The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-10-17
OTHER SIDE OF THE MATTER
Members of the Armor Plate
Board Quoted.
1T WILL NOT MATERIALIZE
At Least. Not for Some Time-The Board
VIII Not Recommend Site But
Submit Specifications.
Special to The Age-Herald.

| Special to The Age-Herald.
Washington, Oct. 16.-The armor plate
factory board left here this evening with
a view of visiting various cltis which
aspire to have the armorsplant located
In them.
Thare is considerable misapprehension,
| especially in the south, regarding the
functions of this board. There seems to
be some idea abroad that this board
has the power, to recommend place for
the location OF government plant,
whereas the board will make no recon-
mendation at all either Regarding the
establishment of a plant or a placs
which might be suitable for one, should
the government decide ever to er:ct one.
I do not want to throw cold water on
the enthusiasm of the southern steel in
terest, but as have stated before there
is little possibility of the erection of such
| merely asked the secret ary of the navy
to have sp scifications made as TO an ar
NOR plant and what it would probably
cost to put one up.
Congress made no appropriation for
the work, and 1t was not intended that
the board should go so far as 10 suggest
suitable site for plant. In fact when
the board makss it's report in December
1t will not make any suggestions as to
location at ALL but confine itself purely
to submitting specifications. The heads
up at the navy department will tell you
privately that they have little hope of
anything coming from their labors,
though being under orders they are
working faithfully The trip of the
board through the south Is purely I'M
official and Will find no place in the
forthcoming report. Thu reason for this
is obvious. Nearly every important city
in the great range of iron lands in this
country, 1aboring under the same mis-
take that the peopls In Tennessee and
Alabama are doing, have made bids for
the armor plant. New York, for in
stance, has offered valuable concessions
within tbs area of Greater New York.
So has Pittsburg, Detroit and other cities
in the north.
The board has been invited to visit
all these places. Birmingham and Shelf
field Ala, and Chattanooga, Knoxville,
Bristol and Elizabeth, Tenn, and Bruins
wick, Ca, have all offered inducements
for the plant and now Waco, Tex, has
made bid for 1t. All this, on the sup
position that the board has soma power
to recommend where the plant shall be
built AS a favor to the southern dele
gates who wera here to ask that the
board be sent south Secretary Long has
ordered it to take in the iron and steel
| belt in Alabama and Tennessee.
| The good which will result from the
| tour of naval experts will not be from
| the direction whence it is expected, but
| from the fact that the steel-making
| world will have its attention attracted
| to th=se southern fields. The advertise
| ment feature is the important one.
| The personnel of the board Is strong
and the members will make a most
| agreeable impression in the communities
| tney WISH. THOSE WHO Will lIldhe lHe Trip
are: Commodore John A. Howell, Capt.
| A. H. Mccormick, Civil Engineer M. II.
| Endicott, Chief Engineer James Fl.
Perry Lieut.. +. +. Fletcher, Lieut.. w.
| Irwin Chambers and Stenographer Mr..
| G. w. Delight
| The board will arrive in Birmingham
| tomorrow. From this point the board
will visit Sheffield, Ala, Chattanooga,
| Knoxville, Elizabethtown, and Bristol.
| Tenn and will very likely go to Nash
| vile before returning, though this has
| not been decided. The members do not
| expect to be gone more than eight days.
One of the board said to me that there
| would be no use to visit any places on
| the coast for the reason that should the
| governme mt. decide ultimately to erect
| its own armor plant that II would never
| be located on the coast, but In the in
| terror where it would be safe from the
| enemy IN case of war. Congress has
| made no appropriation for the work we
| are now doing and the request of the
! committee to Mr.. Long to have specifi-
| cations drawn, did not suggest anything
| about a suitable site for a plant.
"Stili, should the time ever come when
a government plant shall be found nee
essary I believe the best place for it
would be somewhere in Tennessee or
| Alabama. There is a misapprel1ension
| about our powers, as the department
| has merely asked for specification with
out any reference: as to a suitable SITE"
- A, W. BUTT.