New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-29
MORE VESSELS FOR THE NAVY.
BIDS TO BE ASKED FOR TWO 1oocToN CRUISERS
AID OTHER AENORED SHIPS

BIDS TO BE ASKED FOR TWO Io00ToN CRUISERS
AND OTHER AEMoRED SHIPS.
Washington. Nov. 2s.-The Navy Department has
finished the plans upon which proposals wers
recently advertised for the construction OF the
two new 900 cruisers recognized in the act OF
Congress authorizing Their construction : Nos and
81 the cruiser monitor upon the plans of cx-Con-
gres John r. Thomas. of Illinois, and the practice
| cruiser for the Naval Academy. This leaves tho
7JOOton 19knot steel cruiser 10 cost not more than
s}, 600; the 5,3O0-ton 20knot steel armorcd
cruiser To cost no. more than III 100000; three
OOOton steel gunboats cost not more than 300,
600. each and the 93OOO,OO0 floating battery for
and harbor defence, to be provided for I'm tho
| future for the building of which Congress made
|, appropriation September :, 1888.
In the case Of the l.COOton vessels, the act Of
Congress provided that they might be OF from 500
| 200 tons displacement each, without any conditions
a, to speed and the Navy Department ixel their size
| al 1000 each. Each VIII have length Of 100
feet breadth OF beam % fcer. AMI draught II feet.
They will each be armorcd with powerful battery of
eight 4-lnch rapkl-fre breechloadng rifles. At
| mIIlmetre and 37millimetre revolving cannon,
one l-pounder rapid-lic and Calling gun; and
each will coal sufficient 10 steam 2452 knots
| a 14-knots speed, and 1865 knots at a I0-knots
| speed.
The steel practice vessel for the Naval Academy "a
TO be OF 500 displacement and assigned to the
OF the cadets their practice cruises, and also
the dllls az great guns Win sans during the
winter She authorized by Congress in 1886 at q
cost not exceed 100000 with the provision that
may be used for the general service in case of an
| emergency
The amored steel cruising monitor IS 10 be not les,
than 5000 tons displacement, and not to exceed
Sl,5OO.OO0 in cost. exclusive of armament Her d.
mansions are to be go feet the loadlne So feet
beam, Il IL feet draught. II knots speed 1900
horse power, and $50 tons in coalcarrying capacity
/ hattc NJ ~
rifles, 6nch rapid firing gun. one 15-inch dynamite
gum three 3-pOunder rapid-dring and one 81 MILL
metre revolving gun, and two torpedo tubes. Tho
contract for the construction Of tho vessel aud MT
chnery will contain provision that the contractors
must guarantee speed OF II knots and 1900 col.
ecvc horse power during fourhours trial For
every quarter knot above the required speed premium
OF 100000 viii be allowed. and for each quar'erkhot
she deficient In the guaranteed speod Soo'ooo VIII
be deducted from the contract price Inc ma'cHas
,o. ,h co,e,r,,c,ion OF the vessel boilers and ns-
T cbi,c.v p,ust be OF domestic manufacture. and OF
+ ,ho latest and most approved quahV ana Vpe'
VI, 90, that authorized the Thomas vessel
,,royidod ,or the constfue'io" VI ny "s'hD crus&
p'''"0, ems type she was 10 be- OF not less d.
VI '' ,h,n that vessel, and to attain speed, under
condIons OF 2i knots; with endurance Of
sl" ,hsn fifteen days al iO-knOt speed Her
NJ on, was 10 consist OF two dynamite guns of
" I,oh calbre and TO be fitted for such other arma,
,on, 80 the secretary of the Navy might prescribe
! nv, contractors would also have 10 guarantee a speed
., on knots hour, and that there should be- de-
| su.,od $4,000 for every quarerknot she should
oil az reaching the further speed OF 81 knots, IL
la, also provided that the Secretary of the Navy
w., hc satisfied OF the efficiency OF the Vesuvlus aud
her. guns after Official tests hal been made before
ont,acting for the second Nesuvius hence il Is nos
yct certain that she viii be built Tho appropriation
yor The new vessel was $4,000. whereas the
Vesvius cost $3.50 900. but the contractors claimed
to have lost money on hers