New-York tribune., 1896-12-09
MORE DEFECTS IN STEEL.
A SEARCHING INVESTIGATION ORDERED
BY SECRETARY HERBERT

A SEARCHING INVESTIGATION ORDERED
BY SECRETARY HERBERT.
PLATES MADE EY THE CAENEGIEs FOR THE
KDAHsARGE AND THE KENTUCKY NOT OF
SUFFICIENT DrCTILITY A NAVAL.
BOARD or INQUIRY APPOINTED
GBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
Washington. Dec s-Ccrtain steel plates manu-
featured by the Carnegie Company for the battle
shps Kcarsarge and Kentucky have been found 10
be below the standard quality TO ductility. ana
a naval officers has been al pointed ny sec
rotary Herbert 20 inquire into the matter ana re-
port the facts. Seemingly the trouble is NOT seri-
ous In no sense does 1t compare in importance
with the frauds which employees OF the PittsburS
firm were guilty OF committing some time ago
Nevertheless the subject IS OF sufficient sgNncancc
10 induce the Secretary OF the Navy to institute
searching investigation. Thus far little informa-
tion as TO the character and extent OF alleged irreg-
ularities has reached here The agent Of the Car
nagies I'm this city the subject rather lightly.
saying that his firm courts an inquiry
From what has been reported TO the Navy De-
partment Il appears that the plates which are
alleged 10 be defective did not bend when tested az
II was required that they should do Al the poin'
where they should have bent they cracked show
supposed fault in the plates was discovered by
Naval Constructor Woodward the officer in charge
OF the construction at Newport News or the Near
sarge and the Kentucky The plates had becn
ordered by Mr.. Woodward direct from the Carnegie
works Strictly speaking. tho steel was not for pro
iective plates The plates were intended for use aS
bracket plates 10 he placed on the hulls OF tho
ba,,lc-ships They were ordered 10 be long and
narrow tho purpose of Mr. Woodward being. Il IA
supposed. cut them into convenient or desirable
sizes for use brackets The brackets are vir'u-
ally braces and TO these directly or indirectly III"
hull plates are fastened The thickness Of the steel
required by Mr. Woodward was onc-fourh Of an
inch.
The quality OF all metal delivered for the Navy l.
prescribed In regulations prepared by the Bureau OF
Ordnance In the matter Of ductiiity such steel ~
Mr. Woodward wanted was 10 bend 10 degrees
without cracking. The test plates cracked when
forced over 90 degrees. Therefore. they were not
up 10 the mark as defined by the ordnance regula-
tions With hull brackets when the steel comes In
sheets IL is necessary bend each piece OF metal
TO certain angle II the steel Will not stand
bend Of ~ degrees. II IL worthless. OF course for
this purpose that Is the angle 10 which II must
go to permit Of a bracket being made good M.
ready for riv"ting.
When Mr. Woodwards tests were completed h"
made a report To Secretary Herbert. with the re
suit. stated that board OF officers has been np
pointed TO inquire carefully into the facts and report
10 the Navy Department Previous 10 the appoint
meni OF the Board Lieutenant Comma ndcr Everett
made an investigation at the Carnegie works Pre-
surna bly, his report unfavOrable To the com
pany, for promptly upon his report being received
by Mr.. Herbert the Board designated and in
srncted TO proceed 70 Newport News and begin
inquiry.
One fact In the case is that the Nav, Department
has d representative at the Carnegie works This
officers duty H. TO inspect all steel made for the
Government and certify whether II is or Is up
requirements. 1t Is assumed that In the case OF the
light plates for the kearsargc and the Kentucky he
watched their manufacture closely Before the
plates could leave the works they had to be stamped
with mark OF approval Had they moi borne this
mark Mr.. Woodward would not have accepted them,
the opinion that under the circumstances some
sonablc explanation Of the lack of ductty In the
plates Will be found
Captain Sampson said to-day that the inspector AT
Carnegic's was zealous and conscientious officer
and that he could not believe that any defective
plates would intentionally be passed by him The
Captain incnes to the opinion that the coming
qulry will show that there some misapprchcr-
sion concerning Constructor Woodwari's require
be discovered. He said that only about 800 tons
OF The steel IN question had been delivered to the
that as he understood the facts. the metal was 10
be used for hull brackets lie added that under
the circumstances an official inquiry was OF course
| advisable. and that the Board appointed would get
at all the facts.
Lieutenant Stone. Of the Navy, who represents
the Carneges In this city IL authority for the state
ment that the cOmpany's understanding that
the steel ordered by Constructor Woodw rd was no,
OF the best grade. that IT was needed for certain
unlmportant purposes. and that accordingly mate
rial fully up 10 these needs was sent to Newport
News Mr.. Stone explained that he understood
| that Mr. woodward wanted steel that could be cut
not bent into strips Of the size and shape required
| for brackets. ard that If this the case that
| which he received ought to be satisfactory He
| said that his company sought the fullest inquiry in
| to the case. that he was confident the result would
prove that the firm had strictl; compiled with It's
contract.