The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-02
PRICE OF AN ARMoR PLANT.
THE NAVAL BOARD MAKES ITS RE-
PORT ON THE SUBJECT.

The Estimates Put the Cost at 3d.
These Figures For the Cost of
Site-The Board Points Out Some of
the Disadvantages of Government
Ownership--PIate Could Not Be
Produced at the Price Fixed by
Congress Last Session.
Washington, Dec. 1.-The naval board
appointed by authority of congress to as
certain the cost of an armor plant made
its report through Commodore Howell to
Secretary Long to-day. The report makes
a voluminous document, treating every
detail of the process of armor making es-
sential to a correct apprehension of the
cost of the plant and of the product 1t
is also accompanied by elaborate plans
for the plant, which have been verified by
Expert Fritz. The cost of a plant suitable
for the making 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 $3,750,O00. No recommendation is
made as 10 the location of the plant, but
the board has accumulated much informal
ton as to the merits of various eligible
locations, which may be had by congress
il called for by it.
Secretary Long will now proceed i'm
mediately to take the next step necessary
to carry out the wish of congress, namely,
invite proposals by advertisements for
building such plant as designed for the
use of the government. 1t was at first
the intention of the secretary to with
mold the report from congress until he
fI,,. tff,.a h1ft
lie has now determined to send in the re-
port as soon as congress ASSEMBLIES, and
meanwhile put out the advertisements
and notify congress of their results later.
1t is expected that congress will be adj
Vised 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 specitica-
tons of the board, will permit of alter
atoms into effective plants. All of this
data, it is expected, will be very Valu-
able to congress in treating the whole
armor question, but the report of the
board which may be strengthened by an
Endorsement from Secretary 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 paid to the private hrms IN
the last appropriation bill
The armor factory board consists of
Commodore Howell, Capt. Mccormick,
Civil Engineer Endicott, Chief Engineer
Perry and Lieut.. Fletcher. Summing up
the practicability, necessities, advantages
and disadvantages of the proposed facto-
ry, it says: I'm accordance with your
views that congress would wish from the
hoard a statement in the rough of the
practicability OF putting up an armor
plant we respectfully submit the follow
ing considerations:
81. An armor factory comprises essen
tally a collection of special furnaces,
heavy machine tools and appliances that
are not needed in any other class of work
and class Of labor specially skilled in the
BUSINESS
- A government armor factory, not
connected with an establishment engaged
IN other branches of the steel Industry
would depend for its success and economic
administration upon constant demand
for an output nearly approaching its full
capacity.
%. If the government should establish
an armor factory. the sufficient and eco