The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1948-01-02
Supplement Yard Work BY Varied
Construction Program In 48, Lanier Says
Plan Steel Roilwuy.
Cors. Pipe. Tonks.
Diesel Locomotives

New ship construction and con-
versio nwill be supplemented at
the ingalls, Shipbuildins corpor-
atoms Pascagoula yard in 1913
by the production of steel rail-
road car and diesel electric loco
motives, barges and tow boats,
large steel pipe for oil line and
dredging. steel storage tanks and
fabrication of steel for all pur-
poses, Monro B. Lanier, president,
said In a talk before the Pascal
goula Rotary Club Wednesday and
in an official statement released
the same afternoon.
Through this means" Mr.. Lam
Ter said, lit is anticipated that to
a great extent the valley in new
ship construction between the
concluding program of the Mari
time Commission and that recon-
mended by a special committee
appointed by the president to be-
come effective in the fiscal year
beginning In July. 1948. will be
bridged and the Pascagoula yard
will be in positio nto maintain
employment In tn yard and fabri-
eating plant commensurate with
that Of other major industries in
the United States.r
Long Range Yard
THE Paseagoula yard was pro-
jected and built as one Of the
permanent type of long range
yards" he continued, looking to
the operation OF q reasonable per-
centage of fulltime capacity of
five shipways with a maximum
employment of 1000 in the yard
and q total employment Of around
$500 at the peak. This reflects
the present condition Of employ
ment at the yard and hence may
be considered its full normal acti-
vity. although the work is in a
comewhat unbalanced condition
With thauaIsfime .mski1nnm work
III pfoefesf In the ottfittirg basin,
ind less Than normal on the ship
ways
The yard approaches i948 with
a great deal of optimism, Mr.,
Lanier said, based on the fast 1t
now has In process of construc-
ton 10 ships and five reconver-
sions. The 10 new ships represent
the majority of new sea going
vessels under construction in this
country.
There are now three ships on
the ways at the yard, and three
more TO be laid down under the
present program and bids are
outstanding on additional ship
construction.
To Produce Railroad Cars
"The most important projection
for immediate increase in pro-
ductivity of the ~fabricating plan."
Mr.. Lanier said, SIS the program
now underway for tooling to per-
init competition with major COM
panies in the production of steel
railroad ears of all types.
The latest design of steel rail-
road ears of all-welded construc-
ton developed at Pascagoula have
been approved by some of the
larger railroads and it is antici-
pated that work will soon begin
in the actual construction of these
cars.
THE Ingalls, Company has been
advised that their bid on 800
steel railroad cars for a foreign
railroad has been adjudged the
best bid, taking into consideration
delivery time. and award of con-
tract is expected subjest to salts
factory arrangements being made
for dollar exchange. Invitations
to bid on many thousands of'rail-
road airs have been received and
modification of design and esti-
mates are in process of prepare
ton"
The 1900 horsepower sxperi-
mental diesel electric locomotive
built in the yard during the past
year is still in its mainline labor
atory" test, he said. and several
hundred thousands of miles must
be run to indicate any changes
that may be required in design
before placing this type of loco
motive in operation. Now that
deliveries of generating equip
ment r approaching reasonable
time. the 1913 program of the com
pany will include expansion of
the locomotive department.
One of the greatest problems
and h~andicaps faced by the yard
IN securing both new construction
and reconversion is the lack of
necessary depth of water in the
Pascagoula channel, Mr.. Lanier
said.
Need Deeper Channel
One of the greatest potentials
for increased business and main
tenance of personnel at the yard
has been lost to Pascagoula due
to the inability TO obtain ship
repair work. for which the yard
Continued on Page 81