Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-23

opened yesterday. None Oh tnem came Wltn-
in the limit of the appropriations. Their re-
lection was therefore necessary.
WASHINGTON, August 22.-The Acting
Secretary of the Navy to-day opened pro-
posals for constructing i've steel cruisers,
three Of them to be of about 2, 900 tons and
two of 5000 tons displacement. As in the
case of all the advertisements lately issued
by the department the proposals were di-
vided into four classes:
First-For the vessels complete according to
the Departments designs.
Second-For the vessels complete on the con-
tractors designs.
Third-For the bulls upon the Departments
designs and the machinery upon the contrac-
tors designs
Fourth-For the construction of the machin-
cry upon the Departments plans, and of the
hulls after the contractors ideas.
The smaller vessels are to exhibit max
imum speed of at least Is knots for tour
consecutive hours, with premiums in case of
an excess and deduction in case of failure TO
attain this speed. The vessels are to be COM
pleted in two years. and are not to exceed
$700, 900 each in cost
THE SfEED kEQUIhEDs
The premiums and deductions range from
SIC, 900 for the first quarter knot to SAC, 900
for the fourth and sixth quarter knots.
In the case of the two3 ,000-tons vessels they
are required to exhibit q speed of 10 knots,
with fixed bonus or deduction, as the case
may be. of $50, 900 for each quarter knot
variation from this requirement. In the
case OF these vessels, which are limited in
cost to 81, ,100, 900 each, there is no minimum
speed below 19 knots fixed as q condition of
acceptance or rejection.
Every provision was made in the blank
contracts to guard the Government against
loss, and, profting by past experience, the
contractor is made responsible for the sue
cess Of the vessels, regardless of minor faults
or omissions in the designs furnished by
the Department
The bids were opened in the presence of
Acting Secretary Walker, Judge Advo-
cate General Remy, Chief Engineer Mel
vile and Naval Constructor r. Tichborn,
the last named officers having been largely
instrumental in designing the new vessels
and their machinery.
THE FIRMS INTERESTED.
Among the ship building firms repre-
sented by officers or agents at the opening
were the following: Harlan & Hollings-
Iron Works, New York; Union Iron
Works, San Francisco; Atlantic Works, of
South Boston. The bids were as follows:
The Bath Iron Works, of Maine, propose to
build the three 2, 900 ton vessels for $3.50, 900
each, but with the addition of six months to
the advertised time (two years). Cremo &
Son, of Philadelphia, propose to build the
same vessels at 1915, 900 each. The same
firm offered to build the two 1900 ton ves-
sells at 81 ,225. 900 each.
The result of the bidding was disappoint-
ment to the naval officers. As the appro-
priation is limited by the act of Congress to
vessels, and 81, loo, 900 for each of the Z. 900
ton vessels, of course none of the bids can be
accepted. The next move will be to read
vertise, but not much confidence is felt in
the result, and it is probable that as in the
case of the cruiser Newark, Congress will be
asked to increase the limit of cost of the
vessels.
ANOTHER COURSE.
Still another course open to the Secretary is
to build the vessels at the navy yards. Naval
Constructor Tichborn, who is acting as Chief
of the Construction Corps, regards the fail
ure to secure suitable bids as an indication
that the constructors are profting by their
experience, and calls attention to the fact
that nearly ali OF the vessels now building
are under heavy penalties for delaying con-
struction.
He says that the Navy Department was
not consulted by Congress when the appro-
priations were made for the vessels. The
committees prescribed not only the cost, but |
the speed of horse power and tonnage of all |
the ships. To realize these conditions the |
officers of the department who designed the |
vessels had been compelled to draw up |
plans for vessels which could not be built |
for the money appropriated, as work of |
high grade was required and it was expected |
that our naval vessels would be the best of |
their type in the world.
He did not thing that the ships could be |
at the navy yards (which are
already crowded with work) at the prices |
fixed by Congress. The engineering experts
believe that the reason for the advance in
figures of the bids is to be found in the Sc
we're requirements in the matter of speed
and horse power.
GOOD VESSELS WANTED.
The Yorktown approximates in size and
the 2,000-ton cruisers bid
upon to-day. She is 100 tons displace-
ment, and the contractor agreed to give her
8, 600 horse power, tie vessel to be furnished
at S455, 600. This is little more than one
half the average bid received to-day, but the
new vessels are required to have 8, 400 horse
power, with Is knots speed And so in
point Of size the Atlanta and Boston are of
about the same tonnage as the 3,000-ton
vessels.
But while they cost only $617, 900 and
$619, 900 they had but I, $50 horse power, and
were designed for IS knots speed, while these
new vessels must have 10000 horse power.
and 10 knots speed. This means more COM
par, improved and costly machinery and
heavier hull construction, which, taken in
with the severe restrictions upon
the use of steel and other material, Justify
the ship builders in increasing their prices.