The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-08-14
BIDS FOR ARM0R PLATE
FOR THE SEVENTEEN NEW WARSHIPS
AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS
A RIVAL To THE OLD COMPANIES
The Midvale Steel Company Puts I'm a
Bid for h Entire Supply Below the
Figures of the Bethlehem and Car
Only Half the Quantity Required and
With Restrictions on the Government
as to Supervision OF Manufacturing

Washington, August 1o.-Bids for
the armor for the eight battleships.
six armored cruisers and three protect
ed cruisers authorized by the last two
sessions Of congress were opened at
the navy department today. There
Were but three bidders. The armor ad-
vertised for aggregates So, $50 tons and
constitutes the largest item OF its char
acter ever opened TO competition by the
navy department. The Carnegie and
Bethlehem Steel Companies which have
heretofore monopolized the production
OF armor plate for the use OF the gov
eminent had a rival today in the Mid
vale Steel Company of Midvale. Pa
The Bethlehem and Carnegie Com
panies each bid for only a the ar
NOR to be furnished and their bids were
identical in amount, terms Of delivery
and other features. The Midvale COM
pany bid for the entire amount OF ar
NOR at a price considerably below that
Of the other companies and also in
Guided IN their bids a sliding upward
scale for lesser amount than the to-
tai aggregate, with the condition, how
ever. that the bid should not be con-
sidered unless 10000 m or more should
be awarded TO them
The bids by the Carnegie and Beth
lehem Companies are each for 1900
tons of face hardened armor of class
A, that is, armor for battleships and
armored cruisers of five inches or more
in thickness at s445 per ton exclusive
Of a royalty of S45 per ton, making an
aggregate of cost to the government of
S7,350,O 600 for $4,000 o Of armor of
this class.
On class b. armor for the battleships
and armored cruisers, which is face
hardened armor of less than five inches
in thickness and of which $500 tom are
to be furnished, each bid at the rate
of $500 per ton, exclusive OF a royalty
amounting to s11.20 per ton, making an
aggregate bid of 81, 562. $50 for this class
of armor.
For class c., armor which includes
the diagonal armor bulk head plates,
ETC., not fac hardened of which 1,150
tons are to be furnished, the bid also
was $500 in each instance or an aggre-
gate of $3.50, 900 for the armor of this
class.
Each company explained that its
bid must he considered as a whole, and
if awarded the contract under ii krupp
armor would be furnished.
The bid of the Midvale Steel Compa-
ny was a fiat bid to furnish the total
IOr S10,0io,UUU WIFI III IOydlly NhoASN
to the government.
In the letters of transmittal that &C
companied the bids of both the Beth
lehem and the Carnegie Companies it
was stated that the navy departments
conditions as laid down in the adVer-
tisement were mo applicable to the
production of Krupp armor" n that
the bidders should expect such reas-
enable notifications of the depart
ment' conditions as would be necSs-
sary."
This means that the companies will
not allow the W officers detailed on
inspection duty to watch the manu-
facture of the Krupp plates through
the entire process. The companies
claim that this was among the condi-
lions on which the secret of the process
was purchased abroad.
No action will be taken upon todays
bids until the return of Secretary Long,
when he will decide whether he will ac-
cept them or pursue the alternative
course of erecting a government ar
NOR plate.