Evening star., 1900-08-10
ARMOR PLATE ABIDS.
Only Three Proposals Received at the
Department.
Two TEE SAME IN ALL RESPECTS
The MidvaIe Steel Company Now
Competitor.
DIFFERENT CONDITION S

D1 F E Mt CONDIT1ON n S
Bids for the armor for the eight battle
ships, six armored cruisers and three pro-
tected cruisers authorized by the last two
sessions of Congress were opened at the
Navy Department today. The armor ad-
vertised for aggregates $3.50 tons and con-
stitutes the largest stake of its character
ever opened to competition. The Carnegie
and Bethlehem Steel companies, which have
heretofore monopolzed the production of
armor plate for the use Of the government,
had rival today in the Midvale Steel
Company of Midvale, Pa. These three COM
panies were the only bidders for armor
plate, but there were two minor bidders
for the bolts and nuts amounting to GOO
tons, which are to be furnished in connec-
ton with the armor plate.
The Bids Presented.
The Bethlehem and Carnegie companies
each bid for only half the armor to be
furnished and their bids were identical in
amount, terms of delivery and other fea-
lures. The Midvale Company bid for the
entire amount of armor at price consid-
erably below that of the other two COM
panies, and also included in their bid a
sliding upward scale for lesser amounts
than the total aggregate, with the condt-
ton, however. that the bid should not be
considered unless 10000 tons or more should
be awarded to them. While their bid for
the aggregate amount is lower, the period
which must elapse before deliveries are to
begin is much longer, twenty-sfx months.
against six months, the time specified by
both Carnegie and Bethlehem companies.
This long period asked by the Midvale
Company before deliveries are to begin is
doubtless due to the fact that it would
have to construct a plant for the manufac-
ture of armor plate When 1t does begin de-
liveries. however. it agrees to deliver 500
| tons month as against 300 tons by each
of the other companies.
Carnegie and Bethlehem Companies.
The bids Of the Carnegie company and
Bethlehem companies are each for 1900
tons of face-hardened armor Of class A:
| that Is, armor for battle SHIPS and armored
cruisers of five inches or more in thickness,
at S445 per ton. exclusive of a royalty of
$45 per ton. making aggregate of cost to
the government of $7,35O. 600 on armor of
| that class. On class B armor for the bat
tleships and armored cruisers which is face
hardened armor of less than five inches in
| thickness and of which $500 tons are to be
furnished each bid at the rate of S4OO per
ton, exclusive of royalty, amountrN to
$11.2O per ton, making in all 81 .5G2, SOY for
that class of armor. For class c armor
which includes the diagonal armor. bulk
head plates, etc, not face hardened, of
which 1,150 tons are to be furnished, the
aggregate of S460, 600 for the armor of that
class The bid for 600 tons of bolts and
nuts was also $500 per ton in each instance
Each company explained that Its bid must
be considered a whole, and if awarded
a contract under 1t krupp armor would be
furnished.
The Midvale Steel Company.
The bid of the Midyale Steel Company
was fiat bid to furnish the total of 81, 600
tons Of class A armor at s43S ton, an ag-
gregate of $1357SOO0, with no royalty
charge to the government. The upward
scale for less than the aggregate amount is
as follows: Twenty-Five thousand tons at
$40 2o,OU tons at S4i2 1900 tons at S454
10000 tons at $466, 5000 tons at $500 2 800
tons at $500. The company makes a con-
ditional bid for class armor at the rate
of $3.50 per ton, provided 1t Is awarded % 600
tons or more of class A armor. and further
states that no award of less than 5000
tons will be considered. 1t makes fiat bid
of $521 per ton for the 600 tons of bolts
and nuts. The other two bidders for bolts
and nuts were ]. B. Kendall of this city, at
$500 per ton, and the Carnegie Steel Com
pany of Pittsburg, at $4I5 per ton.
While the Midvale Steel Company did not
specifically state in It's bid that it would
furnish Krupp armor, it is stated that the
armor furnished would be face-hardened
and capable Of standing ballistic and other
tests required by the department.
No Inspection of Krupp Armor.
In the letters of transmittal that accom-
panied the bids of both the Bethlehem and
Carnegie companies it was stated that the
Navy Departments conditions, laid down
In the advertisement, were mot applicable
to the production Of Krupp armor," and
that the bidders should expect such rea-
sonable notifications Of the departments S
conditions would be necessary
This means that the companies will not
allow the naval officers detailed on inspec-
ton duty to watch the manufacture of the
krupp plates through the entire process
The companies claim that this was among
the conditions on which the secret of the
process was purchased abroad.
The rates Of delivery named by the sew
eral bidders would make the Midvale COM
pany eight years in furnishing the armor
for which they bid, and the other two COM
panies would be five years each. As the
ships are under contract to be finished in
three years, and the government is under
obligation to furnish the armor to the
builders as they need 1t. this delay in armor
deliveries probably would give rise to nu-
merous claims for overtime on the par: OF
the ship builders.
The Law in the Case.
The law under which these bids were
called for, which was passed at the last
session Of Congress after bitter and mem
orable struggle over the whole question of
armor plate, authorizes the Secretary of
the Navy to contract for the armor of the
vessels which have heretofore been author
lied, and which were authorized in that
act. provided he could make contracts at d
price which, in his judgment, was reason
able and equitable. Previous acts for SEX
eral years had placed an upset prics on
armor which could not be exceeded but
no maximum price was fixed in the CUR
rent law. The Secretary. howevefsS was
empowered, in case he could not secAre ar
NOR at price deemed reasonable, to pro-
cure site and erect thereon a government
| armor plate plant For this purp1se. if
the Secretary should so decide Congress
appropriated s4000,000. No action will be
taken upon today's bids till the return of
Secretary Long. when he will be Obliged
to decide whether he will ACCEPT them or