The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-09-04
Effect Of the Strike on Govern
ment Work.

Washington. Aug. 29.-Ihe Navy
Department is getting anxious over
the effects of the steel strike, which
is likely to cripple the armor pro
ducing powers of the steel companies
and delay the building of the vessels
now under construction for an lndetl-
mite length of time. Already armor is
running short and unless it can be
delivered in excess of contract, some
DELAYS may result. Considering the
strike, the chances are that it Will
fall behind rather than be delivered
in excess.
The Carnegie and Bethlehem Com
panies have signifed purpose to IN
crease their armor output to comply
with the departments wishes, but this
will probably call for increased faclll-
ties at their plants that cannot be
provided Immediately. The battleship
Ohio, at San Francisco, the Maine, at
Philadelphia, and the Missouri. at
Newport News, are likely to be affect
ed earlier than other ships, although
every effort is being made to hasten
deliveries of arnor. Both firms, which
have had a monopoly in the armor
business since the beginning of the
new navy, are expected by the Navy
Department to enlarge their plants so
that the output can be materially IN
creased and keep pace with construc-
tion work on the heavy battleshlps
and armored cruisers.
These firms are the only concerns
in the country regarded as capable OF
furnishing the high grade of plates re
quired for the protection of heavily
armored vessels, and their present
plants are not considered equal to the
demand made upon them. Battleshlps
and armored cruisers are the type OF
vessels that the navy will continue to
construct fo several years, and at the
rate which they are now being. built
the armor firms would not be able to
meet the demand for plates without
enlarging their plants. Contracts IN
volving an expenditure of nearly 50, :.
000, 600 were made with these two firms
one year ago for armor, and deliveries
are expected to begin under provisions
for the first installments this autumn.
In addition to the delays due to the
strike, are delays due to the desire of
the builders to catch at any excuse to
stop work on government vessels and
turn their attention 70 more pressing
private contracts, returning to the
government work when other. business
grows slack. For instance, the Union
Iron Works at San Francicso has con-
tracts for six warshins and two sub
marine torpedo boats. The most I'M
portant of these is the battleship Ohio.
She was launched a few months ago
by President Mckinley, and the mo-
ment she took the water. work was
ceased on her The machinists were
then Oh strike. but few men have
since been employed on her since the
end of the strike. AIoored close be-
side the Ohio is the monitor Wyom-
ing. She was launched last Septem
Der. and is not completed. Tie tor
redo boat destrovers Preble. Perry and
Paul Jones also are at the Union Iron
Works Changes designated by the
Navy Department 20 give greater speed
were ordered about the time the ma
chinists struck, and the work of alter
atom has not yet been started. The
transport Sherman has been at the
Union Iron Works over six months,
with no prospect of her being put into
shape for some time to come. This IS
at but one shipyard: at others. such
as that of the Cramps at Philadelphia,
an almost Identical state of affairs ex-
lists. The firms are overburdened with
private work and have no time to give
to government vessels. we'll knowing
that penalties for delay are seldom
enforced.
The new armored cruisers. plans for
which are now being prepared at the
Navy Department will be superior to
anything of their type afoar. They
are to be provided with battery con-
siderably stronger than that OF the
Marvland> class the construction OF
which has just begun and they are to
have greater protection. Of about
II, 600 tons burden, they are to have a
main battery consisting OF four S-inch
guns and a number of 6-inch guns.
The plans showed that an excellent
distribution Of weight had been made.
TIE plans are still subject to change.
0dds Anajnef confndpro+ns in