New-York tribune., 1904-08-30
MTDVALE CO. NAY BID.I
Would LoaUer Cost Of Arnlor Plate
Large Contracts Soon To Be Let.
TFnou THE TRIBUNE HuREAu.l

washington, Aug. 2e.-Specifcations be-
ing prepared and in short time bids VIII be in
v1ted for The armor plate the three lighting
vessels authorized at the last session Congress
These are the New-Hampshire. a 1900 ton first
class battleshlp. and the North Carolina and the
Montana hrst-ciass armored cruisers OF l45Oo tons
each It will require about 1000 tons of arrnor
for these three ships and contract Will amount
10 approximately 100000. II is expected at the
Navy Department that when the bids are asked
there will be three bidders for this material
The Midyaie Steel Company. OF Philadephia-
which has recently entered into competition for
srmor contracts. although fl has not yet manu-
factured any plates will probably go after the
contracts at next letting. II 1t does decide TO
couapete and its bid Is far below the bids Of
che Carnegie Steel Company and the Bethlehem
Steel Company was its bid when the last arTnor
contracts let. in October. lsoS the result is
likely to be a decided drop in the price Of
At that time the Navy Department opened bids for
1850 tons Of armor for the three 16.ooO-ton bat
tIeshps Vermont. Kansas and Minnesota and for
two q 0O0-ton bateships. the Idaho and MISSISSIPPI
For this material the bid Of the Midvale Steel
COMPANY on the entire amount much less than
tSat Of either the Carnegie Steel Company or the
I3ethIehem Steal Company, besides which the Md
vale Company asked the government for no re-
endorsement for royalties which 1t might DE
Obliged 10 pay a considerable item. However. as
MidVale Company had no aTInoT plate ana
had never manufactured any of this product the
Navy Department cid feel justified in allotting
the entire amount to the new competitor. but di-
vl6ed the contract, giving the MldVate company
sIS0 tons. none Of which las been delivered, and
dividing l0629 tons between the Carnegie ana
bethlehem companies
Since the awarding Of that contract there has
been great curiosity as whether not the Md
vale Company would be able TO carry out its con-
tract, since II was known that the Harvey and
rupp processes OF rnanufa acturng plate, the
oaIy two means known the steel trade. were con-
t-oTed I'm the United States 10y the Carnegie and
EethIehem companies The Navy Department be-
nepes that the AIidvaIe Company viii be able TO
carry out its contract although the navy officials
say that they have Information to the process
which viii be used. Rear Admiral Mason chief Of
the Bureau Of Ordnance, said to-day:
We have assurances that the Nidvale Steel Com |
VIII able to deliver the aFrnOr II has con-
f~actsd 10 furnish The company has ust installed
Is large press and OF tie machinery Is ready.
u fact. we have been informed that it viii be |
ready begin deliveries after the first Of the
cry of the first plates : not required until June
The Carnegie and Bethlehem companies are de- /
nd none Of the ships under construction are being
delayed this account
II was learned that the bethlehem company is at /
present shipping about 100 tons Of armor month /
and IS not FAR behind in its contracts. The Car /
regie company IS shipping about 60 tons month /
aud IS making up its delinQUenciGs. While il is /
generally believed at the Navy Department that !
the aIidvale Company VIII bid the next lot Of
srrnor. # IS not likely receive the contract for
the entire 1000 which the government re-
Quires, even though its bic should be The lowest
submitted for the reason that this contract will
be awarded before any OF ths plates made by the
AIidvaIe Company viii have been tested. The Navy
Department VIII no doubt wish test Of the prod
uct OF the Midvals Company. well as evidence of
ifs ability make stated monthly quantity OF
armor plate, before giving it any considerable FUR
tleT contracts.