Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-16
keep HOG ISLAND,
BRUSH TELLS j. S.
American International Ship
building Corporation Head
Advises Against, Sale
MAY BE NEEDED IN FUTURE

hetention of Hog Island by the gov
ernmcnt, covering or reducing the
carrying charges by leasing It to a pri-
vate concern with the privilege of re-
gaining 1t at once in an emergency. Is
recommended by Matthew G.. Brush.
president Of the American International
Shipbuilding Corporation.
Mr.. Brush believes the present con-
dtion Of world politics and the possi-
bility of the United States again need
ing such an enterprise as the giant
shipyard justly the retention of the
yard by the government.
The project is being considered at
Washington from two angles. One plan
Is TO retain the yard .->ier the idea
outlined by Mr.. Brush and the other
is to retain it as a United States army
quartermaster base and transport ter
minal.
Brush in Statement
Mr.. Brush issued a statement on the
subject last night on his return aboard
the transport Cantigny. which made
successful trial trip. He said:
Hog Island should certainly be re-
tained by the government at present.
while world conditions are in such
threatening shape, and even with an
other emergency passed. think It
Nouiu Wv UHNlSc lot tne government
not to keep and make use Of the great
plant.
II have learned with great interest
of the late reports from Washington
that the question Of retaining the yard
is being considered" he said. II am
In difficult position to comment upon
any possible action to be taken byHthe
government because of my official DO
sition.
Samuel NJ. Vauclain. who ! see
favors the continued possession of the
plant by the government, is free to
say what he pleases. However, I fe |
/ can say that I believe it would be a
wise investment on the part of the gov :
ernment to keep the plant in operation.
In some lines at least. 1t would be a
tremendous asset If the country should
become involved again in the disturb
ing situation in Europe. and it would
be. little less Of an asset in time OF
peace.
I'm fact, on our trip up the Della :
ware, Colonel John s. Fair, who was
aboard as aide to William II. Williams.
assistant secretary of war, in speaking
of the future of Hog Island. expressed
the opinion strongly that the govern =
ment should retain the plant for the use
of the army. He pointed out that when
war conditions arose the government
was obliged to pay huge rentals for
warehouses and shops Of all kinds.
''He said the government still has
81 800 900 900 in various materials In
warehouses and could effect great saw
ing by making use Of the warehouse
possibilities at Hog Island.
Expense Not Large
"The expense to the government in
keeping the plant in high class condi
ton would be trivial compared with the
results. While the shipbuilding cor
poration stin remains in control, we are
taking every precaution to prevent any
deterioration and the government could
do the same.
"With a fair amount of care ever!
part Of the immense plant would b'
ready to be put into operation almost
Immediately when the demand came
1t would not pay the gOycrnmenC TO use
the plant for shipbuilding upon smal
scale. as it was planned to do big things
Any attempt to continue shipbuildinl
upon one or two ways would be fail
ure. But there are posslDlnuIes for en-
ploymcnt of great number of mer
there in various lines OF work apSo
lutely essential to the army and navy
and the entire plant kept in perfect
condition for unexpected needs.
II sincerely hope the reports are cor
rect that the government is reconsider
ing the proposal Immediately to dispose
of the plant"
Amazed by Magnitude
Colonel Fair said this was his first
visit to the plant and he was amazed
at it's magnitude. He added:
"It seems to me that the govern
mcnt should control the future of the
enterprise by using it AZ military
hase. The government needs enormous
facilities of which the Hog Island plant
presents by far the best possibilities o.
any place l ever have seen"
A searchlight was playing upon q
broom at the masthead when the Can
o'clock last night, after an official trial
trip in which she developed speed OF
16 :35 nautical miles per hour in three
runs over the measured course in the
Delaware bay at the Breakwater. The
contract called for fifteen knots.
For more than thirty hours all the
auxiliary machinery on the vessel
which was christened by King Albert
of Belgium, was put through severe
tests, while the huge 5000 horsepower
cross compound, double reduction
geared turbine drove the 5000 dead
weight ton craft through the waters OF
the Delaware and out into the Atlantic
ocean.
The latest addition 10 Uncle Sans
feet of troop transports, which will be
assigned to Pacific ocean service, left
Hog Island Saturday morning bearing
large party of army officers, officials
of the shipyard, the United States Ship :
ping Board Emergency Fleet Corpora :
ton and a number OF guests.
When the final inspection tours were
completed yesterday afternoon, and il
was announced the Cantigny was ali
right. the members of the trial crew
were so elated with the showing that
they Immediately hoisted a new broom
to the top of the foremast, signifying
clean sweep.
"The government never really did in :
tend to sell Hog Island" said Assista Mt
Secretary of War Williams after the
trial trip.