The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-03-06
HERE'S MORE ABOUT
Laying Keel
ON PAGE ONE
rrthfr hy elecirie hest.

Tuesday. just before neon. Vas q
welding process joining the seams
Of two bottom plates
The welding was performed nm
der fisg-draped ros,ram ~ the
combined skill--or lack Of is--of
the governor and two mayors.
operating an automatic welding
machine.
Af,erwsrd. many in the crowd.
including the governor and soms
Of the ether dignitsries, scrambled
for warm 10 hot metal clipped out
Of the newly wclded scsm.
Several hundred Spectators stood
on the keel itself during the eers.
mony while some thousands more
scattered throughout the yards.
The company officials were met
here for the ceremony by l. r
Sanford. Of Washington. ID. c.,
chief Of the construction section
OF u. s. maritime commission.
Speeches were few and abort,
and congrstulatory 10 the com.
pany, TO Tacoma. TO Seattle. where
the hulls will be outfitted. and
10 the maritime commission.
Besides Gov. Martin. Mayor
Arthur Langlie, Of Seattle. and
Mayor J. J. kaufman. of Tacoma
were heard.
From Seattle came. as company
officials, President r. !. Lamont,
Vice President ]. d. Hsines, o. ~.
Lund. treasurer. and Lawrence
Boyle, Seattle attorney for the
company. Lamont 10 president
and Lund secretary-treasurer OF
Todd Seattle Drydocks. Inc.
Boyle officiated. with President
Lamont In directing ceremonies
Before the affaih got under way.
Tacoma Sea Scouts raised the
stars and Stripes on a new mast
in the company yard.
Hundreds ON Hand
Scores Of guests specially invited
included Tacoma civic and labor
leaders, President Everett +.
Smith. of Tacoma Chamber Of
Commerce, and staff officials,
directors OF Tacoma banks and
others. Gates were opened TO the
public and hundreds Of spectators
gathered 20 witness the event.
Local arrangements were made
by Walter l.. Green, vice presi-
dent and general manager OF the
company here. and his assistant
general manager, O. A. Tucker.
At conclusion of the half hour
local ceremony, loud speakers
connected with radio station kMo
broadcast to the crowd an address
from washington. ID. C.. by Ad-
mlral Emory s. Land, chairman
Of The L. S. maritime commission.
Launching This summer
The last time a steel ships keel
was laid down here was on FEB
20. 1929. when the old Todd COM
pany here began construction Of
S. s. Bienvills for Southern Pa
cific railway. The Bicnville was
built for passenger run between
New York and New Orleans, but
early in her career suffered a
disastrous fire at New Orleans.
Later she was recommissioned NJ
the FL coston.
The ship for which the keel was
laid Tuesday Ii due to be launched
the last week In August or the
first week In September. The keel
for the second ship OF the series
will be laid down In about 30
days.
Garry Crew Of -
As yet unnamed. these ships are
TO carry crews Of 43 men and TO
provide passenger seeommoda-
tons for II persons. Their main
function Is as cargo vessels. They
are 10 have a losd.lins speed Of
IL knots.
1t was on Sept. IS. 1889. that
the award Of q contract 10 con-
struct five CT. Type y diesel pro-
PEELED cargo vessels was made by
the maritime commission 10 Sc
attle-Tacoma shipbuilding Co.
The award marked elimination
OF negotiations with the maritime
commission TO restore steel ship
building industry in the Pacific
Northwest.
Was shipping Msa
The company was organized
Jointly by Todd shipyarda eorpor-
alton and General Construction
Co. OF Seattle, and its affiliatea.
The presidency was conferred on
Lamont, who then WAS and stu IL
president Of Todd Seattle Dry
docks. Inc.
Green. appointed Oct. 10 TO be
vice president In charge Of the
Tacoma yards. had been for some
ars connected with Luekanbaeh
Leamship Co. and an executive
with American Bureau Of Ship
ping. As a naval architect and
construction engineer. he was
chosen TO direct construction u
the five bulls.
started Oct 10
Oct. 10 work Was started %
clear the old Todd Drydock 4 Con-
strlction co. shipysrd site on Ia
comas fioenats. where Hyisbos
waterway meets the hsrbor.
Thus began construction Of .
81 000. 900 shipyard plant here
with two construction ways.
Under direction Of G. W. TIP
pon. the site was prepared and
various buildings Of tins plant
constructed.