Evening star., 1936-08-26
bU|LD|NGPROGRAM
ASSURES $500 Of
|J0bS IN NAVY YARD
Practically All of Big Guns
to Be Built Here, Says
Admiral StandIey.
WORK ON IS WARSHIPS
AWARDED YESTERDAY
Ten Destroyers and Five Subma.
rines 0rdered-Private Firms
Get Three-Fifths.

The jobs Of the $500 civilian work.
ers at the Washington Navy Yard
were further assured today, when it
was announced that practically all
the big guns for the new ship con-
struction program will be built here.
Admiral William H. STANDBY, Act
ing Secretary of the Navy and chief
of naval operations, said that "in the
main, the guns for the new vessels
will be built at the Washington Yard"
He explained that some of the smaller
guns will be built by the Army.
Rear Admiral Harold R. Stark, chief
Of the Bureau of Ordnance, which has
supervision over the naval gun fac
tory at the local yard, said no reduc-
ton in the force at the local yard
was anticipated at this time.
Contracts Awarded Yesterday,
The Navy Department yesterday
announced the award of contracts for
the building of six l,500-ton torpedo
boat destroyers and three submarines
to be built in private yards and two
submarines and four destroyers to be
constructed in navy yards.
For many months now the Wash
ington Navy Yard has maintained a
high level of production. With the
completion of the present work in
hand, many Of the workers had faced
a iay-off.
Rear Admiral George r Pettengill.
commandant of the Washington Navy
Yard and superintendent of the naval
gun factory, will supervise the building
of the new ordnance.
About a year ago the Washington
yard reached construction peak OF
$500 civilians. but with the completion
of their work, toolmakers and ma
chinists we're laid of, so that the force
is now around the $500 mark OF this,
891 are in the Office group which in
cludes craftsmen, engineers, clerks,
chief clerks, etc.
officials explained that various
trades are brought into play at differ
ent stages of the work here, so that
when one type of job is completed there
Is a lessening of the number in the
craft required in the early stages Of
gun construction.
Two New Battleships Planned.
It was learned definitely for the first
time yesterday that the United States
would build two new battleships as
soon as any other nation lays down
the keels for any new capital ships.
Great Britain has announced it will
build two such ships after present
treaties expire December 81.
The New York and Philadelphia
Navy Yards were not awarded any
Of the destroyer or submarine con-
struction assigned yesterday and, since
they have been seeking the battleship-
building job, observers considered it
likely one of the proposed new $50
000, 900 dreadnaughts would be built
at one of those yards. Construction
of the other-if and when approved
is expected generally to be awarded
to a private company.
Contracts for construction Of two
1,500-ton destroyers were awarded TO-
each of the following private ship
building companies at the prices
noted:
Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry
Dock Co., Newport News, Va. s4,-
125, 900.
Federal Shipbuilding and Dry DOCK
Co.. Kearny, N. j.. $4,267, 900.
Bath Iron Works Corp, Bath, Me ,
$4,343,150.
Contract for Submarines.
A contract for construction of thre
1,350-ton submarines was awarded t
the only bidder, the Electric Boat Co ;,
Groton, Conn, for s2,734,000 each.
All contract prices we're subject t.
adjustments for changes in the cos
of direct labor and material within
certain definite limitations.
ALLEGATIONS for construction by navy
yards were as follows:
Two submarines to the Portsmouth
IN. H. navy yard.
Two destroyers to the Boston
(Mass.) Navy Yard.
One destroyer each to the Norfolk
(va.) and Charleston Is. c. Navy
Yards.