Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-30
ARMOR PLATEP PLANT
For the Pacific Coast, to Be
Built in San Francisco
on a Large Scale.
THE NEED OF SUCH WORKS
Has Long Been Apparent, as Means
of Saving Time and Money.
MORE TROUBLE OVER PAGO PAGO.
The Appropriation for COaling Station
There Isn't Large Enough.
WoRDT DISCUSSION ON NICARAGU A

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29-The Pacific
coast is to have an armor plate plant, ac-
eording to a local paper. The story is as
follows: 1t is stated on reliable authority
that concern has been incorporated at
San Francisco, and has half of its working
capital subscribed, for the establishment Of
an armor plate plant in that city. The
plant, it is understood, will be on large
scale, and will be capable of producing not
only the heaviest armor, but will be
equipped for the manufacture of guns, shot
md shell, and heavy forgings ofall descrip-
tions. This project is said to be the result
of the policy of distribution which has been
observed by the Navy Department in
awarding the contracts for the ships of the
new navy.
The need of plant for the manufacture
of armor plates and other heavy forgings
On the Pacific coast was made apparent
when the contrac. for the construction Of
the cruiser Charleston was awarded to the
Union Iron Works in 1886 The armor
plates, shaft and other heavy material
which entered into that vessel, as well as
the San Francisco, which was given to the
same firm in the following year, and the
Monterey, Oregon and Olympia, which have
since been awarded them, were manufactured
in the East.
Entirely Too Far for Transportation.
The transportation of the material to the
Pacific coast added materially to the cost
of these vessels, and it is said that the COM
pletion of the Oregon and Olympia will be
retarded bv the delay in the furnishing of
their armor.
The establishment of plant of this kind
on the Pacific coast is regarded with great
favor in naval circles, and its want has
been frequently commented upon. Not
only, it is said, would it arouse an interest
in the navy in that section, but would be of
inestimable value in the event of trouble
with a foreign power. At present every
gun and projectile which is used in the
navy is manufactured in the Eastern States,
and the cost of transporting them to the
Western coast is an item OF no little i'm
Po-tance.
In the matter of shot and shell alone such
an establishment would be of the greatest
value to the Government. In the ordinary
course of events il takes month for such
material to reach the Pacific, and under
pressure of the direst need they could not
reach their destination in less than a week
or ten QaVS Sucn perl0Q OF time would
be of vital importance in case of necessity
for a large and speedy supply of such ma
terial arising.
Much Depends on the Contractors.
1t is pretty generally conceded, however,
that the CARRYING out of this project will be
largely affected by the awards for the con-
struction of the two new vessels, the Iowa
ard the Brooklyn. The Cramps, of Phila-
delphia, we're the lowest bidders on both
these ships, and in the event that the Union
Iron Works fail to get one of them it is
highly probable that the manufacture of
armor plates, on the coast at least, will be
deferred.
Secretary Tracv is expected to return
soon from New York, and his decision in
regard 10 the award of the new ships will
probably be made carly next week. In the
meantime the indications are the Cramps
Tili get both vessels. While Secretary
Tracy is inclined to continue the policy of
distributing the work of building the new
vessels, the law distinctly provides that the
contract must be awarded to the lowest re-
sponsible bidders, and in this instance that
means the Cramps
There is some talk to the effect that the
Union Iron Works will lower its bid on the
Brooklyn to the amount OF that made by the
Cramps. This, however, remains to be
seen, but it is safe to predict that if such a
step is decided upon by the San Francisco
firm the Brooklyn will be launched in the
waters Of the Pacific.