New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-11-24
A FOL To NEW INDUSTRIES.

| The bill for increasing the Navy passed
during the closing week OF the last session OF
Congress contained an important provision fol-
promoting new Industry. A originally IN
| troduce it armed the Secretary Of the Navy
with power to purchase armor plates abroad, II
ne could not obtain them from domestic manu-
facturers. The Senate deprived him of this
privilege and the House acQ Iiesccd In its
decision. Those who amended the act con-
tended that it was as important for the country
! to have the plant and m ,chinery for building
armOIed vessels Us 1t was to have the ships
themselves. In the event of war facilities for
multiplying armored vessels Of the most ap-
proved type would be req ,isite for the protec-
ton of the sea-bOard. IL the armOr were
bought abroad vari,us processes of nanufact-
ure would not be introduced and an industry
essential to National safety would not be
est ,blsied. This argument prevailed and the
Secretary was prohibited from purchasing
armor abroad.
Secretary Whitney lost no time in adver-
tisiu1 for proposals for ways and means for
furnishing the Government with $500 tons vt
steel armor plate AMI large quantities OF gun
steel for heavy OF nance. A. the armorcd
ships had mt been designed. it was impractical
Bile TO ask fer the ar'uor plate itself; bat steel
man ufacturers weie vaguely invited in
fantastic competition with one another to
specify the terms on which they would be
willing to prep ,rv themselves for producing the
material required These proposals were
advertised to close on December 10, but as
steel manufacturers fiile to show any interest
in the subject, the time Was extended to March
Is. 1887. Apparently the Secretary desires
to renew his application for discreet Onary
power to buy armor abroad if he cannot obtain
it in the United States. II can refer the Com
mitiee on Naval Affairs o his ingenious adver-
tisrment for An intcrcn ,nge OF practical tess
and then admit that nobody paid any attention
to it. He can explain that the proposals will
remain open until after the close of the session
and that responses may yet be received; but in
view of the neglect and indiff renee of the
manu- facturers he will probably persist in his
demand for the discretionary powers which
we're withheld at the last session.
IL is the Secretary's avowed hostility to home
Industries with mis- marked preference for buy
ing in the cheapest market that stands in the
way of his securing the conf lence of American
manufacturers. Why shoald a steel manu-
facturer be encouraged to experiment IN pro-
duciny gun steel or armor when il known that
the Secre airy is mportuning Congress for per-
mission to buy material abroad If an expensive
plant for making amor were introduced, the
new industry might be subjected within year
to competition with foreign industries and the
manufacturer DO ruined What was Mr..
Rnach's fatei Before the first four vessels OF
the new Navy were contracted for, he devised
machinery and perfected processes for casting
steel ship plates-the first ever made In the
United States. His costly plant and special
processes enabled him to underbid his competi-
tors and to save the Govern nent $500. 600 on
four vessels. But what encouragement dad his
enterprise received Hs was drive0 out OF
business by tho Administration when the
Secretary was expecting to build more cruisers
and stood in need of large quantities of steel
ship plate. BE had brought in new industry
and his credit had been destroyed for his pains.
Is it strange that other steel manufacturers
are in no haste to introduce another new in
dustry-that of making arInor plates-so long
as Secretary Whitney remains 10 officef