The age-herald., 1900-06-19
NEW RIVAL FOR
 ARMOR PLATE TRUST

AoAi eAit AHiiSOSiI7iAd
 It is not intended that the armor plate trust. known as the Bethlehem and Car- negie Companies, with it's plants at Beth lehem and Homestead, shall any longer ar bitrarily fix the rates the government is to pay for the protection of it's fighting vessels. Philadelphia enterprise of the most substantial character has come to the rescue. The, Midvale Steel Works, at Nice town. will soon be in readiness to proceed with the manufacture of every class of the most improved armor plate for all classes of vessels.
 For a number of years the Midvale company have been extensive workers for the national government, supplying many hundred thousand dollars worth of east ings, shafting, fcrgings and the highest grade steel work for naval construction, to- gether with millions of dollars worth of projectiles and never has a complaint been made against their work They are alive to the necessities of the government and intend to make active efforts to supply all of its requirments in this direction.
 ''oihS HiphiiiS eSO iiiS toiupdIlN ed for special machinery and presses for the work of armor plate making. It has plant covering fifty-four acres and upon it several great buildings, known as the ar nor plate extension, have been erected. Nearly all the machinery is in position, and as soon as the oil tempering apparatus is completed the active making of projectile- resisting armor can go on. Should there be no contracts at once entered into for ar nor, the machinery can readily be employ ed for heavy forge work.
 The company has a secret process of har- dening the plate that it is believed will sur pass the Harveyized and Krupp work. Sample plates will be run out for test at the Indian Head proving grounds. Expe- rienced workers have been engaged for the new department, and the high reputation of the company for steel work is expected to be more than maintained. The capacity of the plant is intended to be almost equal to that of the Bethlehem and Homestead plants combined.
 It will cost the Midvale Company mill lions of dollars before the preparations un- der way for the manufacture of armor plate are completed. The concern intends that the government shall be provided with a quality of armor that is equally as good as the deck-piercing shells it turned out during the Spanish-American war, and which proved so destructive when Admiral Schley clashed with the Spanish fleet be- fore Santiago.
 Under the recent act of Congress Secre- tary of the Navy Long will have unlimited authority to contract for armor plate for any or all of the five battleships, six ar mored cruisers and six protected cruisers authorized by Congress, the naval bill hav- ing been so amended as to confer this dis cretionary power. Thrty-five thousand tons of armor plate will be needed for these vessels, costing approximately about ST. OOO0OO By the time the vessels are ready for the armor plates the Midvale Compa- ny will be in position to bid upon them, so that the government will be given the opportunity to get out of the power of the two firms which are now able to dictate their own prices.
 The manufacture of armor by the Mid vale Company means millions of dollars annually for the industrial classes of this city, The enterprise will not be confined 10 supplying armor plate to the United States but will enter into competition with for eign manufacturers. Russia buys out side of her own domain $20,000,000 worth of armor plate annually. Great Britain finds it profitable to go into the open markets and purchase from $2O,0OO000 to $30,0 100000 worth of armor each year.
 In the ordnance department of the plant the improved steel shell which pierced fourteen inches of solid armor plate at the Indian Head proving grounds several weeks ago were turned out This was the shell with the nose on it which surprised naval men all over the world because of its destructive character. The company has received an order for the manufacture of solid twelve and fourteen-inch deck-pierc ing shells and the ponderous lathes used in turning out these death-dealing ma chimes are being put in readiness for this heavy labor.
 President C. J. Harrah had a long con- ference yesterday at the Market Street National Bank with J. J. Sullivan, the vice president. The details of the new en- terprise, with all the probabilities, were carefully discussed
 With the machinery and physical con struction of the buildings, the company is said to have put over $3,000,oeo in the venture.