White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1927-02-18

;hipping Board have plans under way
or the construction of new tonnage
recognized as required for the eff
cient operation of our existing fleets.
The shipbuilders ask that steps be
aiken to release this work immedi-
ately.
A number of shipyards have already
closed down and prompt action is nee
essary to have the remaining ones
from a similar fate, according to Clar-
ence Samuel King, secretary of asso-
citation. The statement is made that
the industry is not asking any form
of direct aid except new contracts but
these must be Immediately forthcom-
ing and the shipyards cannot await
the delays incidental to the legisla-
tive solution of our merchant marine
problem.
IF the shipyards are to be con-
served for national and commercial
security something must be done to
give them temporary work pending
the enactment of such legislation"
said Mr.. King. The problem of con-
tinuing the operation of our large
private shipyards is beyond the ship
builders control. The fate of the in
dustry rests with the government and
it's solution of the shipping problem.
The plight of the industry is the in
evitable result of the lack of a defin-
lite maritime policy on the part of the
nation. The shipbuilding industry has
placed before the country definite
and constructive plan to improve
Americas maritime position but the
enactment of this or some other
equally effective shipping policy en-
tails delays which may prove dis
astrous for the shipbuilding industry.
Any legislative proposal which seeks
to solve the merchant marine prob
lem must also insure to the country
adequate shipbuilding facilities as an
essential background for the success
full upbuilding of American shipping.
We have therefore asked the various
branches of the government to con-
slider the emergency at present con-
fronting the shipyards, which cannot
survive any long period of waiting un--
til legislative enactment permanently
establishes the American flag on the
seas"
Mr.. King points out that prior to
the war at least 60 per cent of the
volume of work performed by the
large shipyards of the United States
was for the Navy Department. The
war brought an expansion Of ship
building facilities far in excess of nor
NAL demands. Since then naval dis
armament has reduced the construc-
ton of warships almost to the vanish
ing point. Consequently the ship
yards must depend for their existence
upon the building of mercantile YES
sells.
The total amount of tonnage con-
structed in the private yards of the
United States, as reported by the
Commissioner of Navigation, Depart
ment of Commerce, for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1926, of vessels of
1000 gross tons or over, was 52,260
tons: This is shown by Mr.. King to
be equivalent of about five vessels
of about 10000 tons each, which he
says is just half of a fair years bust
ness for any one Of the large private
shipyards. To keep the shipyards
operating at only reasonable capacity
he said there should be at least eight
times this amount of tonnage.
Assuming that the present emerg-
ency of the shipyards is going to be
met by the release of contracts for
which both the Navy Department and