THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



189 



© Committee on Public Information 



FINISHING A SHIP'S PROPELLER WITH A BATTERY OP KMpRY WHEELS 



This operation fills the air with a dust of emery and bronze particles which proves dis- 

 astrous to the workmen if it is drawn into the lungs. The wearing of dust masks is essential 

 to health. 



In the expansion of existing shipyards 

 and the establishment of new plants, the 

 Emergency Fleet Corporation was, at the 

 very outset of its activities, brought face 

 to face with a critical menace to the work- 

 ingman's morale — the problem of where 

 and how he should live. Thousands upon 

 thousands of laborers were needed to con- 

 struct the shipways, to lay the railway 

 tracks necessary for the economic distri- 

 bution of material, to erect machine 

 shops, executive quarters, hospitals, res- 

 taurants, and commissary depots. 



In the majority of cases the shipyards 

 were being built on low-lying water- 

 fronts, sometimes far removed from 

 cities. In every instance there was an 

 influx of population so large as to over- 

 tax with distressing results the normal 

 housing facilities of the several communi- 

 ties. Often the question for which ship- 

 yard contractors had no answer was not 



"Where can I get labor?" but "How can 

 I house the labor which I have?" 



Much of the labor turn-over during 

 those first few months was due in large 

 degree to the impossible living quarters 

 of the men as well as to the confusion 

 and generally unsatisfactory conditions 

 within the yards themselves. 



Many expedients were employed to 

 overcome the difficulties. Some of these, 

 such as the construction of tent cities, 

 were obviously temporary solutions. In 

 other cases, however, the plan adopted 

 was such as may have a lasting and salu- 

 tary effect upon the whole housing prop- 

 osition in congested industrial districts. 

 A typical example of the latter is that 

 undertaken by the Merchant Shipbuilding 

 Corporation in Bristol, Pa., where 14,000 

 men are employed. 



The living accommodations at Bristol 

 being incapable of expansion to the needs 



