Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-15
BIC NAVAL STATION
BIDS BEFORE NAVY
Estimates Opened for Re-
search Laboratory and
Test Plant at Bellevue.

Bids were opened at the Navy De-
partment today for the construction of
buildings. railroad connections and
grading for a naval experimental and
research laboratory on the naval maga-
zine reservation at Bellevue, D. c.. on
the left bank of the Potomac river just
south of the big plant of the Washing
ton Steel and Ordnance Company, a
short distance below Giesboro Point.
The naval appropriation act ap-
proved March 4, 1917. made a specific
appropriation of s1.500.000 for a lab
oratory for the testing and expert
mentation of ordnance and ordnance
material and supplies. and. in fact. of
all sorts of articles and materials re-
quired for naval purposes.
Execution of that particular pro-
vision of the act was delayed by the
entry of the United States into the
world war. and friendly controversy
among naval and municipal authori-
ties as to where the proposed labora-
tory should be located Special efforts
were made to have the laboratory es-
tablished at Annapolis as an auxiliary
to the Naval Academy. The Secretary
of the Navy and his advisers finally
decided the question of location, how
ever. in favor of the District of CO.
1umbia as most advantageous to the
government in the conduct of the
work devolving on the laboratory.
Small Laboratory Used.
During the war the Navy Depart
ment established a small laboratory
at the bureau OF standards on Pierce
Mill road, and conducted various i'm
portant experiments there on a small
scale. All the naval apparatus and
equipment now there will be moved to
the new plant at Bellevue, when that
is ready for operation.
oh ofo II
working plant to be established at
Bellevue are shown in the specifica-
tions for bidders prepared in the
naval bureau of yards and docks. In
addition to the construction of a sea
wall. three railroad spurs from the
Baltimore and Ohio branch to Shep-
herds point. circulating water intake
and discharge systems. the plans call
for the erection of five large buildings
of modern steel and reinforced con-
crete construction. and the construc-
tion of temporary barracks for hous-
ing and feeding the contractors force
engaged on the work.
The permanent buildings will con-
sist of three-story Office and labora-
tory building, 200 by so feet: two
story machine and testing shop. 300
by 80 feet; a two-story pattern shop.
100 by go feet; one-story foundry,
100 by so feet, and a power house.
81 by 50 feet, with chimney $50
feet high and feet inside diameter
at the top.
All the buildings will rest on con-
crete foundations and will have rein
forced concrete frames. concrete foot
ings. structural steel work, steel sa sh,
steel and wood doors. hollow building
tile walls and partitions, suspended
ceilings. tile wood and linoleum floor
covering and first class plumbing,
heating. lighting and fire protection
Bidders were informed that the gov
ernment will provide all the Portland
cement and cast-iron floor and wall
radiators.
Work Already Pending.
Naval authorities desire the COM
pletion of the big establishment as
soon as possible, as there is consid-
cradle experimentation work pending.
For that reason the construction COM
panies awarded the contracts for va
rious parts of the work will be ex-
pected to complete the office and labor
atory building. the power plant build
in 200 days after the contracts are
signed. and to complete all the re-
naming work necessary for the OBJ
GRAFTON of the plant within 800 cal
endar days.
The location of this large govern
ment workshop within the limits of
the District means considerable to
the residents and merchants, il is
stated. because of the large force of
skilled workmen to be employed and
the heavy disbursements of govern
ment funds involved in the operation
of the plant.