Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-26
NEW BIDS FOR NEW CRUISERS.
Proposals Opened Today for Three New
War Ships.

Bids were opened at noon today in the ONCE
Of the Secretary Of the Navy for the construc-
tion Of three cruisers for the navy, provided
for in the act Of Congress approved September
2, 1888. The bids were for the construction,
exclusive OF armament and equipment, Of three
cruisers Of about but not exceeding
1900 tons each in displacement
The advertisements for bids contain . re-
quirement that each vessel shall exhibit max
imum speed Of at least seventeen knots An
hour, maintained successfully for four consecu-
tive hours, and provide that for every quarter
knot above that figure the contractor shall re-
ceive 8 premium Of $4,000, with similar PEN
atty for every quarter knot below. If the vessel
should fail to make an average speed of
16 knots an hour for four hours she shall be
rejected. The vessels must be completed
within two and a half years from the date of
the contract and the cost of each, excluding
premiums and the cost of armament, but in
cluding equipment, is limited to 500 900, to be
paid in twenty equal installments, 10 per cent
being retained from each as a guarantee.
FOUR CLASSES OF PROPOSALS.
The proposals are divided into four classes,
the first comprising construction of hull and
machinery on the plans of the department, the
second on the plans of the contractor the third
tractor and of hull on plans of department,
and the fourth construction of hull on plans of
contractor and of machinery on departments
plans. Each bid was accompanied by certified
check of $50, 900.
THE PREVIOUS BIDS.
1t will be remembered, perhaps. that bids
for these some cruisers were opened about the
middle of August, but that the bids received
were higher than the appropriation. There
were hints OF combination between the con-
tracing ship builders for the purpose of Fore
ing up the appropriations for the construction
OF ships, but of course such an idea was vigor-
The Cramps bid was ss75. GOO, s'Va; or
$4,000 over the limit, while the only other
bid offered was that of the Bath, Me-. firm, at
$3.50 900, or $4,000 more than was provided.
The latter asked for six months more time.
The Scots Of San Francisco had bid prepared
ready to submit. but when the proposals we're
opened theirs was not among them. A member
OF the firm was present, however.
CONCESSIONS TO CONTRACTORS.
The question then came up whether it would
be better to build the vessels at the navy yards
or to make such concessions as were advisable
that might induce lower figures. The latter
plan was decided upon. Six months were added
speed OF IL knots was cut down to
II and the premiums were changed.
Whereas before these were progressive,
being $40, 900 for the first excessive quarter
knot, $40 900 for the second, $50, 900 for the
third and &C, 900 for the fourth and beyond,
they were made absolute, SO that a contractor
gaining only quarter knot or Sd Of speed
would fare much better than under the old
contract. There is no appropriation for pre-
miumB, which must be made by q special act,
and 80 it is possible to anticipate in this regard
to an indefinite extent
ToDAY's BIDS.
The bids were as follows:
The Union iron works, San Francisco, class
one, one cruiser, SITS 200; two cruisers, 81, ,45O-
600; three cruisers, S2,O54, ,oO1, being 1854, ,0s7
each.
N. F. Palmer, jr., d Co., New York, class one,
one cruiser, S674, 900.
The Columbian iron works and dry dock
company, Baltimore, class Que, one cruiser,
s625 600; two cruisers, 81, ,225, 900, being S6l2,
500 each.
Bath iron works of Bath, Me-, class one, one
cruiser, S675, 200; two cruisers at same rate,
three cruisers, same rate.
Harrison Loring, Boston, class one. one
cruiser, 1914, 200.
Considerable surprise was expressed at the
grit of the Baltimore folks for submitting
such low bid right on the heels OF their dis
astrous failure with the Petrol. The Secre-
tary will have to weigh many considerations IN
examining their bids, which are much lower
than any others, such as their reliability aud
competence to perform the contract. The
opinion is that
THE WORK WILL BE DIVIDED,
one cruiser going to Baltimore, one to the Pal
mers, and one either to the Bath works or to
Loring Of Boston. The last three are within a
thousand dollars of each other.
There Is more interest taken in these bids"
said a naval officer, than in any that have ever
been opened at the department" 1t seems to
be felt, in fact, that this marks the turning
point in naval architecture and that there will
be important changes soon made in the rates
at which government vessels are to be built in
the future