The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-04-04
OUR MONSTER MONITOR.
BIDS FOR HER CONSTRUCTION
JUST OPENED.

The Amounts Named by the Bidders
Remarkably Close Several New
Features of Interest in the Proposed
Craft-Her Advantages When She
Faces an Enemy,
WASHINGTON, April 3--Bids were opened
at the navy department to-day for the con-
struction of an armored coast defense vessel
of the monitor type, and of about 1900 tons
burden. The bidders for constructing the
hull and machinery according to the depart
mental designs, were: William Cramp 81
Sons of Philadelphia, $l,6l4, 900; N, F.
Palmer, Jr. & Co. CQuintard Iron Works.
Of New York, $l690,00O; Union Iron
Works, San Francisco. $l,62S, $50. No
award has yet been made.
GREAT INTEREST FELT.
Great interest was felt at the navy de-
partment to-day in the opening of these
bids. It was concluded generally that the
figures proposed (the lowest being $1,6l4,-
000) constituted a tair price for the work,
and the closeness of the bidding was re-
markable. The appropriation act under
which the vessel is proposed to be built i'm
posed severe penalty. 1t limited to So .000,-
600 tle cost exclusive of armor and guns
of floating rams or oSher naval structures.
CLOSE FIGURING.
This implied that 81, 000,000 was to pro-
vide for the construction of more than one
such defensive structure. A torpedo boat
had been contracted for at cost OF SS7 ,000,j
and this left little over 81 100000 availa-
BILE, out of which, besides the vessel and
machinery, anchors, boats, etc, were to be
supplied, so there was much qualification
telt at the fact that the proposals received
to-day were within the available appropria-
ton.
NEW FEATURES
There are many features of interest about
the new craft. One connected with the
boilers has apparently given much trouble
to bidders, and may influence the award of
the contract The specifications provide
for two ordinary return tubular marine
boilers of 1909 horsepower, but the re
malnder of the 5. 400 horse-p)wer required
is to be supplied by coil boilers. These
have been tried with great success on yachts
and in modified form by the French gov
ernment, but their use in naval vessels will
be largely experimental
THEIR ADVANTAGES.
If they come up to expectations they will
result in u large saving of space and weight.
But at least one bidder (Cramp) does not
feel confident Of the result, for he proposed
to-day to enlarge the two tubular boilers,
and in consideration of this departure from
the designs to waive all claim TO any bonus
for horse power in excess of 5,400. The
next lowest bidder, the Union Iron Works,
agreed to accept the departments plans and
guarantee the results
A NEW DESIGN.
The new vessel will be departure in de-
sign from any vessel in the navy, and
Capt. Hichborn, who is acting as chief of
hpr Af fEtTn 10
fident that she WILDE the most
formidable vessel for her displace-
placement of any in the world, and able to
cope with anything afioat She approxi-
mates the Monitor type, and is of 1000 tons
displacement in cruising trim.
CAN GET Low IN THE WATER
When she goes into action, by taking on
water ballast she sinks until her deck is
bat l6 inches above the water level, thus
diminishing the size Of target expo ed to an
opponent Her sides are to be covered with
l6 inches of armor. besides the protection
afforded by coal bunkers. The barbettes
containing the guns are to be of
10 inch steel, and the deck will be of steel,
inches thick. She will be 26l feet long,
40 feet beam and IA u feet draft, and have
a speed Of 10 knots. At this speed, she can
steam 632 miles, butat the ordinary cruising
speed about knots, she would travel z, 727
miles without renewing her coal supply.
TREMENDOUS ARMAMENT POWER.
But her most remarkable feature will be
the tremendous power of her armament
In the forward barbette, mounted on turn
table and manipulated by hydraulic power,
she will carry l6-inch rifle, weighing 10
tons, and 40 feet long, one Of the largest
guns ahOat. In the rear barbette there
will be Pinch rife weighing 46K
tons. 15-inch dynamite gun, so feet
long, will project from the bow. and in
other places the vessel will carry six 49,
pounders, three 9-pounders, two 6-pounders
and four 3-pounders, all revolving canaons
and rapid fire guns, machine guns, and
electric search lights on hollow steel mill
tary mast will complete the ship, which will
take three and one-half years to build.