Before the war, the Kiangnan Dock did not command as much prominence as she did during the war, for, in addition to the local demand for ships, foreign countries placed contracts with the Dock. Most notable of the latter was the given by the United States Shipping Board Fleet Corporation for the construction of four standard freighters of not less than 10,000 tons deadweight each. This was the biggest contract for ships ever received in China and the steamers are the biggest ever launched 'n China. One of these boats was launched but recently and it is expected that the others will follow suit within a very short period. These ships are twice as big as any ever attempted in China hitherto. As proof of the excellent workmanship and the satisfactory manner in which the work is carried out the Kiangnan Dock, the directors refer to the representatives of the U.S, Shipping Board and the British Corporation Surveyor, who surveys these steamers,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.