The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-09-03
QUESTION OF A LOCATION
Will Not Be Considered, Says
Commodore Howell,
OF THE ARMOR PLATE BOARD
Board Has Returned to Washington From I'LL
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Underwood and
Games Do Some Talking.

finished its work of Investigating the
plant of the Illinois Steel company. The
boand passed Through Chicago en- route
to Washington and the following inter
view was given out by Commodore How
ell:
I'VE shall at once proceed back to
Washington. The next thing for US to do
is to draw up the plans for the new gov
eminent factory, and we shall set about
1t just as soon as all THE members of the
board have found their way hack to
Headquarters. I think we have all the
necessary information about the cond.-
ton of the industry in this country. AS
the board includes a chief engineer OF the
navy, whose work HAS to do with ma
chinery, and a civil engineer, We have
the necessary technical knowledge among
our own number. However if it seems
desirable we shall also secure the SER
vices of other experts. In due time the
report will be ready to go to the sacrs-
tary of the navy and he can take what
ever action with it he pleases We shall
say nothing at all in the report about
site for the factory. We shall conf
ourselves to reporting the cost of pr5duc-
ing steel armor plates"
From the expression of Commodore
Howell it seems that the board docs not
intend to make any investigation as TO
a site. If this is the case it is difficult
matter to understand how an inleliigaIt
report can be made to the secretary of
the navy. The act under which the COM
mittee was created specifies that plans
and specifications as to the location shall
ba submitted as part of the report. 1t
is as follows:
I'm case the secretary of the navy shall
find it impossible to make contracts for
said armor within the limits as to price
above fixed, he shall be, and hereby is,
authorized and directed to take steps
to establish a government armor factory
of sufficient capacity to maxi such armof.
In executing this authority he shall pre-
pare a description and plans and specl-
cations of the land, buildings and ma
chinery suitable for the factory; and shall
advertise for proposals to furnish such
land, buildings and machinery as Whoie
plant or separately, for the land or build
ings, or tbs whole or any part OF SAID
machinery, and report to congress at us
next session. The secretary shall also
appoint an armor factory board, to con-
sist of competent naval officers OF sufta-
ble rank to advise and assist him in eX-
ecuting the authority hereby conferred.
IT do not see how the committee can
make an intelligent and comprehensive
report without visiting the different 10
calities where armor plate can be maze,
said Representative Underwood, upon
being shown Commodore HowelPs inter-
view Certainly a report as to the COST
Of the manufacture OF armor plate cou!u
not be correctly made without minute
investigation of the advantages of diff
fsrent localities. Birmingham can fur-
nish iron and steel cheaper than any
section on the globe and certainly the
committee could not ignore facts OF TINS
character in making report. 1t is my
understanding that congress wants TO
know the cost of turning out armor plate
as well as the simple cost of the construc-
ton of a factory. Congress wants 10
know if armor plate can be mace wl.hln
the prescribed limit of $500 and II so now
much under this figure. Congress must
be appraised of th=se facts before 1t can De
decided whether it would be more expeol-
emit to build plant or stili ouy the Piate
from outside parties. L tnougnt an lheSe
things would b. Investigated by the COM
mittee and l believe lney VIII Se' P
sue such policy r..,
.gr,ha acting secretary of the navy, from
his talk to me, aefs the lmpressioit IL
fhis was his idea of the duties OF ths
onn1noittete I believe when the poaro
,eaches, Wa shington ami has confer
enlce with him it will BE- decided to Wlsl;
the Different points that have supmAtleu
applications =,
REPRESENTATIVE Gaines. OF Tenneseee,
has lust returned from Chicago an an
interview on this subject in a NasnVilie
paper, he said.
sT was taken very much by surprise
to learn Monday evening last mat the
amor factory board a committees up
pointed by Mr.. Secretary Lomg, was IN
active session in Chicago We had had
no notice That they were at work. L am
anxious to have the armor plate factory
which the government Is taking ABOUT
cree ing, located in Tennessee, at least
in the south. Immediately on receiving
this information, went to Chicago, ar
riying there yesterday. I'm "a few minutes
I saw the chairman and several others
OF the committee, just in time, preparing,
as they were, to return TO w ashlngson.
Tt was fortunate that 1 saw them. They
h d not thought it within their province
to investigate the cost of site or toca-
tion.
"sThis is cine of the main points they
were overlooking, and about which they
were in error. They claimed that they
had no power 20 report upon site or 10
ca ton nor the value thereof upon which
the proposed plant could or is to be erect
ed. This board is clearly authorized to
assist the secretary in the fatter's duties
in she matter of location, hence / dis
cussed and disagreed with them in their
construction of the law
st am glad to say that after this dis
cuSSlon the cominitteS was VI the Oplhion
thai 1t was very probable a visit to the
iron fields of the south, and especially of
Birmingham would be necessary before
they could properly file their renport with
the secretary of the navy. They said
many 1oca tons had been suggested, but
for reasons stated none had been con-
sid,ared, even If they had had the time.
It is perfectly clear to my mind that Sec
petary Long must report upon location
and the probable cost of the game, with
the cost also of The building and ma
they could properly fills their report with
complete and uncallsd for BY all means
the south should take UP this matter
and press this COMMITTEES into coming
to look at our iron fields, ard if best To-
cate this proposed Factory in this sec
ton. We are making the cheapest and
best iron in the worth, and shipping II
everywhere. Why can we not then make
the cheapest and best armor plate?"