Newspapers / The North Carolina Shipbuilder … / Nov. 1, 1942, edition 1 / Page 1
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me Nov. 1, 1942 PUBLISHED FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF THE NORTH CAROLINA SHIPBUILDING COMPANY Vol. I, No. 4 YARD COMPLETES FIRST TWO CONTRACTS ,l .fi: ...... . ? T SUCCESS STORY On Sunday. November 1, 1942, we launched our 38th vessel, the Collis P. Huntington, named for the founder of the Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company. In addition to organiz ing our parent yard, Huntington was largely responsible for the building up of several of our country's largest railrpad and steamship lines. He was born in Harwinton, Connecticut, October 22, 1821. Receiving his education at a local school, he worked on his father's farm until he was fourteen years old. It was at this early age that he "secured his freedom" from his father by promising to sup port himself. He traveled for a while in the mercantile business. In his sixteenth year he procured credit in New York for $3,000 worth of clocks and traded them through the South and West. He then, together with one of his brothers, set up as a general merchant at Oneonta, N. Y., where he immediately prospered. In 1848 he made a shipment of goods to California. In 1849 he decided to follow the goods, so in March of that year he set out for California by way of the Isthmus where he was detained for three months on account of overcrowded conditions. During this time he used his small capi tal to such good purpose that he increased it from $1,200 to $5,000. He then took a ship to California where he did business in a tent. His greatest trade was with mining materials. He later opened a large hardware store in Sacremento where he became as sociated with Mark Hopkins, and in 1860 matured a scheme for the transcontinental railroad. Leland Stanford, Charles Crocker, and Mark Hopkins united with Hunt ington in paying the expenses of a survey across the Sierre Ne vada mountains. Five men or ganized the Central Pacific Rail road Company, of which Mr. : Stanford Was elected President, Mr. Huntington, Vice-President and Mr. Hopkins, Treasurer. ? After Congress had agreed to aid the enterprise by an issue of bonds, Mr. Huntington and his associates carried on the con- atnjiicn or (Tie "railroad cut of their private means until the bonds became available for tne corrmletion of a stipulated mile age. The road was finished in 1869. This was the crowning achievement of Huntington's Hie and at his death, the railroad known as the Southern Pacific of whose m ana cine board he was President, conmrised a corpora tion, with more than 9,000 miles of track and 5,000 miles of steamship lines. Another achievement was the upbuilding of the Chesapeake and the Ohio railroad and the ac comnanvincr marvelous develop ment of Newport News, Virginia, and the growth of tne peninsula in that section of the state. He founded the Newport News Shinbuildin? and Drvdock Com- nanv in 1886 which now has the distinction of being the oldest major shipyard in America, and also the largest. Huntington was one of tne larsrest landowners in the coun try and his fortune of which he gave a great part tot Hampton Institute, Tuskegee Institute, the New York Metropolitan Museum and many other public institu tions, was valued at thirty-five million dollars. He was one of the foremost art collectors of his time, leaving a magnificent col lection of naintincrs valued at $3,000,000 to the New York Metropolitan Museum. He died at Pine Knot camp near Lake Raquette, N. i., Aug ust 13, 1900. Four Ships A Day Right now, a ship is being de livered every 8 hours, Admira Vickerv said at the Nationa Foreign Trade Convention last week. "In January you may ex- rn nnthinc less than four shiPS a day. . . ." He said that the increased skill and experience of shipyard workers and the train inir of women for shipyard work would make possible sustained production. - . - GOLI STAR For the second time in less than three months the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company has received recognition of its outstanding production from the United States Maritime Commis sion. On October 22, 1942, the Board of Awards advised us that we had been awarded a gold star for maintaining and improving our record of production during the period August 15 through October 10. The star is to be sewn on the "M" Pennant which now flies over the yard and which was presented to us on August 30, 1942, by Admiral Emory S. Land at the time of the launching of he S. S. ROGER WILLIAMS. This time the award will be presented by Mr. J. F. Mclnnis, East Coast Regional Director of Construction of the Maritime Commission, and the ceremony will take place on November 15th on the occasion of the launching of the S. S. ABNER NASH. The telegram of notification, sent to Captain Roger Williams, president of the company, and signed by Admiral H. L. yickery, Chairman of the Committee of Awards read: "As Chairman of the U. S. Maritime Commission Board of Awards I take pleasure in advis ing you that the board, in recog nition of your continued out- standing achievement in ship construction, has awarded your yard its first gold star to be added to its 'M' Pennant." A spokesman for the company stated that: "The new honor was made pos sible through the cooperation of all our employees and we're proud of the fine schedule . of production, not only being main tained but being bettered in the yard. The star will serve as a goal for even greater improve ment m production." The average time for the ships from each of our nine ways dur ing the period August 15 through October 10. from keel laying to delivery was 76 days each. COMMUNITY CHEST A goal of $50,000 has been set for the first Wilmington United Community and War Chest drive, which is scheduled to open here November 17. By providing this one major campaign instead of 15 or more each year, much time and effort is saved and contributors are protected from continuous solici tation. The drive will extend through November 27. Agencies included in the Community and War Chests are: Associated Charities, Boy Scouts, Brigade Boys Club, Wilmington Council of Girl Scouts, Salvation Army, Travel ers Aid, Wilmington Public Nursing and all foreign relief agencies that have been approved by President Roosevelt and which have not conducted drives in New Hanover County. It has been decided to have the Yard run its own campaign so that employees may make their contributions here and thus eliminate the necessity of outside solicitation by other members of the chest drive. The drive in the yard starts on Nnvpmhpr ft and runs until the 23rd. Let's see if we can't put it over the top. Company Biggest In State The North Carolina Ship building Company, employing approximately 17,000 work ers, now distinguishes itself for being the largest industry in the state. Since one year ago, November 1, 1941, when 3,591 persons were on our rolls we have grown into our present full war time produc tion to take the title of largest industry in the state from the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Winston-Salem, which at the latest check employed about 13,000 persons. WORLD'S RECORD The most outstanding ship production record ever achieved in world history was accomplish ed by American shipyards in Sep tember. Of the 93 vessels, total ing 1,009,800 tons deadweight, delivered during September, 67 were Liberty ships, 7 cargo car riers for British account, 7 large tankers, 3 C-l vessels, 4 C-2Ts, 3 C-3's, one passenger and cargo vessel, and one large ore carrier. Average time from keel-laying to delivery for Liberty ships was cut to 70.1 days from the August average of 83.3 days. Thus far, during 1942, American shipyards have produced 460 vessels total ing 5,101,956 tons deadweight. The West Coast yards deliv ered 37 of the Liberty ships, the East Coast 18, and the Gulf Coast 12. Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Inc., of Baltimore, Maryland was tied with the Cali fornia Shipbuilding Corporation of Wilmington, Calif., in deliver ing 12 Liberty ships. Ualship also launched 12 and laid 12 keels. Oregon Shipbuilding Corp. of Portland, Ore., was second with 11, and Richmond Ship yards Nos. 2 and 1 followed with 8 and 6 respectively. The Hous ton SB Corp of Houston, Texas, the North Carolina SB Co. of Wilmington, N. C. and the Delta SB Co., Inc. of New Orleans, La., were tied at 5 each. Todd-Bath Iron SB Corp of South Portland, Me. delivered 7 ships for Brit ish accpunt. These are similar to Liberty ships. V Second Production The second edition of "Hi Mate," produced by employees of the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company will soon be presented. Rehearsals are in fuH-swing, and Lawrence Dranard of the Erec tors, promises a swell show, with much new talent. This production will be pre sented on the evenings of Thurs day and Friday, November 19th and .20th, in the auditorium of the New Hanover High school for the benefit of the Brigade Boys club and the N. C. S. B. company's athletic association. Among" the favorites of the previous production who will again be prominently featured are the D'Aubaurs, nationally known ballroom dance team; Bob Page, also well known in the en tertainment world; James Gor don of the Metropolitan Opera. New talent making their first appearance will be Misses "Tom mie" McNair, "Salty" Robertson, Arthur John, songs; Tommie Baker, dance and the Steam En ginf ers No. 90016 in song and piano numbers. 37 Ships Have Been Launched, Delivered With the launching of the S. S. Benjamin Smith, our thirty-seventh vessel, on October 28, and with its delivery some days af ter, the company completed its first two contracts for building EC-2 Cargo vessels for the U. S. Maritime Commission. As is well known, the first contract, which was entered into in March of 1941, was for 25 Liberty ships, while the second was for 12 more such ships. It is interesting to note the increased speed made in constructing these vessels by fig uring out the average number of days from kel laying to deliverv on the first four sweeps of our nine ways. Hih- Low. Aver- 1st Sweep of Wavs ana est est arc 225 248 85 118 72 74 60 70 2nd Sweep of Ways 168 sra sweep of Ways 77 4 th Sweep of Ways 79 The Benjamin Smith, which i not included in the above figures, was delivered in 59 days after its Reei was laia. We are now workinir on mil third contract for 53 Liberty ships. At the rate steel is being fabricated, assembled and erect ed on the ways, and from the speed in which the ships are now being outfitted, the average time of construction for these 53 ships should be in the low fifties, if not lower. The progress which we have made is due to a number of far- tors including a greater knowl edge of how to build ships, im proved facilities, etc., but most of all to hard and sustained work on the par of everyone in the yard. V Merchant Marine Hero The first award of the Mer chant Marine Distine-uisheH Service Medal will be made to Edwin F. Cheney. Jr.. a 25-vear old seaman from Yeadon, Penn sylvania, Admiral Emory S. Land, Chairman of the United States Maritime Commission, an nounced today. President Roo&e- vcn, wm pieaem tne meaai to Cheney at the White House on Thursday noon. The.Mantime Commission was authorized by a recent act of Congress to award medals to those members of the United States Merchant Marine who dis tinguish themselves by outstand ing deeds or conduct or service in the line of duty. Cheney, quartermaster on a tanker torpedoed by an enemy submarine, displayed such extra ordinary courage and heroism in saving several of his shipmates who had been trapped on the burning vessel that he wag chosen by the Merchant Marine Medals Award Committee to re ceive the medal. Cheney was at the wheel of the Atlantic Refining Co. tanker JOHN D. GILL when it was struck by a torpedo amidship on the starboard side on the night of March 12. A geyser of oil was shot into the air, filling with oil the lifeboats on that side ' that were not smashed by the explosion. It was quickly apparent .that the ship was doomed, and Cap tain Allen D. Tucker, master of the vessel, gave the order to abandon ship. Cheney's boat sta tion was in the after part of the ship on the starboard side, which was suddenly surrounded by (Continued on page 4)
The North Carolina Shipbuilder (Wilmington, N.C.)
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