Evening journal., 1920-01-31
SUNRISELAUNCH
At HARLAN YARD
Western Girl, With Artistic
Name, ChristenS Mason
City in Breezy Style
PLAN TO SEND OUT
NEXT SHIP BY FEB. 10

4 CLEAN Of silvery llght, a crash or
glass. spluiier Of champagne cider
and the words, Il chrislen thee Mason
City," delivered In clear tones and the
new steel cargo carrier Mason City
raced down the ways from the Harlan
yards at III o'clock this morning and
rode maiestically on the Christlana. Il
was one Of the earliest launchlngs on
record at the Harlan plant: also 10 was
one Of the speediest. Time and tide
wait for no 'man. and the tide didn't
have 10 this morning.
February 40 has been tentatively fixed
for the next launching at Hlrlan's when
II Is hoped 10 send over another cargo
carrier similar TO the Mason City, but
as yet unnamed. BY this mornings
launching the program Of "a ship a
month" already has been beaten, for
two ships have been put Oyerb01rd In
Jlnuary. Officials OF the plant, how
ever. are urging a continuation Of the
speed-up plan by the men so there
may be no fluke before the end OF the
year.
Today's launching party, composed
mostly Of residents from Mason City,
Iowa. for which the vessel Is named.
breakfasted before sun-up at the Hotel
/ dupont and was ready on the christen-
| ing stand a few minutes after Z. The
great body OF workmen 40 the Harlan
plant had not yet arrived. but the
/ launching crew was already knocking
| the blocks from under the vessel and
freshening the tallOw on The ways. Mlsss
Elizabeth Muse. The sponsor eyed the
scene critically. Coming from a far In
land city shipbullding was something
Of a novelty and she was determined 10
make The most OF the opportunity 10 tell
the home folks back In "IOway" all
about Il when she returned there Be
side her stood her father. w. r. Muse.
proprietor OF the Mason City Globe Ga
zetle and her mother, and a little body
of admiring friends. Not United
States Senator nor member OF Congress
from Iowa was present. TOO early for
statesmen" was the laconic comment
later Of Gerald Oscar Maconachie the
ubiquitous and versatile publicity man
Of the Harlan plant, also director Of the
service department.
AZ III o'c'Ock the sun rose over IN,
distant lowlands OF New Jersey, FAR
across tho Delaware and heamed a rud-
dy good morning upon the little party
preparing TO give tha Mason City a
good send-Off The sound Of the saws
cutting asunde~ the blocks holding the
teel began The Mason CITY shook her
500 tons weight trembl-d a bit and
then t.7i7 gracefully started on her
life voyage.
There WIS no denying the strength OF
arm exh 'b'ted by Miss Nus. who lived
mp 10 the divinity of her name In ar
t'stic siy'e Whack went the wire
meshed bottle against The Prov. as she
besiow-d d the name and the little crowd
cheered. Inside the Harlan Offices a
clerk. still rubbing fhe sleep out Of his
eyes. scratched success" or words 10
that effect opposite the record Of the
Mason Clty's construction and prog
ress ard launching
In addition 10 the sponsor her father
and mafher. the launching party com
nrised Mr. and Mrs. w J. HOllahan,
Miss Merle Marine from Mason City.
Miss Katherine Konvalinki. formerly Of
Mason City. now OF Washinston. aud
sidney Otis, also formerly Of Mason
C'tv and now OF New York. There were
several others who modestly withheld
their names.
The "Nfsson City" Is a sis'srshlp 70
NE "Delco," "Macomet" and several
oiber cargo carriers launched and de-
Ilvered in recent months by the Harlan
plant. She is being built under an
Emergency Fleet Corporation contract
designed for general assignments. The
Mason CITY" is 3ii feet inches long
overall. 39s feet inches between per-
pendlculars. has a beam OF 40 lee1, -
o. seet & inches in depth. single screw
o,d when completed VIII have a dead
weight TONNAGE n 800. Her draft
,vben loaded viii be 2i feet 6 inches.
Originally the MASON G ty', was 70 ne
a coal burner but according TO new de-
sirns. oil will be the main fuel. ms
will give more space.