest marine boneyard-
! COST By
COMPARISON
The cost Of this white elephant"
may BE- pictured by comparison with
<1bs investment In those two other
~elephants- owned BY the shipping
board-the Leviashan and the Hog
Island shipyard-
The Leviathan greatest OF an
cargo liners. has cost the United
States some SO. ooo. 900. Hog Island
tDok more than three times as much.
or sc. 1000 900.
But Uncle Sans wooden merchant
neet-that part OF II alone for
which no use can now be found
represents an expenditure OF more
than $4,000 900. and the total OF
wooden vessels In the hands of the
board involves costs OF approx.
nnateiy $500 900.
That all OF these wooden steamer,
except such as may be sold 10 for.
etgn buyers. will shortly find them
selves scheduled for anchorage Mt
Claremont or some other bone
yard" is Indicated by the rate al
which they are being displaced from
service.
The board now owns 25s wooden
freishfers- On July 1. according 10
Admiral Benson. chairman OF the
board. 1872 were In active service
and 10 laid up in charge of care.
takers
On August 5. however. Benson
stated that only about 80 wooden
ships were In service. At the same
rate Of withdrawal. another month
WIN see the whole OF our wooden
feet out OF commission.
FRESH WATER
PRESERVES THEM
OF the IT'S wooden boats stbus
shown withdrawn from service. 1as
have been assigned for anchorage
at Claremont.
Boats now laid up at Atlantic and
Gulf saltwater ports will be moved
to anchorage here. Their assembling
will. In the long run, save the gov.
eminent large sums.
Wooden vessels last longer in
fresh water and are free from the
teredo. or ship worm, an enemy 10
salt watergoing wooden boats.
Also. being on fresh and not
salt water. the rates for seamen.
engineers and helpers are lower.
These boats have been costing the
government from $1,000 to $4,000 a
month for upkeep even while lying
idle. or about S275,000 for the 1873
boats assigned to this harbor. BY
laying them up In fresh water, In
units OF several-a mother ship 10
each unit with three others on each
side, this cost can be reduced TO
about 800 per month per ship,
or 800 per month for each unit.
The total force for the 1913 boats
II expected to be slightly under
400 men.
Only an occasional fishing boat
gets this far up the James river:
there IL no regular river service
and only one railroad hits the
town.
You've certainly picked an out.
of-the-way spot TO lay them up
told shipping board man super.