The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-10
ARMOR PLATE FOR THE SHIPS.
SPECIAL NAVAL BOARD HOLDS ITS
FIRST SESSION.

4 Consultation First Held with Act
ing Secretary of the Navy ROOse-
veIt-Bids to BE Asked For the
Sale to the Government of "A Com
pIete Armor Plate FRctOry-The
Cost of Building Factory and All
Details 10 Be Ascertained.
Washington. Aug. 9.-The special naval
board. appointed by Acting Secretary
Roosevelt, for the purpose Of preparing
for the information of congress estimates
of the cost Of establishing and operating
a government plant for the manufacture
of armor. met at the navy department to-
day. All the members were present.
Before proceeding with the work of or
ganizatlon the members of the board
called upon Acting Secretary Roosevelt
and had a long talk with him respecting
the undertaking before them The act
ing secretary expressed his views as to
the intention Of congress and the board
was ready for work after a room had been
secured.
The plan is to make a thorough inves-
tgauon of the question presented in all
of its aspects, not only with a view to
the ascertaiument of the cost of building
a great government factory, but after
that has been accomplished, propositions
are invited for the sale of a complete
plant to the government. While this last
information was not specifically decided
to be furnished to congress in the law
it is deemed desirable to supply it. in or
der to permit of consideration of the
economic advantages of each plan.
Ia the pursuit of the first branch Of the
subject it will be necessary for the board
10 travel a good deal, possibly to Europe
before the inquiry is ended, though that
has not yet been determined upon
Certainly it will be necessary for it to
visit many points in this country where
it has been suggested that a government
plant may be advantageously established
so as to ascertain at first hand their rela-
tive merits and to learn which of them
presents the necessary conditions. These
as laid down for the guidance of the
board are: First, accessibility to iron and
coal and routes of transportation, so that
the heavy armor produced may be readily
laid down at the water where naval yes
sells are built
Next weight must be given to the char
acter of the population of the place from
an industrial point of view and its ability
to furnish a large stock of skilled me-
chanics for the government to draw upon
in manning its plant.
So far there have been no lack of sug-
gestions to the navy department from
people who would like to locate the plant
They have come, according to Acting Sec
rotary Roosevelt. from Marion, Ind; from
Birmingham, Ala; Pennsylvania Mary
land, and, indeed. from almost every part
of the country where there is iron and
coal. one recommendation for site in
New Jersey came from a woman.
According to Mr.. Roosevelt, some of the
places mentioned had only the scenery to
recommend them.
Inasmuch as the shipbuilders have fail
ed TO respond favorably to the govern
ment's invitation to submit bids within
the $500 mark for supplying armor for the
ships now building, MIR. Roosevelt called
the especial attention of the board to this
subject, and one of its first duties will be
to devise some practicable plan for the
procurement of this armor for the three
battleships Illinois, Alabama and Wis
conStn within a reasonable period of time
Acting Secretary Roosevelt has accepted
the offer of Mr.. Cramp TO furnish the di-
agonal armor for the Alabama. and this
insures the completion of that vessel
against delay in construction.
Regret is expressed that the contractors
who are building the two other vessels
have not as yet made similar PROPOSE
ton as to their ships but if some such
proposition is not forthcoming soon. Mr..
Roosevelt will direct the construction bu-
reau to Immediately prepare plans for
proceeding with the work on these ships
nal armor.
Mr. Cramps offer is to furnish four of
the plates that are used as bulk heads
in the interior of the ship weighing about
thirty tons as he agrees to do at the
price of $500 per tor set by congress, for
which Acting Secretary Roosevelt has Off
cipilV thanked him.