The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-17
ARMOR PLANT BOARD WILL MAKE CAREFUL INSPECTION OF SITES Detailed Information Re garding Drainage and
 Railroads Desired SOME INFORMATION IS IN HANDS OF BOARD One Report on Birmingham Steel AL ready Submitted by Expert Metal
 lurgist-Committee Arranging
 All Details of Visit Here

Rear Admiral F. F. Fletcher, U. $. N, president of the armor plant board; ; Commander F. H. Clark, U. s. N, and N,, ranking lieutenant commander constitute the board which will be in Birmingham February 23 to hear Bir- mingham's claim for the location of the armor plate plant.
 While here the board will make an examination of all available sites with particular regard to the character of the ground as to drainage water sup ply, access to the main lines of rail- roads and transportation facilities from the site to the city.
 The above information is received in letter to Blanks Everett, acting general manager of the Chamber of Commerce, written by Mr. Bakenhus
 Accordingly, the Chamber of Com merce and the Birmingham Real Els tate exchange are calling upon all per- sons in Birmingham having sites to offer, either free or for sale, to list them with the special committee from the Real Estate exchange, I. c. Beatty, chairman. before the board arrives.
 SITES ARE OFFERED
 Five free sites have been offered. and a number of others are offered for sale. B. M. Allen has offered a large tract of land on the Warrior and three tracts near Bessemer on the proposed Valley creek waterway have been list ed. It is understood by the local com mittee that sites offered for sale will be practically as acceptable as those offered free, as the government would not stand back on an expenditure of about $25,o00 to get the most desir- able site.
 In addition to inspecting sites, the naval board will make a limited in vestigation of the labor question, in cluding the availability of labor now existing, the sources from which addi- tional labor could be obtained, hous- ing conditions and the prevailing rates of water.
 A special hearing will be held at which detailed information in regard to Birmingham's qualifications for making armor plate will be consid- cred. The board advises that it has in hand fairly complete data regarding the assembling of raw materials.
 DATA ON STEEL
 R. w. Richards, expert metallurigist, who is compiling data on the quality of Birmingham district steel has already submitted one report to the board, and additional information will be submitted by him later.
 The special committee, l. c. Beatty, chairman, making arrangements for en- tertaining the board, will meet this morning to outline plans. The board will be taken for an automobile ride over the district, and some social feature will be planned to take place during the two days they are here
 DETAILS OF VISIT
 The letter received from MT. Bakenhus by MT. Everett in regard to the trip fol- lows:
 Dear Sir: The armor plate board ex- poets to arrive at Britol, Va.-Tenn, on Monday, February 19. and after visiting that point, Johnson City, Kingsport, Knoxville and Chattanooga, Tenn, pro- poses to visit Birmingham, Ala, leaving Chattanooga 6:20 p. m., February 23 ar irving in Birmingham 1925 D. m., that date. The board expects to leave Bir- mingham Monday at 6:3O a. m., February -o " io ACQhSStCh, III NlCW VI tUS IdCt that it is impossible for the board to visit Anniston, that arrangements be made to set aside an hour for the hear ings of the representatives from that city, exact time and place to be arranged later.
 The board, aside from special questions which may be brought up by the local representatives, desires to confine its at tention, as far as possible, to an exami- nation of available sites, having particu- lar regard to the character of the ground as to drainage. water supply, access to the main lines of railroads, and transpor- tation facilities from the site to the city In addition, the board will make Him. ted investigation of the labor questions including the availability of labor now existing, the sources from which addi- tional labor would be obtained, housing conditions and the prevailing rates of wages. Fairly complete data regarding the assembling of raw materials is al. ready at hand. Respectfully. R. F. BAKENHUS. By direction of the board.