Shooting For Justice by G. Tilman (top 100 novels txt) 📗

jump overboard,” he noted to Foster, who thought the remark to be hilarious. Pope, to the contrary, was dead serious.

Pope was lucky with the seas being calm and slept well. Foster tapped on his door and said, “Breakfast in about thirty minutes.” Pope met him in the passageway twenty minutes later and they headed to the mess for breakfast.

They had skirted Long Island and idled up the East River to the Navy Yard on Wallabout Bay and docked by one o’clock.

Pope and Foster thanked the captain and headed for the office of the commander who headed the facility.

Commander Daniel McKellar welcomed them at the dock, and they took a brief tour of the yard before going to the mess hall for lunch. He reserved a small dining room, and they held their meeting in it.

“Dan, John Pope and I are here to assess the impact on the Navy of switching over from wooden to steel hulled vessels. If you would, tell us how marine surveyors, specialty craftsmen like carpenters, suppliers of wood and steel will be affected. And we cannot leave out the unions. What are they saying?”

“Would it be more complete for you gentlemen if I give you an overview, then provide a list of contacts among the unions and company owners who supply our naval yards?” McKellar asked.

“It would be very helpful,” Pope said.

“Let’s get the ones not affected out of the way first, though I will list them on the sheet in a separate column.

“Any company or union involved in steam fitting, engine design and gear, such as gearboxes, shafts, and propellers should not be adversely affected. They should remain the same regardless of hull material.

“Wood producers, carpenters, wood-related unions would be negatively affected. Quite frankly, it would cost them millions and they would go out of business, unless the majority of their contracts are for commercial vessels. They must realize, as goes the Navy in hull materials, so goes the fishing, transport and passenger industry. However, there are several firms which work on contract to the naval yards exclusively. Those will either have to switch over to steel or become insolvent.”

“Please asterisk those companies,” Foster said.

“I will. The most popular wood for sailing ships is live oak. The primary source is live oak preserves owned by the government on the north coast of the Gulf of Mexico. They are primarily in the Florida panhandle and Mississippi,” McKellar added.

“How are they impacted if they are owned by the government?” Pope asked.

“They are impacted because the trees are grown, managed, cut down, and properly boarded and prepared for use by contract firms. Those firms will be badly hit by the switchover. Several of them also own the transportation companies which move the prepared boards from the deep South to naval yards such as this one.

“The delivery fees are a large part of their income. It is about twelve hundred fifty miles, for example, from the Biloxi preserve to here by land. It’s much farther, around the horn of Florida at Key West, by sea. The Navy has set a miles per pound standard, and it’s enormously high for a big enough load to build a two hundred seventy-five- or three-hundred-foot ship.”

“What shipyards can you give us information about?” Pope asked.

“The ones you want. As of now, it appears this yard, East Boston, and Philadelphia will be the initial builders of the new steel hull Naval vessels. Perhaps more will follow suit later. I daresay it will be at least five years or so before others are engaged. The funding is not there for it so far.”

“How long will it take you to compose this?” Foster asked.

“Until at least tomorrow.”

“Pope, here is what I propose. You put up in the bachelor officer’s quarters, or BOQ, here for several days. I will telegraph back to the admiral who runs naval operations and have him prepare a letter of introduction for you to carry to each listed entity. I have to get back by train later today, so you are on your own. Sans a senior naval officer’s uniform, you will need some sort of introduction,” Foster said.

“Do you think a telegram from the admiral would suffice?” Pope asked.

“No, I do not. Dan, would you prepare a letter for Pope for the ones in Philadelphia and non-Navy contacts here in New York. They will keep him busy until the letter arrives. Then, he can go to Boston, other builders and unions and to the Gulf Coast regarding lumber and transportation.”

“I will. Pope, drop by later this afternoon. Ensign Murray?” McKellar called to a young officer outside the door.

“Would you escort Mr. Pope over to the BOQ and get him checked in for an indefinite number of days? On the way, secure transport for Captain Foster to the train station.”

“Aye-aye, Commander McKellar. Will do.”

They shook with the officer and left with the young junior officer.

“Gentlemen, I will secure a room for Mr. Pope and then pick you up at the entrance to the yard,” the ensign said.

The two men walked to the entrance as the ensign left them.

“Captain Foster, thanks for your help. And, for the ride on the ship. It was a once in a lifetime thrill for me,” Pope said.

“I wanted to hitch a ride on it myself. It will already be steaming up the coast. Rumor has it hanging a starboard turn and going to Greenland, then to Europe for a while.”

“I am not sure I would like to take a long ocean voyage in a steel ship, most of which is well beneath the surface of the ocean,” Pope said.

Foster looked around to see whether anyone was within hearing and mouthed, “Nor would I!”

A naval passenger wagon pulled up in ten minutes with the ensign driving. It was not unlike a buckboard pulled up. Foster and Pope shook, and the wagon left.

Pope walked over to the BOQ and checked in.

He walked over to the manager’s office after giving McKellar sufficient time to prepare his list. Foster waved him