The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-16
Offcial Statement by the Navy De-
partment I'm Regard to the Agree
ment Effected Yesterday.
$4,000 TONS OF PLATE NEEDED
FOR THE SEVENTEEN WAR VESSELS
IN COURSE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Annual Report of General Burlington
Chief of the Ordnance Bureau
Population of Two States.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15.-Secretary Long
long controversy over the price of armor
plate for naval vessels and an agreement
with the Carnegie and Bethlehem Com
psnies for Krupp armor at $40 ton, with
the possible addition of royalty fees, max
ing the maximum price S45552 n ton- The
amount of armor involved is the largest
ever placed at one time by the government,
and is said to equal all the armor pur-
chased by this government UP to 1896. 1t
covers the armor for seventeen ships now
in various stages of construction, including
eight battleships, six armored cruisers and
three protected cruisers. The following of
fetal statement was given out concern
ing the agreement:
1.-The Navy Department has come to an
agreement with the Carnegie and Bethle-
hem Companies for Krupp armor of the
first class amounting to 24,950 tons for $42O
a ton. The Krupp process involves the
Harvey patent, the validity of which is
row under consideration by the courts
and it is further agreed that the govern
Tent will assume in addition any liability
for the Krupp process not exceeding $2i52
a ton for Krupp royalty, and not exceed
ing the United States license fee of sll-2O
for Harvey royalty. The maximum price
to the government is therefore A55.52 ton,
subject to diminution in case of any reduc-
ton in the foregoing royalties"
The bid of these companies for this class
of armor was $500, and the price originally
asked was $545 The Mdyale company
some time ago withdrew their bid. but
they would have been unable, in any event,
TO furnish armor in due season for the
Maine class of battleships. Had they not
withdrawn their bid it is probable that
some arrangement might have been made
for the distribution among the three COM
panies of the manufacture of the armor
other than that of the Maine class. Their
bid, however, was of value in enabling the
department to secure the above large re-
duction.
Admiral ONeil, chief of the Bureau of
Ordnance, said of the result: THE agree
ment is most satisfactory. The terms are
reduced pot only to reasonable point.
but more than reasonable We ge. armor
cheaper than any other country in the
world. 1t is due not only to Secretary
Longs able management of the matter,
but also TO the fact that the companies
met him in very reasonable spirit. 1t is
only just that this should be understood"
The armor contract covers not only the
24950 tons specified in the official state
ment but also some TO- 900 tons of armor of
the second and third class, which has not
been in controversy, but has been depend
ent upon the disposal of the first-class
armor. The entire amount, approximate
~ IS, 900 tons, is now made available. New
specifications have been prepared by the
Navy Department showing in detail the
tests. times of delivery. etc. There Is some
change in the classification, but in the
main features the specifications are as
they were when the last bids were made.
xxx
The report of General Burlington, chief of
the Bureau of Ordnance, has been made
tn tn secretary of war. AS some of the
most Interesting portions of the report
dealing with disputed points between the
Ordnance Bureau and the Board of Ord
nance and Fortifcations are contained in
appendices which have not yet been made
public the report is not as interesting as
expected. Among these features is that
OF field guns, which is dismissed with a
paragraph stating that the facts can be
reau was about to let the contracts for
two hundred field guns when the recon-
mendation of the Board of Ordnance and
Fortifcations was approved, holding UP
action for some months. 1t is understood
that in field ordnance an agent of the gov
eminent has obtained what he alleges is
the secret of the French field gun, and
which. 1t is proposed. shall be tested by
this government. Another controversy is
that relating to the disappearing gun car
riages, whose further manufacture has
been decided against by the Board of Ord
nance and Notifications. General Buff
fngton discusses the history of this car
riage, showing that ii was ordered by the
Endicott board and the secretary of war.
There has been a great deal of discus
sion over the so-called 'pom-p POM guns.
one-pounders. They have been used in the
South African war, but no official opinion
has been received regarding them. Two
batteries of six guns each have been
ordered, and as soon as completed will he
sent to the Philippines. Many rapid-fre
seacoast guns are mounting. These con-
sist OF five and six-inch and fifteen-pound-
ers. The Driggs-Seabury Company has
delivered fifty-seven ffteen-pounders and
twenty six-pounders, but General Buff
fngton says that the failure OF the com
pany to deliver fifteen-poundcrs and car
riages under their contracts with the gov
eminent has caused serious delay. SIM
liar complaint is made about the Brown
segmental wire guns. and attention is in
vited TO an appendix for particulars.
The report says that heretofore there has
been little use for the mountain guns. but
on acquisitions from the Philippines all
the mountains guns on hand. together with
two six-gun batteries, were purchased and
sent TO Manila There was also demand