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Ship Orders Stir Pacifis Yards Contracts for Privately Owned Vessel C Bui Id as Federal Work Ends--Rodgers Bave S. Wie bles. REDICTIONS in these columns P that Puget sound steel shipyards would be in active operation by middle of 1920 have been the veri- fied by the developments of the last month. Contracts for steel tankers have been awarded the Skinner & Eddy Shipbuilding Corp..and to David Rodgers, while private contracts are already under way at the Duthie yards, Seattle, and the Todd plant, Tacoma, Wash. Other work is in prospect and definite announcements are expected in the immediate future. Mr. Rodgers, who acquired fame with Skinner & Eddy, purchased that firm's yard No. 2 from the Emergency Fleet corporation for $3,400,000 and is now placing the plant in condition for an extensive building program. This, plant was formerly the Moran yard, later the Seattle Construction & Dry Dock Co., and in 1916 was purchased by William H. Todd. Two years ago the government purchased it and Skinner & Eddy took it under a lease. The new owner is the David Rodgers Shipbuilding Co. While Mr. Rodgers has not yet stated what work he has, it is understood he has con- tracts from British interests for a fleet of ten 10,000-ton tank steam- ships. One report is that the Amer- ican Fuel Oil & Transportation Co. has awarded the contract. Skinner & Eddy have taken a con- tract to build a 13,500-ton steel oil tanker for Norwegian interests headed by Knute Knutsen, Christiania. This will be the largest ship constructed at a Seattle yard andthe ways at the plant are being altered in preparation. This tanker is to be 480 feet in length and will have a capacity for 100,000 barrels. Other contracts are expected in the near future. The keel for this tanker is to be laid in May. On. April 20, J. F.. Duthie & Co. launched the 8800-ton steel carrier West Mauwag, completing that yard's government contracts. This 'company has built 24 carriers for the Emergency fleet or a total of 211,200 deadweight tons since September, 1917. At the Present time, this yard is constructing two 2650-ton steel carriers for James Griffiths & Sons but other work is ex- pected soon. On May 1, the Todd Dry Dock & Construction Co., Tacoma, launched its twenty-second hull for the govern- ment when the 7500-ton steamer Pat- BY R. C. BILL LAS was released from the ways. This- plant has been exceptionally successful and the last contracts are being rapidly completed. 'Work for the Emergency fleet will be finished with the delivery of the Pattas, but contracts for the navy will keep this yard occupied for many months. In addition, two vessels of the 7500-ton type are being laid down on builders' account. Newman Erb, New York, who recent- ly acquired control of the Prince Rupert. Dry Dock & Engineering Co., of Prince Rupert, B. C., announces that he is negotiating contracts to build 20 'tankers at that plant. The G. M.. Standifer Shipbuilding Corp., Vancouver, Wash. is making rapid progress in constructing five 9600- ton steel steamers for the Green Star line. These hulls are all expected te be in the water not later than June 1. The Arcturus, Aguartus and Arcus have been launched and the ANTINOoUs and Apus will follow.in the next few weeks. Two steel vessels for the Swedish- American Mexican Steamship line have been launched at the Coughlin yards, Van- couver, B. C., and it is understood thar. additional contracts. for the same _ in. terests have been awarded. J. A, Stur- rock, representing the owners, that tonnage can be constructed at lower prices on the Pacific than in England. Contracts for seven 12,000-ton tank- ers for the Swiftsure Oil Transport Co. have been awarded the Northwest Steel Co.,. at . Portland, Oreg.,. as aa- nounced by J. R. Bowles, president of the Northwest company. Mr. Bowles states that his yard will be strictly open shop. The Macy scale and a 44- hour week will be observed. No for- eigner will be employed unless he can show his first papers. Dismantling of the steel shipbuilding states - Hull No. Name TYPE 1385 China Arrow .....- Tanker ccesés6 coe oe 1386 Japan Arrow ...-- WANK! cnecccer eer 1387 India Atrow....<-..-. BANKER <1 cc swiele oo nse oe 1388 Java .AIrOW vices s BDO 4b cb keleidae cote 4SQR Chae ee wee es AK Foie ce ea se eee TSO6 2 ry ees ea ee ees ONKOL uss ew oe ca ee TOOT acs te eee ees Panket: cise s cee 4 cee VERO ce Ie acc Cees oe Scout Cruiser yeas NOOR io ae paces eee Scout. Cruiser: ....-+<% 1320 S42 oo eee Submarine .........-- 13890 S43. oiecn ces ees Submarine ....-..-++- 1301 S: 44: oyu wees Submariné ........0-.- 1892 8.45" 22. e-e ee er eee Submarine ......++.++ 4303:8. 465 coset snce see Submarine ......-+¢s« 4304 So4e es ae ies Submarine . .. <2. ss<6 1300 Lexington ......-- Battle Cruiser ........ 1400 Massachusetts ....Battleship .........-- In addition to these are 12 S-type submarines now on the 337 Seattle Plant plant of the Columbia River Shipbuild- ing Co. Portland, is well under way and no further contracts are being sought. The property and equipment will be sold. This yard built thirty-two 8800-ton steel carriers for the govern- ment during the war emergency. Contract for a steam, wooden lumber carrier for the Hard-Wood Lumber Co. has been taken by the Matthews Shipbuilding Co., Hoquiam, Wash., but the vessel, which is to be named QUINAULT, will be constructed at the Columbia river plant of the Peninsula 'Shipbuilding Co, With the delivery of the wooden steamships Boynton, CARONE and Car- TONA to the government this month, the wooden shipbuilding program in the north Pacific district was completed. The last three vessels were built on the Columbia river. The Winslow Marine Railway & Ship- building Co., Seattle, has purchased a wooden Ferris type hull, built by Nelson & Kelez, Seattle. The hull has been com- pleted as a_ barge. In the Washington and Oregon dis- trict, 11 wooden vessels are being com- pleted as steamers and nine hulls as sailing ships. A majority of these were hulls originally built under gov- ernment contract. Le ¥ - oe i a Contracts at Fore River The Fore River plant at Quincy, Mass., with an assignment of a large portion of the $229,000,000 worth of orders for shipping construction which 'the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp. has on hand, is starting its new building program with a view to breaking all previous records for speed and eff- ciency at the plant. A partial list of the new contracts follows: 'Length Dead- bap _-- Contracts for eet 8 Standard Transportation Co....... 485 12,620 Standard 'Transportation Co....... 485 12,620 -- Standard 'Transportation Co...... » 485 12,620 Standard Transportation Co....... 485 12,620 Atlantic Gulf & West Indies Co.. 485 12,620 Sinclair Navigation Co.......++++ 485 10,600 Sinclair Navigation Co.......-++.- 485 10,600 United States Navy....-..-++-++- aid eae United States Navy....---+-++ee- ene yaee United States Navy.....--«+++- pe ths ee United States Navy....---svccess 00+ wenee United States Navy....----ssecee cee sheer United States Navy....-.-ssceeee se (§ seees United States Navy....---ccceses +45 ance United States Navy....---«-seses eer. | oeeee United States Navy....-----ecees 22+ steer United States Navy.....-+-+++++- ihe ge we ways in process of construction.