The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-08-12
.ARMOR PLATE PROPOSITION
MEETING OF A SPECIAL NAVAL
BOARD TO DISCUSS PROPOSED
GOVERNMENT PLAN.
THE COST OF BUILDING 4 PLANT
VIII BE Thoroughly Investigated.
Proposals VIII he Invited for
the Sale of II Complete
Plant to Government

Washington, Aug. "a special naval
board appointed by Acting Secretary
Roosevelt for the purpose of preparing
Tor the information of congress estimates
OF the cost of establishing and operating
u government plant for the manufacture
OF armor metal met at the navy depart
ment today. All We're present, namely,
Commodore Howell. Capt. Mccormick,
OWL Engineer Endicott Chief Engineer
Perry, Lieut.. Fletcher and Lieut.. Cham
bers.
Before proceeding with the work of
organization the members of the board
called upon Acting Secretary Roosevelt
the undertaking before them. The act
ing secretary expressed his views as to
the intention of congress- and the board
was ready for work after Il room had
been secured.
The plan is to make Il most thorough
investigation of the question presented
in all of its aspects with the view of as
certainng the cost of building II great
government factory, but after that has
been accomplished proposals will be in
vited for the sale of n complete plant to
the government While this last infor-
nation was not especially directed to be
furnished to congress in the law il is
deemed desirable to supply it, in order
to permit of consideration of the economic
advantages of each plan.
In the pursuit of the first plan il would
be necessary for the board to travel a
good DEAL possibly to Europe, before the
inquiry is ended. though not much has yet
been determined upon. Certainly it will
be necessary for il to visit the many
points in this country where it has been
suggested government plant may be
advantageousiy established in order to
ascertain at first hands their relative
merits and to learn which of them pre-
sent the necessary conditions.
These as laid down for the guidance
of the board are. first, accessibility to iron
and coal and routes of TRANSFORMATION so
that the heavy armor produced may be
laid down at the tide water where naval
vessels are built. Next. weight must be
given to the character of the population
of the place from an industrial stand
point and its ability to furnish II large
stock of skilled mechanics for the govern
ment to draw upon in manning its plant
Thus far there has been no lack of sug-
gestions to the navy department as to
where they would like to locate the plant
They have come. according to Secretary
Roosevelt. from Marion, Ind. from Bir-
mingham. from Pennsylvania, from
Maryland. and indeed from almost every
part of the country where there is iron
and coal. Inasmuch MS the shipbrilders
have failed to respond favorably to the
government lHNltdtiOH W SuDilil biuS
within the $500 mark for supplying armor
for the ships now building, Mr.. R0ose-
welt called the special attention of the
board to this subject, and one of its du--
ties will be to devise some practical
plan for the procurement of this armor
for the three battleships. Illinois. Ala
bama and Wisconsin, within reasonable
period of time.
Acting Secretary Roosevelt has accept
ed the offer of the Cramps to furnish
the diagonal armor for the Alabama. and
this insures that vessel against delay. in
construction. Regret is expressed that
the contractors building the other two
vessels have not as yet made similar
proposition MS to the other ships, but If
some such proposition is not forthcoming
soon Mr.. Roosevelt will direct the con-
struction board to Immediately prepare
plans for proceeding with the work on
these ships as well as possible in the abb
sencc of the diagonal armor.
The Cramps offer is to furnish four
of the plates that are used as bulkhcads
in the interior of the ship, weighing about
thirty TONS and this they agree to do ut
the price of $500 per ton. as set by, con-
gress. for which Acting Secretary Roose-
welt has thanked them.