A shortage of vessels further complicated by requirements to take vessels out of

service for conversion and armament was of concern at the highest levels, including
the President. Particular concern that available shipping would not be used
effectively led to his establishment immediately on the nation's active entry into
the war of the Strategic Shipping Board composed of the Chairman of the Maritime
Commission, Army Chief of Staff, Chief of Naval Operations and Mr. Harry Hopkins
reporting directly to the President. Differences between the organizations and lack
of decisive authority short of the President limited the board's effectiveness. An
additional need was an effective routine interaction with the British Ministry of
War Transport, already given management of British merchant shipping, for
coordination of all Allied merchant shipping. Upon establishment of the WSA the
Strategic Shipping Board continued in existence in a much diminished role under the
Joint Chiefs of Staff.[3]

On February 7, 1942, the WSA was established by President Franklin Delano

Roosevelt's Executive Order No. 9054. February 7, 1942 as the U.S. had entered the
war. The WSA was administratively split off from the United States Maritime
Commission, established in 1936, which oversaw design and construction of merchant
type vessels. Those included the production of Liberty ships and Victory ships
among other types. The U.S. fleet expanded to some 3,500 dry cargo vessels and over
900 high speed tankers.

Operationsason Gould was born in Roxbury, New York, to Mary More (1798�1841) and
John Burr Gould (1792�1866). His maternal grandfather, Alexander T. More, was a
businessman, and his great-grandfather John More was a Scottish immigrant who
founded the town of Moresville, New York. Jay Gould studied at local schools and
the Hobart Academy in Hobart, Delaware County, New York.[5]

As a young boy, Gould decided he wanted nothing to do with farming which was what
his father did, and so his father dropped him off at a nearby school with 50 cents
and a sack of clothes.[6]

Early career

Jay Gould (right) in 1855

His principal was credited with getting him a job working as a bookkeeper for a
blacksmith.[7] A year later the blacksmith offered him half interest in the
blacksmith shop, which he sold to his father during the early part of 1854. Gould
devoted himself to private study, emphasizing surveying and mathematics. In 1854,
Gould surveyed and created maps of the Ulster County, New York, area. In 1856 he
published History of Delaware County, and Border Wars of New York, which he had
spent several years writing.[8]

Keystone Marker for Gouldsboro, Pennsylvania, named after Gould.

In 1856, Gould entered a partnership with Zadock Pratt [7] to create a tanning
business in Pennsylvania in what would become Gouldsboro. Eventually he bought out
Pratt, who retired. In 1856, Gould entered another partnership with Charles
Mortimer Leupp, a son-in-law of Gideon Lee, and one of the leading leather
merchants in the United States at the time. Leupp and Gould was a successful
partnership until the Panic of 1857. Leupp lost all his money, while Gould took
advantage of the opportunity of the depreciation of property value and bought up
former partnership properties for himself.[7]

After the death of Charles Leupp, the Gouldsboro Tannery became a disputed
property. Leupp's brother-in-law, David W. Lee, who was also a partner in Leupp and
Gould, took armed control of the tannery. He believed that Gould had cheated the
Leupp and Lee families in the collapse of the business. Eventually Gould took
physical possession, but was later forced to sell his shares in the company to
Lee's brother.[9]

Railroad investingason Gould was born in Roxbury, New York, to Mary More
(1798�1841) and John Burr Gould (1792�1866). His maternal grandfather, Alexander T.
More, was a businessman, and his great-grandfather John More was a Scottish
immigrant who founded the town of Moresville, New York. Jay Gould studied at local
schools and the Hobart Academy in Hobart, Delaware County, New York.[5]

As a young boy, Gould decided he wanted nothing to do with farming which was what
his father did, and so his father dropped him off at a nearby school with 50 cents
and a sack of clothes.[6]

Early career

Jay Gould (right) in 1855

His principal was credited with getting him a job working as a bookkeeper for a
blacksmith.[7] A year later the blacksmith offered him half interest in the
blacksmith shop, which he sold to his father during the early part of 1854. Gould
devoted himself to private study, emphasizing surveying and mathematics. In 1854,
Gould surveyed and created maps of the Ulster County, New York, area. In 1856 he
published History of Delaware County, and Border Wars of New York, which he had
spent several years writing.[8]

Keystone Marker for Gouldsboro, Pennsylvania, named after Gould.

In 1856, Gould entered a partnership with Zadock Pratt [7] to create a tanning
business in Pennsylvania in what would become Gouldsboro. Eventually he bought out
Pratt, who retired. In 1856, Gould entered another partnership with Charles
Mortimer Leupp, a son-in-law of Gideon Lee, and one of the leading leather
merchants in the United States at the time. Leupp and Gould was a successful
partnership until the Panic of 1857. Leupp lost all his money, while Gould took
advantage of the opportunity of the depreciation of property value and bought up
former partnership properties for himself.[7]

After the death of Charles Leupp, the Gouldsboro Tannery became a disputed
property. Leupp's brother-in-law, David W. Lee, who was also a partner in Leupp and
Gould, took armed control of the tannery. He believed that Gould had cheated the
Leupp and Lee families in the collapse of the business. Eventually Gould took
physical possession, but was later forced to sell his shares in the company to
Lee's brother.[9]

Railroad investing