Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-06-13
MONSTER ~SHIPBUILDING
JOB OF THE u. s. A.
Daily Letter by Frederic j. Haskin.

WASHINGTON. June 10.-During
the five years just passed the United
States did the biggest job of ship
building in the history of the world.
The exact period of this accomplish
ment ranges from May "a, 1917. to
May 9. 1929. On the former date
the wood cargo carrier called
the North Bend, in honor of the
Oregon city where she was con
structed, was turned over to the gov
eminent as the first vessel produced
under the emergency war program.
On the latter date, the cargo and
passenger steamer Western World,
which is to be operated in the South
American trade. was delivered to the
Emergency Fleet Corporation at
Sparrows Point, Maryland.
In all 2,313 vessels of various
types, with a gross dead weight ton
mage of 13,636,711, were construc-
ted in establishing this record in
shipbuilding. Originally the program
called for 3,270 bottoms of 1S,407,-
276 tons, but the armistice came in
time to eliminate 95S ships, work on
which had not been started, or had
not progressed sufficiently far to
make their completion advisable.
Just how much all this cost the
people OF the United States has not
been computed and authoritatively
announced as yet. Probably it will
not be known for many years, for
claims and adjustments are pending
that may still be unsettled when the
original claimants have long since
been gathered to their fathers. 1t
was one of the big items in Uncle
Sans war bill. What it lacked in
economy it made up in size. 1t was
one of the most gigantic accom-
plishments in maritime history.
While there were waste and extrav-
| agance, and possibly some graft, the
well informed say that it made pos
sible the winning of the war and
hence was worth all that it cost.
Stretched stem to stern in a
straight line these 2,313 vessels
would extend a distance of 15S miles
and If they We're steaming a mile
and a quarter apart they would
make what might be likened to a
great pontoon bridge reaching from
New York to Southampton, England.
Their total capacity equals that of
3SS,363 freight cars of 80 tons each.
They include the various types OF
requisitioned and contract steel car
go carriers. tankers, refrigerators,
transport, collier and combined pas
4 cCil6CI dllu "a ~
wood vessels of various kinds and
sailing ships; contract composite
cargo carriers, contract concrete
cargo carriers and tankers; steel and
wood ocean-going tugs and steel and
wood harbor tugs.
Atlantic Coast Leads
Ship yards on the Atlantic coast
| earned the distinction of turning out
both the greatest number of ships
| and the largest tonnage-a total OF
S4S vessels of 5~,625,1SS tons. The
Pacific coast was a close second
with 759 ships of 5,254,150 tons.
The great lakes district came next
with 479 ships of 1,625,000 tons,
while the gulf district produced 1872
bottoms with a tonnage of S49,1OO.
At the height of the shipbuilding
program keels were being laid in 21S
shipyards, so of which were building
steel vessels, 131 were turning out
wood and composite ships, and seven
were given over to work on concrete
steamers.
The record of the Shipping Board
during the five years that mark the
beginning and the completion OF its
program stands out more clearly
when comparisons are made with
past accomplishments. Prior to the
war. the maximum yearly output of
ships in the United States was at
tanned in 1908. In hat year 1,457
vessels of all kinds, including all
ships of five net tons and over, were
built, the total tonnage being 921,-
324. In the first ten months Of 1919
the maximum prewar construction
for an entire year was greatly ex-
ceeded. In September OF that year,
$50 ocean-going steam vessels were
delivered to the government.
Building ships was only one OF the
activities Of the Shipping Board In
carrying through its great plans.
The board and its various agencies
contracted for the purchase of ships
under various kinds of purchase
contracts. In some jobs it became
a co-worker in the construction of
ships. 1t undertook the duties and
responsibilities of a banker, and as
sisted in the financing of some ship
yards. It became a general con-
tractor and provided greater ship
building facilities. 1t became a
manufacturer and increased the pro-
duction OF ship equipment. 1t be-
| came a lumber merchant. 1t became
an insurance company and sold pro-
lection against insurable losses. II
entered the transportation field and
built and operated street railways,