Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-06-13
A GREAT SHIPBUILDING JOB

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washington. juno 13.--Durins the
flve years Just passed the uniteo
states did tho biggest Job Of rhipbuild-
ing in tho history Of the world. tne
exact period II this accomplishment
ranges from May "a. 1917. TO May y,
1922. on tho former date the WOOD
cargo carrier called tho North Bcno'
I'm honor Of the Oregon city where she
was constructed. was turned over 10
the government as the first vessel pro-
duced under the emergency var pro-
gram. On tho latter date. the cargo
and passenger steamer western
World, which IL 20 be operated In the
South American trade. was delivered
20 the Emergency Fleet Corporation at
sparrows Point, Maryland.
In all 2.3i3 vessels Of various types.
with a gross dead weight tonnage OF
l13,63G,7f1, were constructed In es-
tabllshing this record In Hhipbuild-
ing. Originally the program called
for 3.270 bottoms Of 1s,407 ,276 tons, but
the nrmistice camo in time to elm
inato e5s ships. work on which had
not been started, or had not progress
ed sufficiently far 10 make their com
pletlon advisable.
Just how much all this cost the peo-
pie OF the United states has not been
computed and authoritatively an
nounced az yet. Probably II will not
be known for many years. for claims
and adjustments arc pending that may
still be unsettled when the original
claimants have long since been gather
cd 20 their fathers II was one Of
tho big items in Uncle Sans war bill.
What II lacked in economy IL made
up In size. II was ono Of the most
gigantic accomplishments In maritime
history.
While there we're vaete and ex-
travaganoc, and possibly some graft
the we'll informed say that IL made
possible the winning Of tho war and
hence was worth all TINT n cost.
Stretched stem 10 stern in n straight
line these 2.3ts vessels would extend
distance Of 1853 miles. and II they
were stesming n mile and q quarter
apart they would mako what might bs
likened 10 n great pontoon bridge
reaching from New York q
Southampton. England. Their tota
capacity equals that OF 1896
freight cars Of IS tons each. They IN
Guide the various types of reduisition
ed and contract steel cargo carriers
tankers. refrigerators. transport, col
. lier and combined passenger ant
: cargo carriers; contract wood yes
sells Of verious kinds and Eailinl
= ships: contract composite cargo car
riers. contract concrete cargo carrier
and tankers: steel and wood ocean
> going tugs and stsel and wood har
Dor tugs.
4 Atlantic Coast Lends.
{ Shipyards on the Atlantic coss
n earned the distinction Of turning on
4 both the greatest number Of ships an
the largest Tomas e--a total 9
. s4s vessels or 5.e25.1ss toms TIL
Pacific coast was a close second wit
4 759 ships Of 5.254. $50 tons The grea
q lakes district came next wifi AZ
l. ships Of 1926 900 tons, while the gu
: district produoed 1872 bottoms with
u tonnage OF S49,100. At tho height {
the shipouilding program keeis wer
= being laid IN 21s shipyards, 80 OF whic
were building steel vesseis. 1871 wsr
% turning out wood and composite ship
: and seven we're given over 70 work o
y concrete steamers.
Il Tho record N the Shipping Boar
I during the five years that mark u
VI beginning and the completion OF &
program stands out more clearly whe
comparisons are made with past az
: complishments. Prior TO the war. u
maximum yearly output OF ships
the United States was attained
1908. IN that year I .457 vessels OF q
kinds. including all ships Of five n
tons and over. were built, the tot
tonnage being e21 .324. In the first
months Of 1919 the maximum pr
u war construction for an entire yet
was greatly exceeded. IN Septemb'
'e OF that year. $50 ocean going steal
vessels were delivered TO the govern
II ment.
Building ships was only one Of q
: activities Of the Shipping Board
carrying through its great plans. tt
Board and It's various agencies col
"a tracted for the purchase OF ships VI
der various kinds Of purchase col
y tracts. IN some Jobs Il became a c.
worker in the construction Of ship
re II undertook the duties and respol
sibilities OF g. banker, and assisted
n the financing Of some shipyards.
became a general contractor and pr
vided greater shipbuildins facilitit
1t became a manufacturing and increa
ed the production of ship equipmer
= II became a lumber merchant. Il b
came an insurance company and so
"a protection against insuranble losee
It entered the transportation field al
built and operated street railways.