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1900. ] MARINE REVIEW. 23 GERMAN ARMOR PLATE MANUFACTURE. Richard Guenther, consul general at Frankfort, contributes the fol- lowing letter to the state department on the subject of German armor plate manufacture: In the report of the committee on naval affairs of the (German par- liament a letter was read from Baron von Stumm, one of the armor plate manufacturers, which he said he was compelled to write in conse- quence of statements in the newspapers. The 'business profits of the Krupp and Dillinger works on armor plates, he said, had been stated at 176,000,000 marks ($41,888,000). The new armored ships required 49,000 tons of armor material at a cost of 118,000,000 marks ($26,894,000). Therefore, even if it were taken for granted that half of the price con- stituted a clear profit, this would only amount to 56,000,000 marks ($13,328,000), which, divided over sixteen years, would be 3,500,000 marks ($833,000) annually, or 1,750,000 marks ($416,500) for each concern. The manufacture of armor plate, he continued, was very difficult; within twenty years the method of manufacturing has had to he renewed three times. The least mistake results in rejection, which imposes heavy loss. For years the prices of armor plates thad not been raised, although wages and cost of raw material had doubled. In answer to this letter it was argued that the total demand for armor plate, based upon the estimates for new vessels and remodeling, for the next sixteen years would amount to the sum of 260,000,000 marks ($61,880,000), not to 113,000,000 marks ($26,894,000)... If, therefore--as would seem 'to be admitted in the letter--half were net profit, this would amount to 130,000,000 marks ($30,940,000), which would be derived by only two firms. A net profit consisting of half of the contract price was exorbitant. A termination of the monopoly, either by the establishment of works by the empire or by participation of reliable competitors, was urged. The inquiry was also made whether the nickel-steel armor of those vessels which had to be replaced could not again be used. The representatives of the government replied that an answer to this ques- tion could not be given at present, inasmuch as the condemnation of old armored ships so far had not applied to nickel steel armored ones, but only to. common iron armored ships, and these armors-are no longer used. The monopoly question was of great importance to the navy de- partment; such monopolies existed not only for armor plate, but also for guns and ammunition. The manufacture by the empire would be an enormous undertaking; furthermore, it was not certain whether the profits on armor plate were really as high as they appeared, when the capital invested is taken into consideration. The aim of the department was to create competition and to break the monopolies. The speaker was of the opinion that this could be done, all the more if by the passage of the bill permanent business for ship builders were guaranteed. One of the members said that it had been recently stated in parliament that England was building her ships 20 per cent. cheaper than other coun- tries. If this were so it would make a difference of 248,000,000 marks ($59,024,000) to Germany on her new and remodeled ships. The repre- sentative of the German government replied that the reason might be that the English ship yards were well appointed in every particular, that material and coal were somewhat cheaper in England, and especially that keener competition existed in England between the ship builders, CONTRACTS FOR KRUPP ARMOR FROM RUSSIA. The Bethlehem Steel Co. this week received word that a contract had been awarded it by the Russian government for 2,000 tons of Krupp armor. The armor will be used on the three new Russian vessels, Alex- ander III., Orobino and Orel, all of which are now building at St. Petersburg. While the officials of the company do not give out the price a ton to be paid for this armor, it is said to be considerably above that for which it has heretofore been offered to the United States gov- gent The contract requires that the armor be delivered in fifteen months. The armor for the Russian battleship Retzivan, building at Cramps, Philadelphia, is nearly all completed. At the recent ballistic test of turret armor for the Retzivan the result was so excellent that it is believed to be a considerable factor in awarding the present contract to the com- pany. French and German armor makers competed for the contract. The Carnegie Steel Co. also secured a contract from the Russian government to supply 2,300 tons of Kruppized armor plate for the bat- 'tleships Alexander III., Orel, Borodine and Prince Howoroff. It is said that this order amounts to $1,500,000. A NOVEL SHIP YARD. The greatest novelty connected with the works of the New York Ship Building Co. at Camden, N. J., when completed, will be the im- mense glass-covered dry dock and ship building shop, for which a small portion of the steel frame is already in place. As it now appears, there is the immense steel structural work with three gables facing on the water front of the Delaware river, rising to a height of 150 ft. and cover- ing a frontage on the water of about 400 ft. The 200 feet to the south wil! be utilized for a completely encased series of dry docks and a ship build- ing shop, so that work can be proceeded with during the winter and summer alike, and that war and other vessels can be built without being exposed to the observation of any persons other than those engaged in the construction and the company's executives. These dry docks and shops will be built of steel and with glass walls, and will be under one glass roof. The height will be 150 ft. and the width 200 ft. This glass and steel structure will extend 900 ft. out into the Delaware river and will easily permit of work being done simultaneously on four of the largest naval vessels, from the keel upward. This part of the yard will eclipse anything of the kind in the world and will avoid the usual delays incumbent on the unpropitious seasons and the weather. Five thousand people witnessed the launching of the United States torpedo boat destroyer Dale at the W. R. Trigg ship yard at Richmond, Va., on Monday. Among the prominent people were Mayor Taylor and Gov. Tyler and Naval Constructor Grosbeck of Washington. There was some little difficulty in knocking the props, and launching was delayed nearly half an hour. The boat took the water smoothly amid great cheer- ing. Miss Mary Hasell Wilson of Philadelphia, a direct descendant of Admiral Dale, for whom the boat is named, acted as sponsor. RAILWAY CUT-OFF SAW. The high-power feed railway cut-off saw illustrated herewith was recently placed upon the market by the S. A. Woods Machine Co. of South Boston, Mass., and is designed for cutting up lumber into accurate lengths. It will cut off timbers 14x16 in. or boards 30 in. wide, and carries saws up to 40 in. diameter. The saw carriage is operated by power feed, with three speeds. It is under con- trol of the operator by action of treadle, and is provided with quick automatic return. A tension device for the driving belt keeps the latter tight, and the ) be ee Ve See Nga ms aay hos =o os] Ww ic pulley on the saw arbor effects a saving of 25 to 35 per cent. in power, Reine OP nesd as to prevent air-cushioning of the belt. The arbor may be made long so as to enable the operator to use a gaining head, when so ordered. The rolls in the table support the stock and permit its easy movement. The table can be lengthened by an atachaneiy of wood gt oan 2A desired, for which itional floor stands, each containing a roll, can be supplied. ig "The fence or guage is extra heavy, and adjustable stops are furnished, which can be quickly set for duplication of work. The stop bar as made is interchange- able, with fences on both sides of saw. With the countershaft, which is self- contained, is included a patent self-oiling loose pulley. Prices and full details of this and other high-grade wood-working machinery will be furnished by the Woods company upon application. RAILWAY OUT-OFF SAW--MANUFACTURED BY S. A. WOODS MACHINE CO., SOUTH BOSTON, MASS. ; 1 d