Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-25
BIDS FOR THE CRUISERS
ALL THE OFFEnS IN THE LIMIT
EXCEPT ON THE BIG BOAT.

A San Francisco Firm Underbids An
Competitors on This Vessel AND Also
on the Second Vessel-Crsmp & 90. the
Lowest on the Third vessel--Secretary
Whitney Much Gr2tified.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 24.-Bids were
opened in public at the Navy Department
to-day for the construction OF three
cruisers, Newark, Baltimore and Charles
ton, and two gunboats. The bids were
read, as follows:
Cruiser No. l, 1000 tons complete, the
Harlan & Hollingsworth Company, Of
Wilmington, $l,224,90O; Union Iron
Works, of San Francisco, $1,132,000 &;
Cramp & Sons, of Philadelphia (under a
special bid, providing for use of engines
of their own design 81, 1876, 900.
Cruiser No. 2, complete according to
the departments designs: Cramp, 81 ,065,
600; Union Iron Works, SLOT 800.
Special bids providing for the construc-
ton of the engines of the vessel after
their own designs were put in by the Har-
Ian hoIlingsworth Company at $1,100,-
O4O and by Cramp at 81, 100000.
CRUISER NO. 3.
Cruiser No. 3, complete according to
the departments specifications: Cramp,
$l,325, 900; Union Iron Works. 81, 34S 900.
The Harlan & HOlhngsworth Company,
under special bid, rising their own en-
CINE designs, ST, $4,000.
Gunboat No. l, complete according to
the departments designs: Chas. Reeder &
Sons, of Baltimore, S405, 600; the Column
bian Iron Works and Dry Dock Company,
OF Baltimore, $780, 100, Cramp Especial
bid, using their own engine designs J,
$455,000. Charles Reeder & Sons submit
special bid for supplying machinery
alone for $185,000.
GUNBOAT NO. 9.
For gunboat No. 2, complete. there was
only one bidder, the Columbian Iron
Works, at S247 900. For supplying the
engines and machinery of this boat Chas.
Reeder g. Sons bid $95, 900 and A. j. Ram
| say Il Son, of Baltimore. $4,000.
When all of the bids had been opened
the Secretary stated that the propose Is
would be carefully looked over to ascer-
tain if they were correct in form and
awards would be made hereafter,
SECRETARY wHITNEY's SATISFACTION.
Speaking of the results OF the bidding
Secretary Whitney said: 81 am well
satisfied, except with reference TO cruiser
No. !, the plans of which have been made
by the department. No Did has been re-
| ceived within the limit fixed by Congress
for the outside cost of the boat. The only
SOIlclluue nave ever 1du WIN reference
to the bidding arose from the fact that the
| conditions which were imposed upon bid
| ders In the way OF producing the horse
power upon which the speed Of the ships
depended Is much more eXacting than
ever has been called for before. 1t is
| about twice per ton of displacement
what the contractors were called upon
| to produce in the Roach ships.
THE EFFECT.
sit makes vast difference in the ex-
rense of machinery and does impose very
grave responsibility on the contractor.
1t is much beyond anything that has ever
| been sought for or attained in this coun
| try in naval vessels. [ feared that the
limits fixed by Congress for the cost OF
the vessels would be exceeded on the
three large cruisers and No. l gun
| boat. We shall be able To let all but the
! 4,0O0-ton ship to responsible parties
within the limits fixed by Congress. The
interest taken in the matter is very graft
| flying TO me-"