The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-11-18

the race on equal terms ana mas DIS
good a chance as any other city 10
get the wOrkSe.
Why Mr.. Daniels Urges 1t.
The government ought to own its
own factory" said Secretary Daniels
to The Sun representative, because
that is the only way, apparently, to
force real competition in the produc-
ton Of armor plate. For years the
three communicated there are only
three-producing armor in this cOun-
try have submitted practically n
same figures when the Navy Depart
ment called for bids. They were as
sured Of getting the business, and 1t
was practically divided among them.
When we we're preparing this year
to secure the m plate for battle
ship 80 the Midvale, Carnegie and
Bethlehem companies submitted iden-
teal bids-the same to a cent. They
asked $454 a ton for Glass Al, $51S
for Glass Az turret -armor; $496 for
Glass B, $1,875 for Class c, bronze,
and sos for hollow forgings."
Same Bids, But mo Combine"
The Secretary requested reprensen-
tatives Of the companies to come to
Washington. He seated them, three
in a row, on the long leather sofa III
the Se~cretary's big room and put them
through the catechlSm.
did you ever talk to each other
about these prices?" he asked.
They shook their heads. "Certainly
mot"
"Di you ever communicate with
each other in any way regarding these
bids? ?"
They couldn't remember that they
had. They simply happened to hit
upon the same figures.
With that characteristic, quizzical
smile Of his, Mr.. Daniels said:
well, I am glad to hear it. hat
settles a question in physiology that
has always puzzled me. Down in my
home at Raleigh there was a man
who claimed he and his wife had a
mental code by which they could
communicate with eac other in
stantly, no matter how far apart they
might be. He told me when she was
in Paris she sent messages across
land and sea, thousands Of miles by
telepathy, and he flashed back the
answers quick as thought. I always
thought he was IN idiot. But you
cOnvince me he must have been tell
ing the truth. You gentlemen seem
to have reduced mental telepathy to
an exact SCIENCE
Navy's Policy Partly Responsible.
The Navy Departments policy
seems to have been partly response
blue for this family advancement
among the manufacturers, as it has
been almost a custom to divide the
contracts among the three mills at
practically the same price. Secre-
tary Daniels regards it as a case OF
Caesar up to date-all Gaul divided
into three parts
The Secretary sees no reason why
the United States should not build its
own factory tO nrOdOco at Loco
enough armor for one battleship q
year. Tha would still leave work for
the existing plants, but would bring
down the price very materially.
The first estimates made by ex-
perts placed the cost of a govern.
: ment plant at about $1,000, OOO," he
said; but Japan has erected a thor.
, oughly modern plant for Sc. 700, 900
: and [ believe We can build one fol
4 not very much more than that. Russis
and France ave government plants
We have been charged $454 for Clas:
A armor plate. Experts say it car
be made for 1912; and some say i
! do not know, of course, exactly Wha:
/ it can be made for, but ! know it car
s be produced for far less than thi
government has been paying"
h Government Virtually Built Their
Plants.
CnOer the Ola system OF letting con
n tracts, the Bethlehem, Carnegie an
. Midvale companies had practically n,
competition. The government ha
Virtually built their armOr-plat
r plants for them-and doesn't ow1
lie anything. Secretary Daniels go
some competition this year by divid
! ing the bids. Other companies, mi
N they can't make armor, can prOduc
ID specially-treated steel and structure
ut steel, and on these materials com
n petition has saved more than $500,
st 900 on battleship 80. Mr.. Daniel
:! threw out the identical bids for al
TO- NOR plate and demanded hat ne,
an and truly competitive bids be substi
is tuted by October IA, at 20 a. m. TIL
sh makers held out to the latest momen
* and the last bid reached the Nav
u Department by special messenge
just before the clock struck II
r Against their former bids of $45
d the Midvale company offered to ful
nish Class A armor for $40; tn
Bcthlehem company came down