The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-10
FOR AN ARMOR PLATE PLANT
Government CfhcialS Seriously lnYeSil-
gazing the Subject
TO ASCERTAIN The PROBABLE COST
Not oni, Of Building Such an hs'""''s"-
n.pt. but the Price of oue Already 20" -
.,,,c,ea- Arnor for Three Ba't'e-
ships is Needed at once

WASHINGTON. u. c. august o,,n',
Special naval board appoln''" - az
e'c,,to,,. Roosevelt Tor the purpose ol
,-s1,,,rin.- for the information oil congress
I,in'ot,s Of the cost Of establishing anu
,.,.'ratinr "a government plant ior 'he
,.n,,foctnre of armor. met al the Navy
i,',,srt,n,nt to-day. An Of the members
~,cr, present. namely. Commodore row
an Cautain Mccormick. civil Ensil'c'
PR, lieutenant Fletcher and lAeuteh-
ant chamlcrs. recorder. Before proco,u-
inc with the work OF Oigdhlzauo,'' ''e
members of the board called upon AV'"ie
Secrctnry Roosevelt and had long u'iN
with lin respecting the Undertaking W
fore him. ,,.,. ,.,o,,s
Tho Acting Secretary expressed MS views
49, 60 the Intention of Congress and the
hoard was ready for work AFTER rum
had been secured.
COST OF BUILDING.
The plau is to make a thorough lnNcsu-
cation of the question presented IN an
lis aspects. Not only with q view 10 'he
sscortafn n,.lt Of the cost OF building
sreat government factory, but after that
bas been accomplished propositions WIN
he invited for the sale Of complete pant
to the government
while this last information was not spe-
s-rcss i'm the law. II is deemed desirable
10 supplv il. in order 10 permit Of a con-
sideration OF the economic advantages OF
each plan. In the pursuit Of the hrst
branch Of the subject n VIII be necessary
for the board 10 travel good deal pos
sibly 10 Europe before the inquiry IS ehdeu'
Certainly II will be necessary for u 10
visit many points I'm this country where
II has been suggested that government
plant may be advantageousy eslao-
lished in order 10 ascertain AT hrst mana,
their relative merits and 70 learn which OF
them presents the Necessary conditions.
These as laid down for the guidance OF
the board are:
First accessibility 10 iron and coal and
routes of transportation so that the heavy
armor product may be readily laid down at
TIDE water where the naval vessels are
built
Next. weight must be given tho popula-
ton Of the place and its ability 10 fur
nish large stock Of skilled mechanics
for the government 10 draw upon in man
ming lis plant
SO far there has been no lack Of sugges-
tions on the part Of people who would like
70 locate. These have come from Birming-
ham. Ala. from Pennsylvania, from
Maryland and indeed from almost every
and coal.
one recommendation for n site in New
Jersey came from a woman. According
To Mr.. Roosevelt some Of the places mem
toned had only the scenery 10 recommend
them.
ARMOR NEEDED AT ONCE.
Inasmuch as the ship-builders have
failed TO respond favorably to the Gov
ernment's invitation TO submit bids with
in the $500 mark for supplying armor for
the ships now building Mr.. Roosevelt
called the especial attention Of the board
10 this subject. and one OF its first du-
Ties Is 10 devise some practicable plan for
the procurement Of this armor for the
three battle-ships, Illinois, Alabama, and
Wisconsin. within a reasonable period OF
time.
Acting Secretary Roosevelt has accept
ed the offer Of Cramp 10 furnish dag
onai armor for the Alabama. and this
insures the vessels against delay in con-
sequence.
Regret IS expressed that the contractors
who are building the two other vessels
have not as yet made similar propo-
sltion as to their ships hut II such
proposition Is not forthcoming soon. Mr..
Roosevelt will direct the Construction
Bureau to Immediately prepare plans for
proceeding with the work on these ships
as we'll as possible in the absence of the
diagonal armor.
Cramps offer is TO furnish four Of the
plates that are used as bulkheads in
the interior Of the ships. weighing about
thirty tons, and this he agrees TO do at
the price Of $500 per ton. set by Con-
gress for which Acting Secretary Roose-
welt has officially thanked him.