The age-herald., 1899-09-01
QUESTION OF ARMoR PLATE
Congress huSt Decide on the Price to
 Be Paid.
SHIPS NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Never Before Has There Been So Large an Amount Expended in One Year for the Building
 of War Vessels

Washington, August 31.-Trhe secretary of the requirements of the naval service next year shall be submitted by tomorrow. September l. thus giving him three months for eo-ordinating them for submission to congress Accordingly the several naval bureaus have been active of late prepar- ing their final figures, and all the esti- mates, with the exception of those relat- ing to armor and ordnance, will be in hand tomorrow. They show in general, O. con- siderable Increase all along the line, ow- ing to tine rapid development of the navy.
 The unprecedented amount of naval ship building now in progress and the enlarged demands growing out of the war and the acquisition of new territory. The largest item is $13.OO0,0oO under the head of ''in- crease of the navy" which is $5,O00,0 ,0OC more than any previous estimate under this head. It is due to the unusual num- Der of warships now in course of con struction. aggregating ifty-four in all classes, a total much in excess of the number under construction at any previous time in the history of the navy.
 Vessels Now Building
 
 These include eleven battleships, four monitors. three armored cruisers, six pro- tected cruisers and destroyers and torpedo boats and several miscellaneous craft, submarine boats, etc. The item of "ln- crease of the navy covers the work al- ready authorized and now In course of construction.
 Admiral Melville will make estimates for new engineering plants, equipment, tools buildings, etc., at Norfolk, Port Royal and Port Orchard and Mare Island. The plans are old and the requirements now made on them induce the chief engineer to recoM- mend the most modern appliances and such remodeling of buildings as will bring them up to date.
 Admiral Endicott, chief of the bureau of yards and docks, will recommend two more large dry docks on the Atlantic seaboard, one at New York and the other at Norfolk. The New York dock will take the place of tine unsatisfactory timber docks. Both docks will be of granite and concrete, and accommodate the largest warships The estimate wifi be about a,2500Oo each. Arms and Ordnance Estimate
 Admiral O'Nei1ls estimate on armor and ordnance will be held until his return next Monday, as he has been giving much per sOHdi attention tO tHlS important Item. The price of armor plate will have to be settled by congress, and large quantity of armor authorized. The armor concerns refused to bid on the $500 fixed as the limit of cost by the last congress, so that further legis- lation is necessary in order to provide for the many ships now nearing completion. It is understood that Admiral O'Neill will recommend no stated figure, but will sub init a mass of information on the cost of armor, and will direct his main efforts to securing the best class. Aside from the bureaus estimates, the secretary of the navy will prepare such estimates as he deems expedient for new ships. There Is no intimation thus far as to what new ships will be recommended, but the impression prevails in well-informed naval circles that the secretary will confine himself to three six thousand-ton protected cruisers, to cost about $1, ,25O, 900 each.