Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-11-14
Special Correspondence Of ti New York Daily Times
TIE FRIGATE CONTRACTS.

Secretary Dobbin has, at last, finished the award O
contracts for the construction OF the engines ana ma
chincry of the six steam frgatcs now building tor the
United States Navy. The contract Tor the engines o
the monster ship Niagara, is awarded 10 Pease ~
Murphy, Of the Fulton Iron Works, i'll New York city
who will doubtless add not IItle BY the execution
of this contract, the excellent reputation they have
already achieved. \ number Of the best establish
mcrts in New York were among the bidders Tor this
work but Pcase & Murphy presenc. plans FULLY
equal 10 Gny i'll design, at the same time that they
proved their entire competcncy 10 DO thG work III
credi;abc manner aud were among the lowest Dl-
ders. If they succeedas no doubt they wll-in iur
nshng the Nngara with machinery that shall stand
the practical test Of sea service, their fortunes Will
have been made.
1t will be remembered that of these rigatcs
building at Norfolk. The lowest bidders for engines
for one of these, were McsSrs. Anderson ~ Co., OF
Richmond, Nirginia-gen:lelncn ot large capital,
aud possessing establishment second 10 none IN The
country in point OF mairrinI, although with little or
no experience in building marine engines. At the
same time, they have, rs superintendent to their
works, gentleman of large experience III New York
irst-clss shops and who possesses the entire conf
dence Of those to whom the Secretary referred for nd
vice in the premises In view of their admirable equip
men for business their large responsibility; their evil
dent ambition to succeed, md the tact that their bid was
considerably tower than any other, Mr. Dobbn award
ed a contract TO Anderson Co. 10. one of tie Norfolk
ships.
They then offered to dapi,1Re the machinery under
their contract, and place the duplicate in the second
Norfolk ship at price many Thousand dollars lower
than any other bid. After mature dcIiberIliOn, the
Secretary, this morning, decided in favor u this pro-
position, that Anderson s. Co.. will Construct the
engines lu. both OF the Norfolk ships II they fail ii
will cost the contractors fortune i'll money. while it
will ruin them in reputation But of their failing the
Secretary does not believe there is possibility
These awards have given Mr.. Dobbin great deal
Of trouble. With an earnest desire TO do that wh!cl
is right, and TO make his administration OF the Navy
Department efficient wise and popular, and with !ih-
merous applicants for contracts, each presenting
strong Claims 10 consideration, ant each onerhS
plans Of engines worthy of trial, It has been no easy
matter TO decide between the bidders Certain ID,
that all the contractors are of responsibility that
the responsibility of success failure rests Ipera-
lively upon their own sho"!de and tnHt ,t,n the most
We have now Merricl x Son, of Philadelphia; the
West Point Foundry New York; Pease Il Murphy
New York; Anderson & Co.. Of Rchnioad, and
Chief Engineer Martin, Of the Navy, with Govern
ment machine shop, all pi,ed against each other. II
remains to be who carry of the palm of vic
tory.