The age-herald., 1897-12-02
THE NAVAL BOARD MAKES ITS REPORT On the Important Subject of Armor Plate Plant. ESTIMATES OF ITS COST Plant of Six Thousand Tons Capacity is Set Down at $S,75O,OOO. WHAT THE PLANT CONSISTS OF One of the Most Important Items in
 
 the Entire Report. NO SUGGESTION AS TO LOCATION MADE Requests For Bids on Construction Will Be Made, Which, With the Report Will
 Be Sent to Congress For
 Its Deliberatlon.
One of the Most Important Items in
 the Entire Report.
NO SUGGESTION AS TO LOCATION MADE

Washington, Dec. 1.-The naval board appointed by the authority of congress to ascertain the cost of an armor plant Howell to Secretary Long today. The report makes a voluminous document treaIting every detail of the process of armor making essential to the cost of production. The cost of "a plant suitable for the making of naval armor at the rate of about 5000 tons per annum which is fully equal TO the capacity of both of the existing armor plate plants, is set down at about $3, 900. No rec ommeTda ton is made as ito the location of the plant, bug the board has accumu- lated much information as to the merits of many eligible locations, which may be had by congress if called for by it.
 To Invite Bids For Construction
 secr.tary Long will now proceed inn mediately ito take the next step to carry out the wishes of congress, namely, in- vdte proposals by advertisem=n for building such a plant as designed for the service of the governme nit.
 It was first the intention ito withhold the rsport from congress until he should
 
 It. but he has now determined to send the report as soon as congress assem- bles, and, m anwhile, put ou5 the adver- tisements and notify congress of their results batter.
 The armor factory board consists of Commodore Howell, Capt. Mccormick, Civil Engineer Endicoltt, Chief Engineer Perry and Lieut. Fletcher. Summing up ehe practicabiity, necessities, advant- ages and disadvantages of the proposed factory, it says:
 What the Board Says
 "In accordance with your views that congress would wish from the board a statement in fhe rough of the practica- bllity of putting up an armor plant we respectfully submit the following con- alterations:
 ''1. An armor factory comprises es- sentianlEy a collection of special fur naces, heavy machine tools and appn- ances that are not needed in any other class of work, and class of labor spe- cially skilled in the business.
 ''2. A government armor factory not connected With an establishment en- gagged in either branches of the steel in- dustry would depend for its success and economic administration upon con- stant demand for an output nearly ap- preaching dts full capacity.
 "3. If the government should establish an armor factory, the sufficient and con- siderate maintenance of the work of that factory would necessarily depend upon a constant yearly appropriation for sfdps to be provided with armor, and the ar mor produced at any time must be spe- diaily designed for and fitted to those ships Any failure to appropriate for those ships tin any one year would re- quire a cessation of work and a. laying off indefinitely of the skilled experts and laborers that had been trained to this industry. A resumption of work att a later peifod would require the training at a considerable expense of new set of men. Tn lthe meantime the progress of the art would perhaps have been such that difficult and radical changes would be required under which ingenious work might have been gradually and easily made"
 Some Estimates
 Then follows the cost, exclusive of land, of a plant capable of making and furnishing ready for the installment on DOarQ snip or b,UUU tons per year or n-ckel steel face hard med, refcIrgsd armor. AS the size of the largest single armor plate to be produced fixed the size and number of men the~ furnaces required and the size and forging and bending presses which are abour the most ex enstve part of the plant, and as the me- ing furnaces for plates thus detrminsd e capable of producing much greater quantity of ar nor than herein required. 1t follows that the cost of a plant of increased or d. unfinished capacity will not be in direct proportion to the great possible output but would be In proportion to the greater or less number of furnaces and machines to be supplied.
 These estimates are made without ex- act knowledge of the local conditions of the site that may be selected. .Nofreight is Included in the estimates The foun- dations of the building are such as to secure stability and permanence on good hard pan or gravel only. Nothing has been included for grading or for excayat-