The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1917-01-25
TO BUILD SHIPS
At COST PRICE
Bethlehem Steel VIII Make Of
fer TO Uncle Sam.
BIDS ON is INCH NAVY SHELLS

No Chance For Profit In Them Under
Present Tests. Grace Says-PossibIs
Explanation of the Prices Made by an
English Firm Which Bids Under All
American Manufacturers.
Speaking recently before the Terra
pin Club Of Philadelphia, Eugene G.
Grace, President of the Bethlehem
Steel Company, said in part:
In a peculiar sense bethlehem Steel
serves the American people.
For example, though we have been
able to obtain in Europe almost any
price, we have adhered, in our charges
to the United States Government, to
the basis of prices established before
the war began.
We agreed--if the Government would
abandon its plans for Federal plant
to make armor for our Navy at any
price the Government itself might con-
slider fair.
Our ordnance plants are at the dis
poSal Of the nation at a fair operating
cost, plus small margin, thus saving
the Government investment and de-
probation.
One of the special needs Of the new
navy is sixteen-inch guns-guns sixty
feet long and capable of hurtling a
1000 pound shell with such power and
accuracy as to hit so foot square tar
get fifteen miles away.
We have undertaken voluntarily to
construct, at cost of $4,500,OOO, a
plant fitted to build sixteen-inch guns.
Under no conceivable circumstances
can orders which we may receive for
this plant pay even fair return on
the investment
Considerable comment has been made
upon the fact that a 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. 1t
should be remembered, however, that
this bid was for specific shell, sam
Piles of which are being sent over for
tesla test not yet made.
Two years ago we took an order for
2400 fourteen-inch armor-piercing shells
at contract price of $76S,000 to be
delivered within certain time or we
had to nav n large npnDltV
The only specifications for making
these shells are that they shall be
of a certain size and must pierce
armor-plate at a certain velocity on i'm
pact. 1t is 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 at which
the tested shells must pierce armor-
plate The result, however, has been
absolute inability on our part to pro-
duce in any quantity, shells which will
meet these novel tests. In fact, we
know Of no process of prOjectile-mak-
ing through which it is possible to pro-
duce in quantities shells which will
conform to the requirements.
The result is that up to now on that
contract of $7GS,OO0, we have put into
actual operating expense $441.SSl., and
have been penaliZed for non-delivery
S495, TAI, a total of $943,625., with no
receipts whatever
Such was the experience in the light
of which we were called upon recent
ly to bid for sixteen-inch shells.
We bid on these shells at approx
mately the same rate per pound as
that of a 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 will be any. There is no certain
ty that it would be possible for us to
deliver a shell to meet the test.
For officers in the Navy to assume
that any bid made under such condt
tions is "exorbitant" is utterly unfair.
We bid on the new battle-cruiSers
sums which. Navy department experts,
after examination of our books, found
would yield a profit of less than ten
per cent. We agreed to assume risks
for increased costs of materials and Ia
Dor, that made it possible that these
contracts might yield no profit what
ever.
The costs run beyond the amount ap-
propriated by Congress ON the basis Of
the cost estimates made year ago.
And because shipbuilders could not
alter the ineXorable cost facts and re-
duce bids to early estimates of the
Navy Department, the prices are called
"exorbitant."
1t would be real advantage to be
relieved of this naval construction The
profit from it cannot possibly amount
to much, and the responsibility is enor
nous.
We have determined to make this
offer to the American Government.
"If you will build two of the battle
cruisers in Government navy yards.
we will build the other two at the as
certained cost of building the ships in
the Government yards, without addi.
tional expense or commissions of any
kind We will also contract TO have