The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-27
CARNEGIE'S BELT.
Tons for the Battleship
Oregon
EN- ROUTE TO THIS CITY.
Were Tested and Failed, but the
Secretary Was interviewed.
WHAT NAVAL OFFICERS THINK.
The Union Iron Works People Are
Glad, Yet Sorry, but Carnegie
has the Best of 1t.
WHAT NAVAL OFFICERS THINK

-Four hundred and twenty tons of blow
hole armor plate is on its way to San
Francisco for the battleship Oregon. just
420 tons of Christmas cheer for the pro-
prietOrS of the Union Iron Works that Is,
paradOXically, bittPr-sweet piece of news
Tor the big warship's bailders. Patience
is to be rewarded, but fidelity to contract
is given a black eye. Secretary Herbert,
with that cold Clevelandish manner of his,
has said: "Blowholes and defects must be
endured; Andrew Garnegis is bossing this
job
The trial yard at Indian Head rejected
the forward barbette plates for the Oregon
some weeks ago, but Carnegie visited the
Secretary of the Navy the other day; re-
suit, the blowholes. the defects. and Incl
dentalIy the armor plates. were placed on
cars at the Carnegie works yesterday and
are on their way to this city.
The first IntmauOn of Carnegie's
scheme to foist defective plates on
the Government came by telegraph on
in he dispatch that in spite of the crack
ing of one oil the plates during test, and
the rejection of the entire betting
for the OregOn's turret by naval experts,
that: Andrew Carnegie called on the Sec
rotary to-day and mad an interview. The
Secretary decided last evening that the
Government should accept the entire lot
OF plates. His reason for so doing was
that the cracking of The plates during the
test was caused 10y projectile much SUI
perior TO the ordinary service shot; that
the Carnegie mpany is entitled TO the
same concessions granted to the Bethle-
hem company ia the case of their 49,
inch plates that cracked under the
first shot. Finally that the plate sub
mitted TO the test By the Carnegie COM
pany was inferior to the rest of the lot."
Imagine such fairly disposed, benevo-
lently inclined institution as the Carnegie
company submitting the worst plate of
the lot to an official test!
The officers of the Union Iron Works do
not wish to be quoted in the matter. They
have performed their part OF the contract
we'll; Carnegle's end of it has nothing to
do with the local workers.
The opinions OF a number of naval
officers were sought, but fears of censor
ship from headquarters and the far-reach-
ing power of Andrew, the king of steels
prevented them from speaking until as
sured that their names should not be men,
toned IE the Interviews. The preponder-
ance Of their opinions was to the effect
that no late rejected by the inspector for
the Government should ever be put on a
warShip.
A plate. they say. should be able to
stand the impact Of "proiectile much
superior TO en- ordinary service shot"
Enemies vessels might resort to the use
of just such shot-then where would the
Oregon be ?
There should not be the slightest defect
in barbette or belt-liDe armOr. When a
plate cracks IL. is of no more use than
board fence against heavy projectiles.
When armor plate Is tested only ordi-
nary service charges, or lighting charges"
are used. If superior projectie" has
been discovered that can crack firstclass
plate, it behooVes the GOFernmenC to take
steps to secure enough of these remark
able bullets that they may be distributed
among he gunners OF the White Squadron.
Naval Inspectors do not reject plates for
the fun of the thing. There is very little
humor in a naval inspector on duty, and
very small doses of sentiment.
AT the Union Iron Works the officers are
glad TO hear that the plates are coming.
They are much disappointed to learn that
the defects are baing transported also ::
but what can they DO about it?
The Scots have a contract TO put the
armOr IN place; If blOwholes were as thick
as cells in a h0neycomb they could NOT
prevent the Governments orders being
carried out Yes, the corporation had
read the telegram. Its head men had moth
ing to say. There was vast Significance in
this Yerv silence.
The Oregon is rapidly approaching COM
rletion. She looks a fighter, every bit of
1t. The very best OF work has been put
on her by the Union Iron Works, and the
splendid achievements of our local work
men will stand the closest scrutiny. How
ever, Ii the reports about the turret pIa ties
be true, what sort of a ship will we have 2
She will be like a jeweled-moyement
watch works In tin case. Bl0wholes
and defects and armor plate will be twined
about her turrets like the gaseous belts
about the planet Saturn. Perhaps we can
see the guns through il!