Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-01-31

l \
Our ordnance plants are at the dis
posal of the nation at fair operating
cost, plus small margin, thus saving
the Government investment and d.
preciatisn.
One Of the special needs Of the new
navy is sixteen-inch guns guns sixty
feet long and capable Of hurting Z
| 1000 pound shell with such power and
accuracy q to hit 80 foot square tar
get fifteen miles away.
We have undertaken voluntarily 4
construct, At cost Of $4,500.O 600. Z
plant fitted to build sixtaen-inch guns.
| Under no conceivable circumstances
CO orders which We may receive FOL
this plant pay even fair return on
the investment.
Considerable comment has been made
upon the fact that British manufac'
turer recently bid less than American
manufacturers for sixteen and four.
teen-inch shells for the navy.
am unable to state the basis upon
which the English bid was made. It
should be remembered, however. that
this bid was for q specific shell, sam
Piles OF which are being sent over for
tesla test not yet made.
Two years ago we took an order for
24OO fourteen-inch armor-piercing shells
at contract price of S76S,0OO to be
delivered within a certain time or We
had to pay q large penalty.
The only specifications for making
these shells are that they shall be
Of certain size and must pierce
armor-plate at a certain velocity on i'm.
pact. It IL impossible to foretell the
exact conditions of the tests.
We had made large quantities Of shells
in the past which had been accepted.
But in placing this particular order the
Department altered the angle ct which
the tested shells must pierce armor-
plate. The result. however, has been
absoluts inability on our part to pro-
ducs IN any quantity. shells which win
noet thase novel tests. In fect, ~
know Of 40 process Of prcjscdls-mak-
lns through which It u possible TO pro
ducs IN quantities shells which win
conform to the requirements.
The result IL that up to now On that
contract Of $7es. 1000. We have put into
actual operating expense $447 .eS1.. and
have been penali1ed for non-delivery
1887 IA. total Of S94S, 625.. with no
receipts whatever.
Such was the experience in the light
Of which we were called upon recent
" to bid for sixteen-inch shells.
We bid on these shells at approx
mately the same rate per pound -
that Of Z fourteen-inch shell contract
Of one year ago upon which the Gov
ernment awarded contracts.
We have not the slightest idea what
profit there will be In. the making Of
these shells. We do not know that
there win be any. There is no certain-
ty that It would be possible for us to
deliver 4 shell to meet the test.
For officers in the Navy to assume
that any bid made under such comb.
lions is 'exorbitant' Is utterly unfair.
We BID on the new battle-eruisers
sums which Navy department experts,
after examination Of our books, found
would yield a profit Of less than ten
Der cent. We agreed 70 assume risks
for increased costs Of materials and L. \
Dor, that made It possible that these
contracts might yield no proat what
ever.
The costs RON beyond the amount ap-
propriated BY Congress on the basis Of
the cost estimates made year ago
And because shipbuildess could NJ
liter the iaexorabls cost laets aud n
luce bids to early estimates q The
Navy Department. tho prices are called
'exorbitant."
It would b resi advantage - be
relieved Of this naval construction. Tho
profit from it cannot possibly amount
o much. and the responsibility 10 en0r-
nous.
We have determined to make this
ptfer to the American Government
III you will build two Of the battle,
.ruisers IN Government navy yards.
ne will build the other two at the 80
cost Of building the ships In
he Government yards, without add.
ional expense or commissions of any
lind. We will also contract to have
,ur ships ready for service ahead OF
he Government ships"