The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-02

WASHINGTON. Dec. 1.-The board ap-
pointed by authority of congress to ascer-
tain the cost of an arTl<r plate plant. made
Its report through Commodore Howell 10
Secretary Long today. The report makes
a voiuminops document treating every de-
tail of the process Of armor making and
the cost Of the plant and the product.
II is also aecompan nieo by elaborate plans
for the plant, which have been verified
by Expert Ffitz The cost OF plant suit
able for making naval armor at the rate OF
about 500 tons per annum. which is fully
equal 10 the capacity of both the existing
private plants, is set down at s.. 49,
No raeomme adatioa is made as 10 the To-
cation or the plant. but the board has &C
cumuiated much information as 10 the
merits Of many eligible locations which
may be had by congress.
Secretary Long will not proceed imme-
dlateiy TO take the next step necessary TO
carry out the wishes of congress. namely,
invite proposals by advertisement for
building such a plant as that designated
for the use OF the government. Ii was the
intention OF the secretary TO withhold the
report from congress until ne should be
able 10 include this Information In it. but
he has decided 10 send in the report as
soon as congress assemblies. and mean
while put out the advertisements and no.
tify congress Of the results later.
TX is expected that congress will be ad
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 all like specifications of the board. will
permit OF alterations into effective plants
All of this data. IL is expected, viii be- very
valuable 10 a consideration Of the armor
question. but the report of the board,
which may be strengthened by an indorse-
quite evident that the government cannot
undertake to make its own armor at the
cost named as The limit of price TO be pad
10 private firms in the last naval appro-
priation bill.
The aruor factory board consists Of
Commodore Howell. Capt. Mccormick.
Civil Engineer Endicott, Chief Engineer
Perry and Lieut.. Fletcher. Summing up
the practlcabllity. necessities. advantages
and disadvantages of the proposed fac
tory. IL SAYS:
Flrst-An armor factory comprises es-
seniialy collection of special furnaces
heavy machine tools and appliances that
are not needed IN any other class o. work
and class of labor specially skilled in
the business.
'Second-A government arinor factory
not connected with an esta hlfxhrnen+ e1-
gagged in other branches of the steel in
dustry would depend for It's success and
economic administration upon a constant
demand for an output nearly approaching
itS fut capacity.
'Thfd-lf the government should es-
taosish an armor factory the efficient and
economic maintenance or working OF that
Factory would necessarily depend upon A
constant yearly appropriation for ships
10 be provided with arnar. because tIa
armor produced az any time must be spe-
cially designed for and fitted In fho.a
ships. Any failure TO apnroprjate for
those ships in any one year would require,
me cessation OF work and the laying of
Indefinitely OF the skilled experts auei la
hnters that had beeu trained 10 this IN
dustty. A resumption Of work al a later
time would require the training at a CON
siderable expense, of new set Of men:
would perhaps have been such that dif-
neult and radical changes would b.. re-
eutred. which. under continuous working
might nave been gradually and easily
made.
The following are estimates for the
cost. exclusive OF land AZ d plant capsA.e
oF making and furnishing ready for the
instailIuert on board ship af 0s0 tons DER
year Of nickel steel face hsrtfened re-
forged armor As the size Of the largest
si1&le armor plate tiAes the size and mum
her OF melting furnaces REQUIRED and tha
size OF the forging and bending presses
which arc ABOUT the uloss expensive nart
OF ihe plant. and the melting furnaces
and presses. thus determined. ore cataf,l..
~ producing much greater quantity II
arn}oT than herein required II follow
that the cost Of a plant viii not ne i,
a!rsCt proportion TO the greater or is
output, but Will he in proportion 10 tbs
greater or less rementing furnaces an.
machine toals supplied
These estimates are made without ex.
act knowledge oE the iefal .r8ndt}f.t- ~
the site that might he settctea rlve ,se~
cent, has been allowed however f0~
erecting ana els snteglng expenses. a1t q
IS thought that per cent. additional al.
loeaHce would cover all ronttnrenriss
under ihe worSt conditions that may be
encountered TIE estimates are as fol
lows.