St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-09-13
FOR THE NAVY.
Bids Asked For the Construction of
Several New War Ships.

WASHINGTON. Sept. 11.-By this even
ingS mail advertisements are sent to the
press by the navy department inviting pro-
poSalS for variety of work and material
III connection with the new navy. Amer
lean ship builders are invited to submit
proposals for the construction of one
cruiser of about 1000 tons, one of about
8. 700 tens. one heavily armed gunboat of
about l, 700 tons, one light armed gunboat
Of about $40 tons and one cruiser of about
4, 400 tons. The proposals are divided into
four classes and may be made under either
head as follows: For the construction of
the hull and machinery, including engines,
boilers and appurtenanceS, complete in all
respects; for the construction of the hull
complete in all respects; for the cOnStruc-
ton and erection on board the vessel of
engines, boilers and appurtenances COM
plete in all respects; for the construction
OF the hull according to the plans and Speci-
ficationS approved by the secretary of the
navy, the contractor to put in engines, boil
erS and appurtenanceS of any design which
he may consider more suitable than
those called for by these plans and speciti-
cations, but no such proposal will be con-
sidered unless accompanied by full and
complete plans and specifications of such
proposed engines, boilers and appurten-
ance, and as satisfactory guarantee of the
results of the same if adopted. Every sue
cessful bidder will be required within
twenty days, after the acceptance of his
proposal to enter into formal contract for
the performance of his work and to give a
bond therefor. with sufficient sureties, and
with penal sum equal to One-fourth of the
amount of the bid The three cruisers
1lafo
and the two gunboats within one year from
the execution of the respective contracts.
The department having in view the con-
Struction of two armored vessels of different
types of about six thousand tons displace-
ment each, also invites the submission of
designs from naval or marine architects,
from engineers or mechanics of established
reputation and all respectable manufac-
and ordnance, and especially from
all naval contractors, steam engin-
GERS and ordnance officers of the
navy having experience in such work. One
of the proposed vessels is to be an armored
cruiser, and the other as powerful an ar
mored battle ship as can be obtained on
the above displacement The requirements
of the department are laid down in circu-
lar which will be furnished to those inter-
ested on application to the department, or
to the naval attaches at London or Paris.
The designs submitted will be carefully
examined, and one of each type will be as
Sured Of purchase, provided it can be OBJ
tanned at the price mentioned in the circu-
lars and otherwise conforms to its terms.
Design ers are at liberty to offer any design
deemed by them most desirable. whether
conforming to the data prepared by the
department or not. The designs must,
however, conform to the conditions named
in the act of congress or they will not be
considered. These are as follows:
Two sea-going, double bottomed, armored
vessels of about six thousand tons displace-
ment, designed for speed Of at least sixteen
knots an hour, with engines having all neces-
sary appliances for working under forced
draught, to have complete torpedo outfit,
and bs armed in the most effective manner.
The attention of all steel manufacturers
of the United States is invited to the re-
duirements Of the navy department. in the
way of armOr plates and heavy gun forgings
for the prosecution Of the work authorized
by congress. and they are invited to specify
in competition with each other upon what
terms they will engage to prepare for the
production of and produce the forgings and
armor plate required for modern ordnance
and armored ships. Bids are invited for
supplying the department with about 1.31O
tons of steel gun fOrgingS. of which about
32S tons will be for guns of six-inch CALDER,
70 tons for guns of eight-inch caliber, and
912 tons for caliber between ten inches and
twelve inches. both inclusive. Also about
4. 500 tons of steel armor plates to be of the
best material and manufacture, shaped
accurately after patterns to tit the form of
each vessel for which intended, and of such
sizes as may be required, varying somewhat |
as follows: Twenty feet by eight feet, by
twelve inches thick; seventeen and one-half |
feet by six feet by seventeen inches thick: |
eleven and one half feet by four and one
fourth feet. by six inches thick. There will |
also be thinner plates. The usual guaran-
tees of good faith and timely performance
are required to be submitted for all bids.