The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-08-11
BIDS ARE OPENED
FOR ARll0R PLATE
MidvaIe Steel Company Widely I'm
derbid The Carnagie and Beth
!ehem Companies.
(Rr Associated Press

WASHINGTON, August 10.-Bids for
the armor for the eight battleships, six
armored cruisers and three protected
cruisers authorized by the last two ses-
sions of Congress, were opened at the
Navy Department to-day. There We're but
three bidders
The armor advertised for aggregates 35,-
950 tons and constitutes the largest Item OF
Its character ever opened 10 competition
by the Navy Department. The Carnegie
and Bethlehem Steel Companies, which
have heretofore nlonopolizeG the produc-
ton of arnlor plate for the use of the
Government had a rival to-day in the
Midyale Steel Company, of Midvale, Pa.
THE BIDS.
The Bethlehem and Carnegie Companies
each bid for only half the arnlor to be
furnished and their bids We're identical in
amount. terms OF delivery and other fea-
lures. The Midvale Company bid for the
entire amount Of arnor at a price con-
siderably below that Of the other compan-
les and also includes in their bid q slid
ing upward scale for lesser amounts than
the total aggregate. with the condition,
however, that the bid should not be con-
sidered unless 10000 tons or more should
be awarded 10 them.
The bids by the Carnegie and Bethle-
hem Companies are each for l.. 900 tons of
face hardened arnor of class a. that IS
armor for battieShipS and arn0red cruis
ers of five inches or more in thickness at
s445 per ton, exclusive Of q royalty Of So
per ton, making IN aggregate of cost to
the Government CT S1,350,000 for 1850 tons
of armor, this class.
On the class p armor for the battle
ships and arnored cruisers, which is face
hardened armor, of less than five inches
in thickness, and OF which $500 tons are
to be furnished, each bid al the rate of
S400 per ton, exclusive of a royalty
amounting to S11.20 per ton. making an
aggregate bid Of sl,562.56o for this class
of armor.
For class C armor, which includes the
diagonal armor bulkhead plates. etc. not
face hardened. of which 1850 tons are to
be furnished, the bid also was $500 in each
instance. or an aggregate Of S46o,Glo for the
armor of this class.
Each company explained that its bid
must be considered as whole. and If
awarded the contract under it, krupp ar
NOR would be furnished
The bid of the Midvaie Steel Company
was flat bid 10 furnish the total of S1S,-
SIS. .000 with no royalty charge TO the Gov
ernment-
CONDITIONS LAID DOWN.
In tfle letters of transm;ttal that ac-
companied the bids of both the Bethlehem
and Carnegie Companies It was stated that
the Navy Departments conditions as laid
down in the advertisement We're mot ap-
p,icahle 10 the production of krupp ar
NOR, and that the bidders should expect
.such reasonable notifications of the
Departments conditions as would be nee
essary.'
This means that the companies will not
allow The naval officers detailed on in
snectson duty 10 watch the manufa cture
of the Krupp plates through the entire
nrocess. The companies claim that this
was among ;he conditions on which the
secre. of the process was purchased
abroad.
No action VIII be taken upon to-day's
bids until the return Of Secretarys Long,
when ha will decide whether he will ac-
cent them or pursue the alternative course
OF erecthac Government armor plant