New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-27
FOR TIE 2,OO0-TON CRUISERS.
FIVE BIDS OPENED At WASHINGTON, BUT
ACTION UPON THEM DEFERRED.
THE COLUMBIAN IRON WORKS THE LOWEST

BI/DER-S SECRETARY TRACY PLEASED.
WaZirgtOn. oct 2C.--Bds opened at the
Navy Department at noon to-day in second endeavor
n secure satisfactory proposals for the construction
OF the three 2,OOO-tOn cruisers authorized by the
act of Congress of September 7, lass. The bids
did not include armament equipment. The
reguigemeu;s of the advertisement that each
vessel shall show maximum speed OF at least
seventeen knots a hour, maintained successfully
for four consecutive hours that for every quarter
knot above that speed the contractor shall receive
A prenhtm Of $4,000; that penalty in similar
sum shall be eXacted ior every quarter knot below
that speed that vessel falling TO make average
speed Of sixteen knots an hour for four hours shall
be rejected and THAI the vessels must be completed
within two and onehalf years from the date
Of contract. The cost Of each vessel
excluding premiums and the cost OF armament.
but including equipment IS limited to 100000. TO b.
paid In twenty equal instruments. ten per cent being
retained from each guarantee Of completion -Four
classes of proposals are provided for: a. For con
stwctue the hull and machinery, the plans Of the
Department; o. on the plans of the contractors
81 for constructing machinery on plans Of con
ractor and hull on plans of Department; a. FOR
constructing hull on plan Of contractor and machinery
on Department plans. Each bid was accompanied by
a certified check for $4,000
Bids received for these same cruisers last
August, but they could not be accepted because they
FOR larger sums than the amount appropriated by
Congress. The Cramps bid $3.50 600. AID the Bath
,MrJ ship works, 100000. The latter a,kel six
months more time than the bid specified; and in
seeking new proposals this extension Of time was IN
cludcl. The premium for additional speed was also
char ged in order secure bids that would enable the
Department 10 orer Tie construction Of the vessels.
These premiums, they ar earned viii have 20 be
provided by special act OF Congress.
A the hour OF noon there present In the Office
Of tie secretary of the Navy Harrison Ioring, OF
Boston; William y. Malster. president Of the Column
h.1l Iron works and Dry Dock Company. Baltimore;
George W Qulntard and y. j. Palmer. jr OF NcwYork;
Charles Cramp and 4. c. Bucl, Of Cramp Sons,
F.I..ic pha, C. ". Hayes. Of the Union Iron Works,
san Francisco; Rufus II. Thly0r of The city Trust
safe Deposit auG S"cc'y Company Philadelphia r. ".
Iyde AM Charles Hyde. Oi the Bath Iron Works. and
eIa of the Bureau Chiefs OF the Navy Depart ucnt,
besides few less iutciceed spectators. y delay
of seventeen minutes wa Necessary Ia O.det 20 al1uw
messenger To reach the Department from thr post
Office with certificate hat all The mai! in the Office
a. noon was III the bts hc carried The mc,senscr
brought no additional bids There were five bids
opened, as follows:
non lrga Works. san Francsco-For one cruiser.
$4,000; FOR TWO cruisers. Sl,4JO.oOO; for Tires
cruisers 5000 O0I, VI odol.do7 each.
y. /. Palmer IT., Co. Ne"-lorh-for one
Columbian Iron Works. Of Baitmore-For one
Ibis I'd. which was The lowest was from the con.
tractor for the construction of lhe g"boat Petrol;
Bath lion Works. lath. Mc.-tOr one cruiser,
S61'.oO0: for NO cruisers Sl35000O: for three
cruiser. s1,o-J.O 900.
Harrison Iorinc. Hos onFor cruiser. 1914 900;
Al these bids were OF Class /. the hull AMI
machinery TO be bult according 10 the plans and
specifications of the Department. AZ the close OF
tlo reading Of the bids Ju4erA dNocait-Geueiai ReHy
nuuouur.d that no con iract would DO awarded today
Aftrr thc ltaling OF the bids secretary Tracy eA
pressed himself AS Wou satisfied with ne prppoetlinn,
Ndc .. Tho reduction of reguicd sDcei from eighteen
a. cyeucen knots an hour probably had some cilect
rc eoLi " but tho determination to buIld the SooO
,"n iqei. al ths Navy Yards doubtless led the con
sty,,ctors 10 bring their bids within the prescribed
In response to tho suggestion that he would have