The sun., 1916-11-21
$79,161,7O1 ASKED
FOR BY NAVY IN 1918
House Subj Committee Begins
Work on Record Depart,
ment Appropriations.
NJ CONTRACTS LET
Bethlehem and Carnegie Com
panies Each Receive
Half Of Work.
ARMOR CONTRACTS LET

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2o.-when secrs-
tary Daniels was awarding contracts to-
day for armor plate for the four battle
ships authorised at the last session Of
Congress the appropriation sub-commit-
tee Of the House Naval Committee began
work on the 1918 estimates. the heaviest
in American history. to be presented to
Congress this winter.
The Navy Departments 1918 figures
contemplate construction Of half Of the
ships yet to be built In the great three
programme. And show total appro-
priations Of 337s.ls1.70l. or more han
sec. 900. 900 In excess Of the record total
appropriated last summer.
Contracts for the Armor plate which
will &c on the Colorado, Maryland.
Washington and West Virginia wers
awarded to the Bethlehem and Carnegie
steel companies. each receiving half OF
the work. Despite the unprecedented
European demand. the prices offered
were approximately the same a. those
paid three years ago. The figures are:
Armor plate. class Al. 1+,47s.2 tons to
hem and Sl26 to Carnegie $40 tons Of
A class to each at sass to Bethlehem
and 9426 to Carnegie. and COZ tons
class B at Stss a ton 10 Bethlehem and
$3.50 to Carnegie.
C~OnstPucti0n 70 Begin Secs.
The Department estimates before the
House subcommittee call for funds to
begin construction Of three battieships.
one battle cruiser. three scout cruisers.
sixteen ~destroyers. four feet submarines.
fourteen coast submarines. one submarine
tender and one destroyer tender.
Rear Admiral Strauss. chief OF ord
nance. explained an Increase of 1880, 900
in his estimates for fleet ammuni-
ton. He said the cost Of projectiles and
that much since Congress provided el3.-
000.0 900 for the purpose last year. He
also outlined the Departments scheme
for buying and storing In nav yards
gun and ammunition with which to
equip merchant steamers as naval aux
iliaries In time Of war. More han
$4,000 600 for this purpose was pro-
vided last ear and this year the De-
partment seeks $780, 900 for ammuni.
ton.
Admiral Strauss said the naval gun
factory was now producing t~orpedoes.
the first deliveries exceeding In cost the
QuotCu w pItNokC
II IL expected that The factory viii get
It's costs considerably below the COM
mercial rate with its z delivery.
Protection - De Cheaper.
At the Newport station. where the
bulk Of the navy's ,opedoes are pro-
duced. the Admiral said the cost Of pro-
duction was from $1,000 to 93.l00 below
the best prices obtainable from private
manufacturers.
The ammunition ship. for which Sec
rotary Daniels to-day approved plans,
IL the frs; craft Of the kind ever de.
signed for the navy. She will have a
displacement of 10000 tons with cargo
Of powder and shells.
Secretary Daniels said to-day he had
arranged to confer with representatives
OF the Electric Boat Company In an eff.
fort to seek notifications Of their pend
ing submarine bids. This company Of
fered to construct twenty-four subma-
rines. deliveries to begin within twenty
Ave months. and proposed At much
higher cost to have the deliveries be-
gin within fifteen months. The Depart
ment In determined to place the subma-
rine construction Of not more h .
twenty-five months basis. and will urse
the Electric company to agree to this.