The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-11-21
CONTRACTS LET
FOR ARMOR FOR
NEW NAR9H|P5 {
HOUSE, COMMITTEE. NOW
ON 1918 ESTIMATES
These Will Be Heaviest IN the
Nation S History. Iotallng
Over $4,000 900.

WASHINGTON. Nov. 2b--While
Secretary Daniels was awarding con-
tracts today for armor plate for the
four battle ships authorized at the last
session OF Congress and approving
plans for an ammunition ship. the last
vessel designed for The 1917 building
program. the appropriation Suo-coll-
mittee Of the houSr naval committee
began work on the l91S estimates. the
heaviest in American history. 70 be
presented to Congress this winter.
The Navy Department 1918 figures
contemplate construction Of half OF the
ships vet to be built in the great three
wear program. and show total appro-
priations Of $397 .151.TQ1. or more than
Sis 900 000 in excess Of the record TO-
tai appropriated last summer.
Contracts for the armnr plato. Whlrn
will 90 on the Colorado. Maryland.
Washington anu West Virginia. were
awarded 10 the Bethlehem and tarne-
gle Steel companies. each receiving
half of tho work 4 statement ana!yz-
! ing the contracts says that despite the
unprecedented European demand lot
plate. the prices offered were approNl-
mately the same as those paid three
wears ago when the Pennsylvania was
being constructed. TIL" figures are:
Armor plate. Glass Al. 14.lG9.2 tons
10 each company at $40 ton 70 hetn-
lehelu and $+25 10 Carnegie: $50 tons
OF A. class 10 each at SlS5 TO BethIe-
hem and $4H6 TO Carnegie, aud hp2
tons Class 3. at S.t66 ton 10 Eethle-
hem ard $3.50 to Carnegie.
A Healthy Program
The department estimates before
the House Suh.COmmiIte" call lot
funds 20 begin construction Of three
battleship$. one battl" cruiser. three
scout cruisers. sixteen deStroyorS, tour
fleet submarines. fourteen coHSi SUP,
marines, one submarine tender and
ono DESTROYER tender. 1t is understood
that the navy general board urged that
The TWO battle cruisers remaining on
the three wear program and four oi
tho six batileShpS BE- placed III Inc
1915 estimates. The department decid'
fed 10 divide The now construction
equally br,we"n IN" l9lS and 1919
bills
Rear Admiral : rajiS<. chief oF ord
name. appeared before II" SEh-rnuN-
mittee. Explaining an ii"lu III ms
estimates OF $1.5hE,n ,nH" for fleet am
munilion. he said the cost OF pr"Jec.
tiles and other ordnance material naa
increased that much since congress
provided $l3.00n.n0 for th" purpose
last year. Prices Oi smaller shells, ne
said. we're going down. indicating de
creasing demand from Europe; Dut
large shells of the l4-inch size used
bv the army showed Il % per cent. IN
crease over last years quotations.
At anoiher point Admiral Strauss
outlined the department scheme for
storing in navy yards guns and am
nunition with which 10 equip mer-
chant steamers US naval auNiiarleS IN
time OF war. More than $3,OOo.eNo foI
The purchase of guns and m3untlnsS
for this purpose was provided last
wear. and this year the department
seeks S1.500. 900 for ammunition.
Anti-Aircraft Guns.
The department also has recon-
mended the installation OF antl-alr-
craft guns at naval stations. maga'
zines and radio stations. the pending
estimates providing $1.000D00 for this
purpose. IL will take more than lop
(Continued on Page SeVen.)