Evening star., 1899-05-31
NO BIDS FOR ARM0R
ManufacturerssDecline to Make 1t at
the Price Fixed by Congress.
WILL NOT CAUSE SERIOUS DELAY
What the Department Will Do in
the Matter.
SHIPS TO BE PROTECTED

Naval circles were keenly Interested to-
day In the opening of bids for the large
quantity Of armor for the battle ships
monitors and armored cruisers authorized
by Congress, which had been set for noon
at the office of the Secretary of the Navy.
At that hour number of the leading naval
officials and heads of large steel and iron
concerns assembled to learn the results.
These proved entirely disappointing to the
officials, Is it was found that the two lead
ing armor companies-the Bethlehem Iron
Company and the Carnegie Steel Company
had refused to''bid, on the ground that
the armor could not be furnished at the
prices fixed, while the only actual bid SUBJ
mitted was that of Burnstine Bros, of
San Francisco, at a price above that fixed
by Congress, and on condition that delivery
was to begin five years hence. Both the
Carnegie and Bethlehem companies sub
mftted statements showing why they had
declined to bid. The letter of the Carnegie
Company Is as follows:
THE CARNEGIE COMPANY, LTD.
Referring to your advertisements etc,
inviting proposals for about 24,0D tons of
amor plate and aDpurtenances, We regret to
INFORM you that, owing to the conditions in
reference to ballistic requirements, Stipu-
lated in the circular, in order to fulfill
which, would necessitate the armor being
manufactured under the latest Krupp sys-
tenn, thereby entaiing a much increased
tender under the limiting price per ton
set forth in the proposal. We ara quite
"lliing, however to furnish all or any part
OF this arn1or under the same conditions
ana prices governing our present contracts
FOR the armor of the Wisconsin and Illi-
nois: Very respectfully,
THE CARNEGIE STEEL COMPANY
Limited, by C. NJ. Schwab, President"
hnl prly-r 11yrtc 1atf cat gr
part:
We regret that owing to the great Sc
verify of the ballstic tests, which necessi-
tates the employment of a Kruppized pro-
cess, 1t Is impossible for us to furnish the
armor at the prices stipulated by Congress
as the maximum that can be paid We
are prepared. to furnish all or any part
of this armor DIT the same price and un-
der the same conditions as the armor which
we are now making for the Illinois and
Alabama. -
THE BETHLEHEM IRON COMPANY
by Robert lI4inderman, President"
Both PBsdsut Schwab of the Carnegie
and observation-disclosures of the Bethle-
hem company'were present, and exchanged
some good natured badgering with Rear
Admiral O Neilf, chief Of the ordnance bu-
reau, and the other ordnance officials pres
ent over the lack of competition.
The letter of Burnstine Bros. was as
follows:
We can furrish the Navy Department
tised in your circular Of March - for $4f,0
per ton. The above bid is for homogeneous
armor plate of steel, and to conform with
the Navy Department balhstic tests. The
first delivery to begin not later than Janu-
ary l, 1904" ii ~ 81.
The Burnstine Bros. have not previously
figured in armor contracts, and the ord.
fhap nsr9r not able t,ts to 5Hage of
furnishing the aarmor FIVE years hence were
sufficient to dispose of this one bid.
Can Only Appeal to Congress-.
+ Admiral O'Neill said after the bidding
closed: The result simply indicates that
while this advertisement has been before
the country for weeks and all the steel
manufacturers We're aware Of it and had
time to think it over, one was willing
to undertake the manufacture of the armor
required at the limit set by Congress- 1t
remains for the department to appeal to
Congress at the hext session. and present
all the information bearing on the subject.
in the h2lee that adequate provision will
be made" AZ
Admiral t NeflT said that while the result
was a disappointment, yet it would not
have the serious effect of delaying work on
the Ships for the reason that the arrlor
makers have about all they can do until
next spring, and by that time the ma tier
can be brought to the attention OF IN
gress.
rhe ships for which the armor Is required
are thirteen in number. viz: Six battle
ships, three armored cruisers and four mon
Hors. These are divided into two classes
the first heing authorized by Congress two
years ago, viz. The battle ships Maine
Ohio and Missouri. and the monitors Ar
kansas, Conn cticut, Florida and Wyoming
In this first class the limit of cost fixed by
Congress was S4O0, and the amount called
for was 10000 tons.
The second class constitutes the armored
ships authorized by the last Congress, viz :
Battle ships Pennsylvania, New Jersey and
Georgia; armored cruisers West Virginia
Nebraska and California. In this class the
limit of cost fixed by Congress was 5000 pc.
ton. and the amount called for was l4,OOO
tons.
The arrnor for the battle ships Was to
have thickness of - inches for the sides
inches for casemates, 8 to u inchas FOR
oarDettes, II and u inches for turrets and
10 inches for coming towers. The water
line belt for the monitors was to be II
inches thick. The amount allowed by Con-
gress includes ell royalties and other
charges.
DALLAS CHAMBERS nEAn