Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-10-13
SALVACINC
ships TO Be
DONE here
Two Are Expected to Ar
rive Monday 1t Was
Stated by Officials
TO TAKE THREE YEARS
226 Wooden Ships Built by United
States Cost S3OO,OOO,0O0 and Were
Sold For S362.000 to Salvage Com
pany.

The work of salvaging 22G wooden
ships recently purchased by the Vest
ern Marine and Salvage Company
will begin Monday Mt the plant Of
the Virginia Shipbuilding Company,
now leased by the Trent Amalagam
Company. Announcement to this ef-
feet was made this afternoon by Of
ficials Of the company to Joseph i.
Crupper. receiver for the Virginia
Shipbuilding Corporation. According
to statements made to Mr. Crupper
by the officials of the salvage COM
pany two ships will arrive here Mon
day and the work Of saIvaging VIII
being soon thereafter.
NEGOTIATIONS to have the work done
in Alexandria have been under way
for some time past and the news that
il will be done here will be received
with qualification by the business IN
terests generally. This work Will re-
duire at least three years. The head
quarters of the salvage company IS
i'm Portland, Greg.
These vessels were built by the
limited States government at a cost
of $500, 100000 to combat the Ger
man submarine during the world war
and they were sold to the salvage COM
pany for S362,000.
j. \. Barch, general manager or
the salvage company plans to dis-
mantle ten ships at time here and 1t
IS stated that $50 men will be en-
Moved on each vessel which would
mean that $500 hands would be em-
ployed.
MANY Of the SHIPS comprising the
fleet were conspicuous for the part
they played in the war, probably the
hest known being the Majave and
the Alanthus. the former as the hooboo
and the latter as the hero ship of the
war. Misfortune followed the MaJavc
all through its career. 1t was roDbed
in Spain and had to be oyerhauled
and refitted.
The Alanthus rescued the crew of
ithe United States subamrine off Cape
Henlopen in September, 1920. The
/ submarine was dragged to the sur
face after it had sunk in thirty-tlve
feet of water. Mechanics from the
Alanthus cut a hole in the submarine
and through it introduced a hose 10
furnish ain while the hatch was be-
ing opened.
/ E,,.o,.,. limo Of business activity in
the city will be helped by the coming
70 this CITY Of this work. a large
amount of warehouse space will be re-
auired by the company. The nuns
of the salvaged ships will be put in
condition and sold for barges. 1t
would cost about $150,00O to build
these hulls today. They will be sold
for from $500 to $1,000, it IS stated.
The company, it is reported, eX-
pects to take its stuff to Europe
where it is said a ready market can
be found.
II Is stated that there will be
seventv-five expert supervisors on the
lob and thirty Of these already have
4 been employed.
The Trent company which as mere
tofore told in The Gazette, recently
leased the ship yard, will continue 20
operate and this company also con-
, templates shortly expanding It's
business.
The chamber Of commerce Of this
city has been working for the past
six woeks in connection with secur-
ing this company to have its work
done here and Receiver Crupper also
has lent his efforts in the work do
! ing everything within his power along
this line in order to help Alexandria