The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-29
PROPELLER CLUB
HEARS R0UNTREE
Part Ships Will Play In Ma
tiOnal Defense Is
Stressed Al Meet
BY BOB MATTHEWS
Staff Writer

0V@AA VA1eS4
The value of inland waterways
development of the shipbuilding ir
dustry, and an enlarged merchan
marine to the National Defens
program was stressed at the re
cent convention of the Propelle
Club of the United States in New
Orleans, George Rountree, Jr.
member of the convention resolu
tons committee, reports.
The convention adopted a resolu
ton urging the Maritime commits
sion to encourage sale Of ships t.
England, but to guard CAREFUL.
these sales so as not to permit to-
great Withdrawals (for S S tt
England) of ships in the coastwise
trade on the Atlantic seaboard, hi
reports.
Heads Local Club
R%ountree, president of the Pro
peller club, Port of Wilmington
and a member of the nationa.
board of governors, said the Mari
time commission was urged, in an
other resolution, to substitute only
those American ships which EN-
ployed instructed, licensed, anc
loyal officers and crews. T. h i :
would embrace practically al
ships, IS nearly all are subsidized
The convention opposed the ex'
penditure by Congress of any funds
for the st. Lawrence waterway
project, he reports, as funds coulc
be more profitably employed fol
defense in substituting building the
American Merchant marine a n &
navy.
Another resolution to memorial
lie Congress and the President ir
building a second (Panama) cana
through Nicaragua, probably, ano
run it toll free to American ships,
was also rejected by the conven.
ton.
1T seems the facilities Of the
Panama Canal will be increased
and an alternative route overland
route from Tajuantapec by raj
to the Port of Mexico, thence by
ship up Atlantic seaboard, is con.
templated," Rountree said.
Captain Vickery, Maritime com.
missioner, who discussed the eff
cheney of the new American mer.
chant marine, told the convention
delegates the merchant marine is
being augmented by the building OF
500 new ships, subsidized by the
government, with the purpose oil
getting maximum speed, low oper.
ating cost, and increased efficiency.
More Hold Space
The design of the new ships fea.
lures a large hold in the center,
five holds in all. The ships are to
have a speed Of is IL knots or
better and diesel power driven,
Captain Vickery said.
c. H. c. Pearsall, vice-chairman
of the Atlantic, Gulf. and West In.
dies Steamship lines, spoke at the
convention on the topic Another
Eventuful Year in Americas Ship.
ping History" Rountree reported.
Decrease in ships and tonnage
in foreign trade amounts to 16 per
cent, Pearsall said, and decrease
in cargo Is per cent. Nine per
cent of the decrease is due to sale
of ships to England, 148 have beer
SO sold, the speaker declared.
Pearsall told the convention the
increase in our navy to a two
ocean navy means correlative in.
crease in the merchant marine. Ir
the ships being built by the Mari.
time commission, the speaker rec.
commended more simplicity in de.
sign for more speed in building.
The speaker also suggested that
a smaller type be constructed for
coastwise, the smallest o is
about $500 tons, pointing out that
rates have been kept down as com.
pared to rates in last war. Their
one ship, the speaker said, which
was bought with a SIS, 900 down
payment, crossed $500, 900 on one
trip.
Pearsall also said I'VE must
build and help England, as a Nazi
victory would ruin us and our shin.
ping. Rountree reported other
speakers, in discussing the value
Of inland waterways and national
defense, pointed out that it was
necessary to have we'll f%unctionine
transportation between the sources
plants; and from then to points OF