New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-02
THE ARMOR BOARD REPORTS
1MpRAcr1cAB1LITY OF GOVERNMENT
PLANT CONTINGENCY SHOWN

srnoxo DIRECTIONS TO THE SCHEME.
inv TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIDUHE]
x,..,,,g,on Dec Tine impracticaDhi'S "
Federal arnor factory ASIDE rom Any - 49, &C.
no,,cv "a 10 Government ownership O. "-.' go -
tsh,shment IS convncinSly demonstrate ~ ~. ~.
haus,lve report Of The Narn' iSoa! ...aI doys
.Mr.,a,v ,oreshadowed in The Tribune seFerH' c"ss
nv, poard which was carefully selected .io'
- ., CHILLED naval experts in tAeir various '"
INV ashore consisted of Commodore 'o,',
Howell president: Captain Alexa'oc, =" ~n,.,
rnick Civi. Engineer Mordecai !. E''"'.or -, =
r>r,,rser lanes 4 Perry and lAeutehant -
rn..Aor &C members and Lieutenant Wash"'s''
csu.hars =. ,ocorde- For four monihs eve!
mil n, The proiec; has been carefuly S'"'u ,,tr,
Ing specialists have been freely co'sui''' .rn,cd
works thoroughly inspected. ana an a'"yS 70
,,Ia amount OF pains,akng labor accohP''sn.r ,'u
,.,, IN mo completion o. working plans WIN i"'
,oa..,ors fer the essential features OF d PAM
.rshle % making armor for two bat'Ie-s"p' A
ally. ,.,.a states might
nan, 70 build five batte-ships In some s'"''' ,.
,ha; in the near future extremely ialse d" '"o' 49,,
nigh, no reouired but the necessity ior the i'oS'
,,cd economy was impressed upon its members. "o
with the greatest reluctance suppfes'cu me- 60
able but costly features In SPIKE o. al ' -,
however the total cost could not he orousn. 49,
S,747a121l OF which a lltle less thah si'cVV."V " -
hrua,rg. and foundations. and little less IMAM
"a no 900 IS necessary for the MACHINERY i"''
and similar essentials. An enort IS 70 De pionp'',
made 20 have these closely shaven estimates 'e'ieu
nv actual competitive BIDS. for when ad'eI uSeie',
v,,n no issued in few days. The iinproDaoih'y u
..o.. is Indicated BY the efforts OF the Boaro 10
secure estimates from Of the largest 'irms IN
England for some o. the heaviest toois' "'c oouu
NOT be obtained In this country. Ih's nr'n pi'eo
chat II preferred 10 defer quoting prices until con.
sress should decide TO establish the arnor factory
CHIEF OBJECTION TO THE PLAN.
Tho
was inserted apparently after the document was
dominated 1t Is embraced in three statements. oe'
v,sed TO inform Congress Of the Boards opinion as
10 the feasibility Of erecting an armor plant. as foi-
lows: ,
Tristan armor factory comprises collection OF
snecia furnaces heavy machine tools and appliances
that no, needed In any o;hsr class OF VOTE ana
second-A Government armor factory not connect
ed with establishment engaged IN other branches
~ the steel Industry would depend for Its success
and economic administration upon constant ue-
mand for output nearly approaching the iui' ca
ThIrd-If the Government should establish an
armor factory the &c ha i W"ud
sary depend upon constant yearly appIoirla lon
armor produced at any time must be specially de,
signed for and fitted 10 these ships Any ialIure
70 the Cessation Of work and the laying off H.
definitely Of the skilled experts and aborers that
Of work at a later period would require the train
ing at considerable expense OF new sc, o. nv vn
perhaps have been such that dif1cult and radlca
Changes would be required. which under continuouus
working might have been gradually and easily
made.
The Board further says In Its report:
The following estimates are for the cost, excu;
s,ye of the land Of plant capable OF making ana
furnishing ready for the instalment on ooara snip
reforged armor. AS the size OF the isrges, sis,s
armor-plate to be produced hxes the SIZE ate
number Of melting furnaces required ana me s1ze
Of the forging and bending presses WIEN ara "a
about the most expensive part or the plant anu
as the melting furnaces and presses thus deteI-
mined are capable Of producing a mucn ereater
nmanti,y OF arrnor than herein required, II ioIows
that the cost OF plant Of increased or olnh!s.su
caoacity viii not be in direct proportion 10 'ie
pyearer or less output but will be IN propOr.o ~
shs greater or less number OF cemenung furnaces
and machine tools supplied ,.,. ..oo, Lrovl
.dva az the local conditions of the site that me-
he selected No freight Is included ana the iouua
,ions for buildings and tools are or sunclelt ucP
10 secure stability and permanence on eoou I'd
nan or gravel only Nothing has been included LOT
GRANTING or for excavarnG eXcept so lar ~ IieSs,
ssrv for the proper construction OF the pant ohoulu
"a. site selected be of such a character as 70 ~.
onire smiling or deeper foundations than her,i,
Tfon.emnlated tho cost may be increased. fNe
ner cen. has been allowed, however Tor erecIlI.
and engineering expenses and IL Is tnoueHt ma
& ner con, additional allowance would cover al.
contngencies under the worst conditions that may
be encountered