The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-02
COST OF ARMOR PLATE.
Report of the Board Provided for at
The Inst Session of Congress.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE naval arm
or factory board made its report to Sec
rotary Long to-day The board consists of
Commodore Howell Captain Mccormick,
Civil Engineer Endicott. Chief Engineer
Perry ard Lieutenant Fletcher. Summing
up the practicability, necessities, advan-
tages and disadvantages of the proposed
government factory it says:
In accordance with your views shat the
Congress would wish from the board state
ment in the rough, of the practicability of
putting up an armor plant. we respectfully
submit the following considerations
Tristan armor factory comprises es-
sentially collection of special furnaces,
heavy machinery, tools and appliances that
are not needed in any other class of work,
and a class of labor specially skilled in the
business.
/ "Second-A government armor factory not
connected with an establishment engaged in
other branches of the steel industry would
depend for its success and economic adj
ministration on constant demand Tor an
Out,tst nearly approaching its full capacity.
- hrd-If the government should estab-
fish an armor factory the efficient and eco
monte maintenance or working of that fac
tory would necessarily depend on 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 had been
trained to this industry A resumption of
work at a later period would require the
training at a considerable expense, of q
new set of men. In the meantime progress
of the art would, perhaps. have been such
that difficult and radical changes would be
required which. under continuous working,
might have been gradually and easily
made.
Estimates are given below for the cost
exclusive of the land. of plant capable of
making and furnishing ready for the in
stallment on board ship of six thousand tons
per year of nickel steel. face-hardened, re-
forged armor. AS the size of the largest
single armor plate to be produced fixes the
size and number of melting furnaces re-
quired and the size of forging and bending
presses. which are about the most %Xpen-
siVe part of the plant, and as the melting
furnaces and presses, thus determined, are
capable of producing much greater guam
Efty of armOr than herein required. ii fol-
lows that the cost of plant OF increased
proportion to the greater or less output
but will be in proportion TO the greater or
less number of cementing furnaces and ma
chine tools supplied. These estimates are
made without exact knowledge of the local
conditions of the site that may be selected.
No freight is included and the FOUNDATIONS
for building and tools are OF Sufncleut depth
TO secure stability and permanence on good
hardpan or gravel only. Nothing has been
included for grading or for eNcavating OK
cept so far as necessary for the proper con-
structiOn of the plant Should the site Sc
-lected be of such character as TO eQuire
piling or deeper foundations than herein
contemplated. the cost may be increased.
Five per cent has been allowed, however,
for erecting and engineering expenses, and
II Is thought that per cent additional al
lowance viii cover all contingencies under
the worst conditions that may be encoun-
tered. The estimates follow: