Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-19
DECISION TO SELL
HOG ISLAND IS HIT
Leading Business Men Here
Disappointed at Ship Boards
Unexpected Action
VAUGHAN GIVES WARNING

bids for the purchase Of the big ship
yard. according to the dispatch. II
states 1900 steel vessels, large mum
Der Of them built at Hog Island, also
will be put on the block and sold as soon
as advertising arrangements can be
made
Keen disappointment is manifested
here over the reported action. Only
last Sunday Matthew G. Brush. presi-
dent of the American International
Shipbuilding Corporation, and the "big
boss" at Hog Island since December,
1918. said it would be inadvisable for
the government to sell the plant at this
time MI Brush said the yard could
be used as a United States army quar-
tcrmastcr's depot and transport ter
minal, and he deemed IL unwise to sell
the plant when times in Europe are so
troublesome.
Would Keep Shipways
In fact. Mr.. Brush said. It even
would be- n good thing to preserve the
fifty ways and other Shipbuilding facili-
ties, in ease an emergency again arises
when this country must turn out ves-
sells in quantity production.
reported to have made up its mind to
ask bids for the 1000 acre shipyard. ex-
tending for two miles and half along
the Delaware river. which cost $685.,
| 600 900 alone to build.
1nasmuCh as the shipping board at
present consists of only two members.
the belief was no action would be taken
regarding the disposition of the ship
yard until a new board of seven mem :
hA,a laI 60, l,., h. .l,,
, ping bill, was appointed.
II was thought the two present mem
bers would not care to assume respon
, sibiity for the sale or other disposal
of the yard.
t Admiral Benson. chairman of the
r board. indicated as much in New York
? some weeks ago when he said Hog
, Island would not be disposed Of until
the new shipping board came into ex e
t iStence.
9 ... .Nauclain Against Sale
, Samuel VI. VauCain. president Of the
Baldwin Locomotive Works, strongly
disapproves of the sale Of the ship
ward. particularly at this time. when it
Will not command the best price, he
said.
II am sorry the shipping board has
= decided upon such action at this time.
said Mr.. Nauclain. II hold the opin .
: ion that the government will act un
, wisely in disposing of the plant now
This is not only because of the dis
. turbed conditions abroad. which might
make the plant needed within a short
time. but also because this is no time
to try to sell the plant.
$50 far as | know there is no plan
! under way among business men here
to make a bid, for the property with
|. the idea Of converting it into n terminal
for which it is so well adapted.
Financial sesHditions are such JUS
J now that it isidppbtful il such a plar
y could be madezIefeCtive even if tn,
: men were found ready to take hant
d in it. 7 had hoped the government
would make use of the plant for a tim,
e ,at least. especially after reading tina
t Matthew e. Brush and army official
. favored such a course.
"A Source of Regret
J. s. W. Holton, president of tn,
. Maritime Exchange, said:
$ This action upon the part Of thu
d shipping board will be a source of re
@ gret to all Phladelphians who have thu
e interests of the city at heart. ! hat
b hoped after reading an expression from
= Mr.. Brush regarding the future of tn
d yard that the government was planning
= to retain the property.
1T il bad business for the old ship
il ping board to take this action. Tn
. members should at least have deferred
action and left the disposal of the plan
TO the new board to be appointed.
THE whole world at present is in
, state of unrest and while we are al
II hoping that the United States will no
e become involved. nobody can tell wha
e may happen. Should an cmergenc!
. arise the Hog Island plant would be I
e great asset 10 this government.
80 far as I know there is no ma
= tured plan under which Phladelphian
!. might bid in the plant. have hearC
{ rumorS OF various kinds and ] under
v stand Mayor Moore has some confiden
: tial information upon the subject.
D. should say, however, that this would b.
d, large project,
! Calder Favors Sale
+ United States Senator William VI
+ Calder. OF New York. who stoppet
I overnight at the Bellevue Stratford
> heartily Endorsed the reported decision
e to sell the shipyard.
/. II have visited the Hog Island plan
number of times. he said. "A
times | disapproVed Of some of tn
methods that were employed rspPCiall
II in the early days, but it was an emer
s gency measure and it did make good
The loss that will be- sustained mus
simply he charged up 10 the war.
II 81 am convinced that the governmen
will not let the yard go at n tremendou
Q sacrifice and ] am convinced that
a will eventually get into the hands q
l. shipping and warehouse interests tha
y will utilize its facilities to the creates
advantage Of the city of Philadelphia
x The bids for the 1900 vessels wi
II be asked within few days, it was an
= nounced.
-. To Sell Eard as Whole
~ The sale of the shpbuildng plant
N according to the report, probably wi
Ia be- upon competitive basis for th
ward as whole Disposal of the shiE
under the sales policy recently an
N nounced by the board will begin a
~ soon as the necessary advertising ar
,r rangements can be completed.
10 Officials at Washington believe thG
{, the decision to sell Hog Island near
that Chairman Benson is going ahea
1e with the policies laid down for th
- shipping board by the merchant marin
act, without awaiting the appointmer
r of the new board.
as Announcement Of the new agenC
a. agreement, under which shipping boar
ve vessels are to be operated pending the
sale. is likewise expected any day, az
10 cording TO the Washington report
With the ship sales policy and II
operating agreement in effect, ottiCia
point out, the two major functions
the board will be under way, wheth,
us the future board is at the helm or not