Evening star., 1924-10-25
NEW PLANS MAKE
LINER TOO COSTLY
Navy Changes Halt Building
of Boat for MatSon
Pacific Service.
BY j. &. ROYLE.

Preparations for possible war have
put a temporary check on expansion
in a score of peaceful industries. The
American shipping and shipbuilding
world, marine architects, engine and
electrical equipment manufacturers.
steel mills and producers of many raw
and finished materials, employing
thousands of men, have been COM
pelled to readjust their plans as re-
suit of a demand by the United states
Navy that the plans for the new pas
senger liner to have been built for
the Matson Navigation Co. be altered
to permit the vessels speedy trans
formal tion at need to fast cruiser.
eo,Ooo-Ton Ship Planned.
The vessel was to have been of
%. 600 tons, with a speed OF 81 to %
knots an hour 1t was to embody the
latest Developments in marine engi-
neering and architecture. and Its con-
struction was being awaited with
keen interest all over the world. the
vessel was to have been built by the
American Hawaiian Steamship Co.
and turned over to the Matson line
for operation between San Francisco
and Honolulu. The arrangement, 1t Is
understood, was to have been financed
in mart from excess profits of the
American Hawaiian Co. and with the
assistance and under the control OF
the Shinping Board. William Cramp
g. Sons had been regarded as the sue
cessfuI bidder, with low offer of
s47e2.000. Thousands of men were
ernected to be employed, and mills
and factories began preparations to
supply the needed materials. That
arrangement, however, has just been
called of.
Benson Explains Delay.
Admiral w. S. Benson. Shipping
BOARD commissioner, said today that
the Cramp contract had not been can
celed. since the agreement had not
heen formally awarded. He said oids
rad been submitted by Cramp, the
bethlehem Shipbuilding co. and the
Newport News Shipbuilding Dry,
aocL co The Shipping Board favored
tbs mans submitted by the Bethle-
har, Co. but the best price was Of
forad hv Cramp. The board took the
pathlehem plans to Cramp and asked
- tha latter would carry them out
ut the price submitted. The Cramp
af,cials. Admiral Benson continued
replied they would. ,..s =,
The plans then were suoHiitteo ~
tbe Navy. as is customary win az
yassels constructed under oirec'!ol
of the board. AhS A'
certain alterations, as did the ooaro
arter further study. With THESE
ahsrres the board sent representa-
tt~a 70 close the contract, but the
Cramn Co., in view of the changes
rs;sed its bid by something nke
sIoso on0. The board considered TINS
nr;ae too high and, according to Ad-
ra;ral Benson, will submit the plans
Of some future time to all eligible
shipbuilders in this country TOT ne"
bids.
Cost Almost Prohibitive.
panorts from Philadelphia, how
.var attribute to officials of the
American Hawaiian Co. declarations
that they are dubious about meeting
the increased cost of construction
wh;ch probably would bring the price
above s60oo,0 900, and that further
plans regarding financing viii De
discussed.
The Matson Navigation Co. in San
Francisco, however, announced today
that new bids would be called for in
a few weeks The alterations insist
cd on by Government officials, the
Matson CO. stated, included an addl-
ton to passenger-carrying space and
increases in length. beam and speed.
II is necessary to meet these specifi-
cations if the American Hawaiian Co.