The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-10-11
RIDYALE NAY GET PART
OF ARhOR PLATE AWARD
Offers to Furnish Material
at Much Reduced Price.
WILL HAVE TO BUILT A PLANT
Remainder Of Contract Would Be Di-
vided Between Trust Companies.
Blidvale Will Fight for ALI.

Secretary Moody is said to be inclined |
20 divide the contract for 10000 tons of
armor plate for battleships among the |
Midvale. Carnegie and Bethlehem COM
panies, the three bidders for the work
1t is believed, however. that the Mid
vale Company may stand out for the en-
tire contract. or at least receive assur
ance Of future big contracts from the
Government.
Bids made by the Carnegie and Beth
lehem companies are identical. The
AIidvale Company made prices which are
from 81 to s22 ton less than those of
the other two companies, which are
the prime movers in the steel trust. The
difficulty with the Midvale Company's
bids is that they are for plate to be
delivered in twenty months, while the
other two companies offer TO deliver the
plate In nine months. the time pro-
Vided in the specifications.
Ships Badly Needed.
Although the oney-saving in accept
Ing the proposal Of the Midvale Com
,pany would be several hundred thous-
and dollars. when payment Of royalties
Is considered. the armor Is needed for
ships now In construction. and delay
OF twenty months would be serious
loss of time TO the navy. which is so
badly in need Of the new vessels. The
Midvale Company would have to con-
struct a plant for manufacturing the
material, and consequently cannot get
the plate out in less than twenty months.
But there is no positive assurance that
the other companies could conform to
the specifications.
With a combined output of about
$4,000 tons a year. it is considered
doubtful if the trust companies can de-
liver the $4,000 tons of plate. contract
ed for two years ago, in time to turn
out within nine months the additional
10000 tons needed for the FIVE new
battleships.
Secretary Moody will discuss the con-
tract with President Roosevelt, and has
consulted the naval authorities who are
especially interested in the progress of
the new vessels II is said that II he
can make the arrangement ne is dis
posed to let the Midvale Company have
a contract for part OF the material.
probably one-third, and the other COM
panies would then get the contract for
the rest of the armor-
Rival for Trust Companies.
The award OF a contract for part of
the armor TO the Midvale Company will
bring into existence another large steel
plant. which will doubtless be formi-
dable rival OF the trust companies in
future competitions.
Under the bids opened last week for
about $4,000 tons of Krupp armor plate
class A. the Carnegie and Bethlehem
companies each bid $500, the Govern
ment to pay the royalty of little more
than S22 ton. The Midvale Company
bid $3.50. with no reservation concern
ing the royalty. On Harveyized armor
the first two companies bid $500, the
Government TO pay royalty of 81 q
ton, while the MidvaIe Company bio
1893, the company to pay the royalty
On the remainder of thin armor plate
nuts and bolts. the first two companies
bid $500. and the Nidvale Company $Ss'
and 1888.
AuOAuB the royalty 10 DloS OF the Ut
two companies on Krupp armor plate
the Government would be required tC
pay SIS more a ton by awarding to thu
trust companies than II the contrac
were awarded TO the Midvale Company
On Harveyized armor plate the differ
ence is SIS ton. In round numbers tho
saving to the Government would be, a.
heretofore stated, about S7Oo, 900 on 81,
100000 contract