The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-28
TRUST IN SHIPS.
Vast Plant to Be Established In
New York.
Andrew Carnegie VIII Head the
Enterprise.
MILLIONS INVOLVED.
Company Will Control Building
Of War Vessels.
Armor Plate Will Be From
Krupp Process.

New York, Sept 2s-Sharply follow
ing the confirmation of the news that
gigantic steel trust has been formed in
| in this country comes the announce
ment that a ship building plant on
vast scale-a scale never attempted
hitherto, or even dreamed of as among
the possibilities, is to be established in
this port, with Andrew Carnegie as it's
active head.
Even now it is said that conferences
are being held daily in Pittsburg by the
representatives of the various capital
lists who will be interested with Carne-
gle in this great undertaking.
One secret of the determination to es-
tablish the plant here now is said to
be the fact that Andrew Carnegie has
obtained the right to use the Kruppized
steel armor, armor that has been SUBJ
jected to the Krupp process-which rem
ders six-inch armor more impregnable
than seventeen-inch armor under the old
processes.
The steel trust, born a few weeks ago
with a capital Of $500 900, 900 and chris
tened the Federal Steel company, will
control the iron output of this country
from the moment the iron ore leaves the
mines until it leaves the steel works.
Inc Carnegie syndicate expects to con-
troll the ship building of this henis-
phere, besides the construction of many
of the warships which the maritime
powers of Europe have in contempla,-
ton.
The amount of capital involved in the
plan-fOr the details are by no means
completes not known now, but it is
SaIe TO say that it will go over the
500 ZOO, 900 mark. The location of the
plant is not yet decided upon, but it will
probably be on the North river, in Jer-
sey City 1t is entirely within the range
OF possibility that the plant will be at
Communipaw
If so it will be necessary to dig wide
and deep channels leading from the
ship channel in the upper bays to the
plant. That Andrew Carnegie has al
ways held that a ship yard at this port
would be paying enterprise has been
no secret. In a letter from his, printed
in the Iron and Trade Review early in
March last, he urged the advisa biIity of
snip building plant at this port and as
a reason for his faith in such an enter
prise he pointed out in a logical and
convincing way the low price of steel
here as compared with the price that
English and German ship builders have
to pay for it Plates that could be
bought for $22 and $23 in New York.
! he said, would cost nearly $50 in GIas-
gov. Other prices, he said, were in
proportion and all the woodwork of
ships, he declared was cheaper in
America than in Europe
Whether the arrangements for the use
IN this country of the Krupp process Of
treating steel was completed is not
known, but it is shrewdly supposed that
it was, and that Mr.. Carnegie returned
to the United States with very clear
IDEAS on the subject of the armor plate
to be used in future on American war
ships. The steel trust had not taken
form then. 1t was not even spoken of
in public. But the steel trust became
an established fact. The Carnegie Steel
and Iron works was mentioned as one
of the five great concerns that had con-
solidated, although the Carnegie cons
Germ appeared modestly at the bottom
of the list. The others were the E.lgin
Joliet and Eastern railroad the Min
nesota Iron company, the Illinois Steel
company and the Johnson company.
When it is known that these compa-
mics control the iron output of the
northwest the significance of the trust
and its possible connection with the
plan to form gigantic ship building
plant at New York may be guessed
That the Cramps are interested in the
plan is surmised by some, and by 9TH
ers it is thought that the plan involves
opposition to the Cramps. The report
last May that the Cramps were about to
form an amalgamation with the Wicker
Sons and Maxim of Barrow-fn- F'urness
England, was given as a possible reason
for opposing the Cramps in the new deal
for a ship yard here.