The evening times., 1899-03-15
ARMoR FOR WARsHIPs.
Government VIII Soon Invite Pro-
posaIs From the Manufacturers.

posals From the Manufacturers.
The announcement was made at the Navy
Department today that the armor manufac-
turers of the country are to be given an
opportunity Of bidding on the largest guam
tity of armor plate ever called for by the
Government, although Congress has plac-
ed a limit of price which may prevent the
navy from securing the highest type OF
plates For the three battleships and four
monitors authorized last summer, $4,000
tons are required, the estimate being based
ON the weight of the Harvey plates neces-
Sary for the protection OF vessels having
the displacement of the ships In question
At no time in the development OF the
navy has the Government ever asked for
bids for supplying such an immense guam
tity of armor plate, and until three years
ago the entire amount purchased did not
equal that now needed for the new ship
building programme. While Captain
O'Neill, the naval ordnance expert, has
little hope that the owners of the krupp
process will agree to furnish armor for
the limit of cost now allowed he intends
leaving the question whether the Harvey
plates shall be purchased, or none at all,
to the decision of the Secretary after the
proposals OF the bidders have been re-
ceived and considered.
There is some uncertainty as to the time
when armor will be required for the yes
sells, and to learn when the shipbuilders
expect to have the vessels so advanced that
the protection must be installed circular
letter is to be ADDRESSED to the builders of
the Ohio. Missouri, and Maine asking when
they wish the plates delivered. On receipt
of their responses advertisements viii be
issued calling for proposals to furnish the
Government with 5000 tons of armor,
to be delivered in specified quantities in
certain fixed periods at the three yards
where the battleships are building. II the
bids show a considerable reduction In the
price heretofore paid for the Harvey plates,
1t will probably be recommended that the
navy purchase these plates rather than
wait for further Congressional action.
Harvey armor is now being supplied at
$i00 ton for battleships under construc-
tion. and both the Carnegie and Bethlehem
companies have made propositions to sup
ply the Krupp plates at S545, or $50 less a
ton than the Cramps are paying for that
which is to protect the sides of the Russian
battleship and armored cruiser building at
their yard. If the new bids indicate that
these firms are willing to reduce their price
10 $500 a ton, it is understood the Ord
nance Bureau Will urge that no contracts
be made for Harvey armor and that Con-
gress again be asked TO authorize the pay
ment of the additional cost.
An estimate made for the saving in
weight. owing to the superiority of the
krupp over the Harvey armor, and the fact
that considerably less of the former would
be required than the latter to give greater
protection. shows that on the whole the
krupp armor would be little more ex-
pensive and the cost of protecting each
battIeship- and monitor with il very little
more than would be paid for the Harvey.
1t is not anticipated when bids are
opened that either firm will show any in
tention of departing from its offer of S545
a ton for krupp plate. Between a gov
ernment armor factory and Harvey plates,
however. the ordnance experts prefer the
latter. although it is claimed 10 be at least
% per cent inferior to the Krupp. These
officers assert that if the new ships are
protected with the Harvey plates they will
not equal in offensive or defensive strength
the battleship now building in this coun-
try fer Russia and the United States will
be the only frst-class nation not purchas-
ing the best armor plate that can be Sc
cured.
A blow has been struck at the construc-
tion corps of the navy in rhe provision of
the Personnel bill. which limits the
strength to forty officers. Heretofore no
limit has been placed on the number that
might be appointed At present there are
thirty-six officers in service and nine naval
cadets taking the special course of in
struction in naval architecture at the Naval
Academy.