New-York tribune., 1890-07-14
TESTS or AMERICAN STEEL AEMOR.
\ NAVY BOARD TO Co%Drcr r'roETA"r CON
PETITIVE TRIALS At THE AN%NPOLIS
rRovlNG GEorNns.

Washington. Jlly 13.-Thc Ioanl appointed hy sec
rctary Tracy, oi which Rear Admiral l. \. kmhcr is
president. 10 meet n tho Ordnance rrovln, Grounds
Annapolis, on August -, e. conduct the competitive
tests II arm1r plate, il an exceptionally good
Il wa, originally intended - begin these tc.t- on
May 10 but the Secretary found II necessary - -
tend the timc. fr the important that plat.
bad been would Doe submitted at The tim" specified.
That American manufacturers had not entered the
competition ri that dat" due to the faot that th"y
had not then the facilities for makug tho plates Of
the dimensions Required. several firms had been IN
CORES poIdcucc with Tie Navy Department with
view 70 entering the contest but it thcnGht u
bs due to the other manufacturers who wouli
pete 20 extend the time.
Til competitive trial, of arnOr plates a matter
of far greater Importance than would -, indicated by
tIe uuo-cntatIoI, character OF the circular issued
BY the Navy Department. The position taken by
Secretary Tracy annual report with regard 10 the
construction of an arro- clad fleet. and also of the
arnorcd vessel, building. brius, the question of
alinor into great prominence. Tic coming competitive
trial, ai, an important feature IN determining which
type of arnor plating Shall be- adopted. Tn" roqu',
mcut- that each plate shall Dee iat and rectangular,
mol.urinc p feet high feet broad, and 10 IL inches
thich the edge being ~tI5ic!i, and the sharp corners
removed. \ tolerance Of ouct"uth Of an inch VIII
he admissible in the thickness Of the plate to cover
incqualltic, Of manufacture Tie Navy Department
viii bear the expense II the tran pOrjatiOn oi
tho competing plate, from the WORKS Of thc
company 10 the tr.ting ground and viii have
them ntcl with II, own labo'. The firms
presenting armor patc> Will be allowed to bolt them
10 the backing iu thcir own way provided th, total
eros, sections Of the bolt do not exceed Ghy'ieht
,quar, inchc; and the total number 0i bolte DO not
exceed Twelve The bolt, ar. not to be spaced iu
any uiu,uh way, but the arrangement mast con
form the ordinary practice followed ~ srcurne
t0 ships. The contestants must present, Tor tn
.sslI, Inc NV lf l4t
plates Icfort the hole, ar: drlld lt1 them.
showing the method Of spacing the bolts.
Before ia" firing t',t begins each arnor plat" must
have hitc paint tracing Of vertical aud horIOntt
line, dividing lt- fI"c INTO squares WhO'" area shIl
h- -luar' foot each. Five HpItl"! chrome >t"'!
armor piercing. oeiva headed prolcct">. o th" hc't
quality ana OF the usual iAp' ctch W".EWid 10 loJ
pounds. 10 Dee fred from sN-iuch br'"c lo'din-
rifle a.iI,t each plat". with -trilIIg velocity Of
near a. may be 2.43 fc.t per second Tn" Hrm
presenting rho plate viii be allowed ch0O". aftr
the -rcOud SHOT, tllr point oi impact for th" sic
cccdiug shots, but VIII not Dee permitted 10 select %
spot more than foot from the point dc-' ripe FOR
il 10y the test board. Each firm may be represent
the test of the plat" presented by II. aud at tn
c0uru> ion Of the t.,t will bc furnished with a tran
script Of the record Of that plate to The fact, only.
the test, Of any other plntc than his ~
The official record made by other plate. Tn" Depart
mrui. however, reserves the right Ia max" public
the results Of tl" trial after n" i- are coupl"t~!.
Aft"r each shot tl'' tar-' aud hacking VIII bc car,
fuli' examined and their tondilnu m.uicly r.
corded. The condition o! the armor pat" hol,~ aud
backing Will not Ice changed during 90" tl1al. Any
aiTnor plate conforming 10 the dimensions laid down
hv the Depart mcui, circular manufactured IN tho
United sta =, mad" wholly Of domc,.ir material
which shall on the competitive t7tl ~'tov more r.
s~aucr than amy pthc! plate, or Sld Dee found by thc
hoard 10 have how much r. -l-iance q, III platr
which j. adjUdgcd to have done the best o. th' trl1
will he paid Tor at a price which must be prcviou'ly
agreed upon The price he asked for the plate bv
tho manufacturer, successful at the test, must be