Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-09
THE ARMOR PLANT BOARD
Acting Secretary Roosevelt Was Present at
the Meeting Today.
An Outline of the Plans to BE Follow
knowledge of the Situation.

The special naval board appointed by
Acting Secretary Roosevelt for the pur-
pose of preparing for the information OF
Congress estimates Of the cost of establish
Ing and operating a government plant for
the manufacture of armor met at the Navy
Department today. All of the members
We're present. namely. Commodore Howell.
Capt. Mccormick Civil Engineer Endicott
Chief Engineer Perry. Lieut.. Fletcher and
Lieut.. Chambers, recorder. Before pro-
ceeding with the work of organization the
members OF the beard called upon Acting
Secretary Roosevelt and had long talk
with him respecting the large undertaking
before them. The acting secretary eX-
pressed his views as to the intention of
Congress and the board ready for
work. after a room had been secured. The
plan is for the boarl to make a mos, thor
ough investigation of the question pre-
scented in all of its aspects. rot only with
view to the asce-.ainment of the cost
OF building great government factory,
but after that has been ace omplished prop
ositions will be invited for The sale of
complete plant 10 the government. While
this last information was not specifically
directed to be furnished to Congress in the
law, ii IS deemed desi liable 20 supply il, in
order to permit of consideration of the
economic Advantages OF each plan.
Much Travel May BE Necessary.
In the pursuit of the first branch of tie
subject +. will be encessary for the board
to travel a good deal. possibly TO Europe.
Before the inquiry is ended. though that
has not yet been determined upon. Ger
tainly ii will be necessary for il to visit
many points in this country where IL has
been suggested that a government plant
may be simultaneously established. in or
der to ascertain at first hand their relative
merits. and to learn which of them present
tie necessary conditions. These as laid
down for the guidance of the board are.
first, accessibility to iron and coal. and
routes of transportation, so that the heavy
armor produced may be readily laid down
at tide water where naval vessels are built.
Next. weight must be given to the charac-
ter of the population of the place from an
furnish a large stock of skilled mechanics
for the government to draw upon in man
ming its plant.
Many Suggestions as to Sites.
So far there has been no lack of sugges-
tions to the Navy Department from people
who would like to locate the plant. They
have come. according to Acting Secretary
Roosevelt from Marion, Ind: from Biz
:nirgham, Ala, and from Pennsylvania.
from Maryland. and, indeed. from almost
every part of the country where there are
iron and coal. One recommendation for
site in New Jersey came from a woman.
According to Mr.. Roosevelt. some of the
recommend them.
Inasmuch the ship builders have failed
to respond fayorlbly TO the gcVernmI nt's
invitation to summit bids within the 500
mark for supplying armor for The ships
now building Mr.. Roosevelt called tho cs-
pecial attention Of the board to this sub
ject. ard one Of its first Iutics< will he to
devise some practicable plan fdr the pro-
curement of this arInor for the three bat
tleships Illinois, Alabama and Wisconsin
within a reasonable period of time.
The Cramps Offer Accepted.
Acting Secretary Roosevelt has accepted
the offer of the Cramps to furnish the dag
enai armor for the Alabama. and this in
sures that vessel against delay in construc-
tion- Regret is expressed that the
tractors FOR building the two other YES
sells have not yet made similar propo-
sition as to their ships. but l. some such
proposition is not forthcoming soon Mr..
Roosevelt will direct the construction bu-
reau TO Immediately prepare plans for car
rying on the work these ships as we'll as
possible in the absence of the diagonal ar
NOR.
Cramps offer Is to furnish four of the
plates that are used as bu.kneads in the
interior of the snip. weighing about thirty
tors. and this he agrees to do ut the price
OF $50 per ton. set by Congress.