New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-26

RELATIVE MERITS OF THE cREUsor AND CAM
NELL. PLArEs-rHE HOUSE PASSING
BILL FOR THE PURCHASE or NICKEL
Wellington, Sept rs GpeciaD.- Ordnance experts
sro highly pleased with the results attained BY the
tests recently made ct Annapolis Of ce aEsnor plates
Of foreign manufacture. Tho experiments were nov
only interesting but also Of great and decisive I'M
porAncc for upon the report Of the Board VIII depeno
tho character Of the plates to be used In srmorns
tho thrce great wArshps which aze soon TO DO pull
For years there has been tho greatest divergence OF
opinion % to the qualities Of the Crcusot and Cammei
rtes. The former Is solid ipgot Of STEEL SorKco
down to its proper sze by tho uso Of enormous ana
powerful triphammers. The plate IN its finished form
Is not highly tempered In fact, the desire is to give
to the plate the quality Of ductlity. The Cammen
plate has facing Of steel about onethrd the thickness
Of the plato. This stcel has hard surface, Is highly
tsmpesed and 10 Of great resistance. Tho remaining
twothirds OF the plate OF wrought iron which, 1rN
the nsture Of the material, Is much softer and moro
yielding than Steel The iron and steel are weioed
together thus forming one compact mass The object
Of the combination Of the two metals Is also to give
the plate the quality Of ductty In the recent tests
was demonstrated, however, that the resistance OF
tho two plates far from uniform Every shot
fred d the Cammeli Plate not only penetrated IT, put
made clean aperture. and went entirely through H.
With the Creusot plate tho effect was much different
hole made by the projectile, but In no In
stance did tho shot succeed in penetrating
antirely through the plate. The Ordnance omcers
confess that the appearance Of the two plates after the
conclusion OF tho tests decidedly IN sav0r OF tno
Cemmcr plates they 1ustifying their opinion as I"
the superiority OF the Creusot plate, however, BY say
ing that In battle, no matter how long It might %
in Duration no single plate would receive eight shots
OF course the effect OF eight shots would result IN
cracking the plate so that 1t would fall on, thus
leaving the skin of the ship exposed. With ue
Cammeu plate however, one shot would penetrate
1t, and with the heavy proectes ana powerful guns
now used, the result would be extremely damaging
10 ship, which Of course would be roco auo 'cssco
By the action Of the waves
Tho trial Of the nickel plate was moro thah satis
factory This test is tho first public experiment that
has ever been made, although the invention mas oeen
patented siuce 1875 Z. Schneider CO., OF Creusot,
France manufacture both tile nickel and the Creusot
plates The Bethlehem Iron Works some little time
ogo made an arrangement with Schneider q 20. 70
use the process for making the Creusot plate sk'ed
mechanics were brought here, and every ehort has
been successfully made to tun out product equal
In that OF the French manufacturers. 1t was FOUND
necessary to do this because Of the provisions en-
bodied In all appropriation bills for matters OF TINS
kind which require that all the material useo sha
be produced In this country. 1t is understoou u'a'
the bethlehem Iron Works will endeavor to make a
similar arrancement with Schneider & Co., should the
hoard decide to report favor Of the nickel plate
The tests have also been productive OF good results
In determining the high character OF the pro1ecies
used. ., ,., an ouo, y,
nickel and is considered as near perfection as any
thing of It's character be deemed perfect In iact
The ofcers think so highly OF It that resolution was
yestsray introduced in the Senate TO give authority
he purchase OF nickel armor plates. similar resolu-
ton passed tho House today 1t stated that there
metal aud that is in Canada The English Govern e 2,
inent is now neeotatne for Its purchase; 80 'Gss
Of The secretary Of the Navy TO enter into contract
with the Canadian company before these negouaions
are closed The armor would be used for the three
large warships for which contracts to be made
The money necessary for the purchase OF the plate;
carried clause with ii which prescribed that all OF
the material used should be produced In this country
type it is necessary that the nickel armor should DO
usod,