34 



DEVELOPMENT OF SHIPYARDS IN THE 

 Table V. — Agency Yards. 



efficiency of operation. Had unlimited time been available to establish the various 

 new yards, better results would undoubtedly have been obtained by a more extensive 

 central supervision of plant construction, but under war conditions this was inad- 

 visable; and, without doubt, quicker results were obtained through the policy pur- 

 sued. Numerous errors in location of yards and in yard construction crept in, which 

 no doubt interfered with certain of the project, but, as compared with the total 

 number of yards, the errors made were comparatively few in number and were not 

 as harmful as would have been a policy entailing any delay in the beginning of ship- 

 yard construction. The problem of getting large numbers of yards started will be 

 described more in detail, and the elements involved in the location and construction 

 of yards will be briefly outlined. Some of the points covered herein may seem and 

 are elementary, but the experience during the war period has shown that even these 

 points are likely to be overlooked or have their importance minimized. 



A ship combines in itself more functions than are to be found in any one struc- 

 ture on land. It serves as a storehouse for all kinds of commodities and must be 

 made adaptable to all their peculiar necessities. It serves as a carrier and must 

 therefore be provided with means of propelling itself from place to place. It serves 

 as a home, for a time at least, for those who operate it, and for the passengers whom 

 it may carry, and must, therefore, be provided with all things necessary to the ex- 

 istence and comfort of civilized man — a traveling hotel, in fact. It is subject to all 

 the dangers and hazards to which a land structure is subjected, besides those special 

 ones peculiar to the sea. It must be provided with protection against all these 

 hazards, and with the additional protection made necessary by having to fight them 

 alone. A shipyard adapted to the peculiar needs of ship construction therefore com- 

 bines in itself many more functions than are to be found in any other type of manu- 



