Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-28

lace the united states Lines III Jnelr
program to give this Nation repre-
liners on the North Atlantic it is ex-
| pected that the Jones-White act, en-
acted little more than year ago.
will enable the company to carry out
/ its program.
In answer to the demands for def
! mite Government policy in aid of
! American shipping, Congress passed
/ the measure by an overwhelming vote,
both parties uniting in enacting this
| leg station.
The Jones-White act has resulted in
a number of Government services being
sold to private American shipping in
tereSts, who were attracted by the aids
contained in the measure, such as long
term contracts at increased compenSa-
ton and a liberal construction loan
! fund, whereby a Shipowner could bor-
! building vessel in the United States
at low rate of interest, the principal
to be retired at the end of 20 years.
U. S. Lines to Lay Two Keels.
| Foremost among the sales which re-
suited from the enactment of this
measure and the promised aids it con-
tanned was that of the United States
and American Merchant Lines, which
were acquired by Paul w. Chapman.
! Chicago and New York banker, and
Joseph E. Sheedy. we'll known Ameri-
can shipping man. Their idea was to
use this tonnage as the nucleus on
which to build up powerful American
steamship line on the North Atlantic
that would be commensurate with the
size and dignity of the United States.
Acquisition of this tonnage was fol-
lowed by the announcement that the
United States Lines, as part of Its sales
contract with the Government, would
build two great liners to run with the
Leviathan. Their keels will be laid
down early next year. Both will be
completed in the Spring Of 1882.
Mr.. Sheedy. who Is president OF the
operating company, fully realizes the
/ magnitude of the task which he has set
out to accomplish but he is confident
that with the aids provided by law in
the Jones-White act he will be able to
accomplish his ambitious program.
Shipping Board Expected to Help.
The United States Shipping Board,
of which T. v. OConnor is chairman,
is expected to assist the United States
Lines in carrying out their undertaking
Chairman O'Connor declared only last
week that Americans in the excitement
attending the record breaking perform
anceS of the Bremen, should not lose
SlRfL OF the IdCL lHdI tIlS OLllIcu oldlco
Lines has plans under way to build two
big liners to run with the Leviathan.
These liners he said will be a credit to
the United States and would surpasS
anything now operating or con-
templated.
May Approve Design in Weeks.
The design for the United States
liners is in the hands of committee,
dnd nv ThanHNrn
the foremost naval architects in the
United States, and w. L. Bunker, vice
president OF the United States Lines. an
expert in ship construction. This COM
mittee has associated with it a staff Of
the best brains drawn from the great
shipbuilding and enginebuilding COM
panies in the United States.
The designs have now reached the
state where the committee is expected
to decide within the next week or two
every detail that will go into the con-
struction of the proposed liners. Models
of nine different hulls have been under
going tests in the Washington Model
Navy Basin to determine the exact
amount of horsepower necessary to
drive the hull at given speeds.
Faster Than Leviathan.
These models vary slightly, but it can
be safely said that when the final de-
cision is made the specifications will
call for vessels larger and faster than
the Leviathan. This means that they
will be able to attain a maximum speed
of 80 knots. will be about 1000 feet
long and will gross between $4,000 and
60 900 tons. Modern ship construction
makes possible big savings in weight, as
compared with many OF the present
day big liners which were built some
years ago, without sacrificing the liners
strength.
Under its contract with the Shipping
Board the United States Lines guaran-
tees to lay down the keels by next Feo-
ruary and to have the ships ready for
operation in the Spring of 1892. 1t Is
estimated that each vessel will cost be-
tween S25, 100000 and $3O,000,000.
Only three yards in the United States |
can build vessels Of the type proposed
by the United States Lines. These are
the New York Shipbuilding Co. Of Cam |
den, N. j.; the Newport News Ship
building Co. of Newport News and the |
Bethlehem Shipbuilding Co. Of Quincy, |
Mass The biggest commercial ship ever
built in the United States was the 49,
000-ton Pennsylvania of the Panama
Pacific Line, recently launched at New
port News.
Bulbous Type Bows Specified.
III outward appearance tIle TWO pIU-
posed United States liners will resemble
the Leviathan, except that they will
have finer lines in order to develop the
tremendous speeds demanded by the
company. The graceful lines of the
hull will suggest speed, safety and COM
fort. Three big tunnels. one of which
will be used as a ventilator, will be set !
at rakish angle. Because of the great
amount of propulsion machinery which
will be required, the tunnels will be
spaced unusually far apart.
The bow of the new United States
liners will be of the dubious type, some
what narrow above the waterline in the
manner Of a dolphin's head. The dol
phin incidentally has played promi-
nent part in ship design, as 1t has been
shown that a broad head with a body
tapering at the tail gives the best speed,
in addition to making vessels exception
ally sturdy and seaworthy.
To Accommodate 1900 Passengers.
Towering IA decks in height, the
United States liners will present a mag
nificent marine spectacle. Luxurious
passenger accommodations are planned
for about 1900 passengers. who will be
! divided into first, tourist and third
class. 1t is the company's intention to
do away with second class quarters,
distinction which Is being found more
and more unpopular with Americans.
Many of the best interior architects in
the country will be called upon to con-
tribute their ideas and to match their
art with the best brains of Europe.
The vessel will be built to meet and
even exceed the most stringent regula-
tons for the safety of life at sea, with
particular attention to the rules adopted
few weeks ago in the meeting In Lon
don of the International Convention for