Omaha daily bee., 1897-12-02
MANY QUESTIONS ARE TO Be CONSIDERED
Uncertainty of Government Needs Import
ant Factor at Issue.
PLANT MUST Be OPERATED CONTINUOUSLY
Skilled Workmen Are Required and Must
Be Kept Employed,
COMMITTEE MAKES NO RECOMMENDATIONS
Report Covers the Field Thoroughly
and Figures Are Given Covering
First Cost OF Proposed
Plant.

First Cost of Proposed
Plant.
WASHINGTON, Dec. THE naval board
appointed by authority OF congress to ascer-
tain the cost of an armor paut made its re-
port through Commodore Howell to Secre-
tary Long today. The report makes a yolu-
minous document treating in every detail OF
the process Of armor making essential TO
ia correct apprehension of the ccst of the
plant and of the product
1t is also accompanied by elaborate plans
Tor the plant which have been verified by
Expert Fritz The cost of plant suitable for
the rlakug of naval armor at the rate OF
about 5000 tons per annum, which Is fully
equal to the capacity OF both of the existing
private plants, is set down as about SO 3750-
uOo. No recommendation is made as to the
location OF the plant, but the board has &C.
lcumuated much information as to the merits
or various eligible locations which may be
had by congress If called for by IT,
| Secretary Long will proceed Immediately
10 take the next step necessary to carry out
the wish OF congress, namely, invite pro-
gosals by advertisement for building such a
plant as that designed for the use of the
government. 1t was at FIRST the intention OF
tribe secretary to withhold the report from
congress until he should be a5lc to include
this information in 1t, but he has now de-
termined to send in the report as soon as
congress assemblies and meanwhile put out
| the advertisements and notify congress Of
the results later.
It is expected congress will be advised also
Of the offers made by both the existing
armor making concerns to sell out
to the government and also of
other large interests to turn over
plants which, while not at all like the speci-
fcations of the board, will permit OF altera-
ton in defective parts. All of this data it is
expected will be very valuable to congress
in treating the whole armor question, but
tho report of the board, which may be
strengthened by an endorsement from Sec
retary Long, will make it quite evident that
the government cannot undertake to make
its own armor at the cost named as the
limit of the price to be caid TO private firms
in the last naval appropriation bill.
PERSONNEL OF BOARD.
The Armor board consists of Commodore
Howell, Captain Mccormick Civil Engineer
Endicott Chief Engineer Perry and Lieuten-
ant Cletcher. Summing up The oractlcabllity.
necessities, advantages and disadvantages OF
the proposed factory. it says:
4 An armor factory comprises essentially
| a collection of special furnaces heavy ma
chine tools and appliances that are not
I needed in any other class of work and a
class of labor specially skilled in the bust
ness.
government armor factory not con-
nected with establishment engaged in
other branches of the steel industry would
depend for its success and economic ad-
ministration upon a constant demand for
lET,
pacity
If the government should establish an
armor factory the efficient and economic
maintenance working of that factory
would necessarily depend upon a constant
yearly appropriation for ships to be pro-
vided with armor, because the armor pro-
duced at any time must be specially de-
signed for and fitted to those ships Any
| failure to appropriate for those ships in any
one year would require the cessation OF
| work and The laying Off indefinitely of the
| skilled experts and laborers that sad been
trained to this industry. 4 resumption OF
'Hork at a later period would require the
| training. at a considerable expense of a
| new set of men. In the meantime the prog
ress of the art would perhaps have been
such that difficult and radical changes would
be required which, under continuous work.
! ing, might have been gradually and easily
BAsING AN ESTIMATE.
! The following estimates Of the cost ex-
! elusive % land for plant, and furnishing
/ ready for the installment on board a ship OF
! GOO tons per year Of nickel steel face hard
! ened, re-forged armor: AS the size of the
| largest single armor plate 20 be produced
fixes the size and number of melting fur
naces required and the size OF the forging
and hardening processes, which are the
! most expensive part of the plant, and as the
! melting furnaces and presses ;hus deter
aH.a H.
greater quantity of armor than herein re-
| quired, 1t folloHs that the cost o. plant OF
| increased or diminished capacity Will not
be In direct proportion to the greater or
less output, but will be in proportion to the
| greater or less number Of cementing fur
naces and machine tools supplied
| These estimates are made without exact
| knowledge OF the local conditions Of the
| Site that may be selected. No freight Is in
| cluded and the foundations for buildings
| are Of sufficient deptl to secure stability
! and perlnanence on good hard-pan or gravel
! only. Nothing has been included for grad
| Ing or for eNcaYating except so far as nee
| essary for the proper construction Of the
plant. Should the site selected be of such a
| character as TO require pllng or deeper
! foundations than herein contemplated, the
cost may be increased Five per cent has
! been allowed. however, for erecting and en-
| glneeering expenses and II Is thought that
) per cent additional allowance would cover
| all contingencies under the worst conditions
| that may be encountered
COST OF THE PLANT.
Tae estimates are as foloSs.
| Name OF Dept. Estimates
| open hearth department .,.......... 54l9lS
| Forging and cementing shop ...... 1858 237
| Bending and tempering shop ..,... 6038
| Machine shop .......,.........,....... 60065l
| Erecting shop Observation-Disclosures. e4461
Boiler shop ......,....,................. 1854
| Power plant OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. l24GS
| Blacksmith shop ..............,..... S24l1
| Locomotive shop .,..,,..,,....,.,.... 1928
| Carpenter shop .....,...,..,..,.,,...., eS6S
| Office building ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. 1900
| Chemical laboratory ....,............ 1900
| Physical laboratory ...,,............. 1900
! II abroad tracks and euiIinrncut 666Ao