The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-27

The annual report of the Secretary of
the Navy is an interesting document in
that many important recommendations are
made and an exhaustive review of the
operations of the navy is given. The fea-
lures of the report are the recommends
lions that the navy be increased by two
battleships, two armored cruisers, six
light draft gunboats, three Golfers of A.
500 tons displacement, one repair ship of
$500 tons, and one transport of 1000 tons.
Under the head of armor plate the state
ment is officially made that the price de-
cided upol is $500 per ton. OF the amount
hitherto contracted for the manufacturers
have delivered 1859 tons. leaving 1,4S7
tons to be manufactured.
Bids for Armor Plate.
The chapter on the sheatbnng gives an
insight into what has caused many rumors
and is as follows:
THE act of June Z. 1900 authorized the
tract armor Of the best quality for any
or all of the vessels above referred to.
provided such contracts can be made at
d
able and equitable; but in case he is un-
able to make contracts for armor Under
the above conditions he is hereby author
lied and directed to procure a site .or
and to erect thereon a factory for the
manufacture OF armor. and the sum of
$4,000 coo is hereby appropriated toward
the erection of said factory.
'On June is last the Department gave
notice throughout the country. by public
L
August 10. 1900, for opening them. On that
date they were publicly opened ut the
Department. There were three bidders
for armor, and two for armor boltS and
nuts.
THE bids for armor were the Carnegie
Steel Company, Limited, of Pittsburg, Pa;
the Bethlehem Steel Company. of South
Bethlehem, Pa. and the Midyale Steel
Company. Of Philadelphia. Pa.
1.-THE first two companies each bid the
same, with the stipulation that their bids
were for one-half the total quantity called
for. and were not TO be considered for any
less quantity, deliveries to commence in
six months.
The Midvaie Steel Company made
sliding scale of bids for varying quanti-
ties, qualifying their bids with a state
ment that none was to be considered
unless the company received an order for
20 900 tons. deliveries to commence in
twenty-six months.
The armor first required-n@mely, 1850
tons for Inc Maine class of battleships
now under orstructior-manifestly could
not be procured from the Midvale Steel
Company, as it has no aTmor plant, and
the Department could not wait twenty-six
months for first deliveries. which was
probably sooner than they could have been
made. While, therefore. the Midvaie Steel
Company was the lowest bidder. its bid
could not be awaited of with respect TO
the arn.or required for the Maine class.
Its bid was, however, practicable for
armor other than that thus required, but
If an award TO that company were made
the bids of the Carnegie and Bethlehem
companies would necessarily. under the
conditions accompanying them, be lost TO
the Department.
Hence the only way TO obtain armor for
the Maine class. under the bids submit
ted, was to make an award of all the
armor to the Carnegie and Bethlehem
companies, which were the highest bidders
or to give it all TO the Midvale Company
and wait until the latter company could
produce it, Neither of these alternatives
was expedient, and consequently all the
bids were rejected.
MidyaIe Company withdraw.
Notwithstanding these facts, the De-
par.ment, in view of the good standing
OF the Midvale Steel Company and he fact
that il was the lowest bidder, WAS dis
posed to award to 1t some of the armor
not required for a considerable time, if
satisfactory arrangements could be made
with 1t as to quantity and price, and with
the other bidders as TO supplying the
l.. a
for conference of the three companies
with the Department, to take place Oc-
tober 2. They all announced their inten-
ton to be present. On the day appointed,
however, no representatives of the Mid
vale Steel Company appeared. but COM
munication was received from its attor-
neys stating that the company, which had
after the rejection of its bid filed an APP
peal insisting on an award, withdrew its
appeal and did not desire to be further
considered in connection with the matter.
Representatives of the Carnegie and Beth
lehem companies appeared. and. they being
the only bidders remaining In the field,
negotiations were opened with them.
after prolonged negotiations in which
the services of the Chief of the Bureau of
Ordnance have been of the greatest value,
and in which these companies met the
Department in a spirit of reasonable ad-
tustment, an agreement has been made
with them, and now awaits signature, for