The morning call., 1890-06-11
BRoADsLDE CRUISER,


the coast-defense vessel Monterey we'll un-
der way, and to-day have put in bids for
two more vessels. We can build as fast and
as good ships as anybody"
BIDS FOR NEW SHIPS.
Bids for over 100000 worth of new
naval vessels were opened at the Navy De-
partment at noon to-day. The vessels bid
for were Of three types and there was con-
siderable excitement over the contest be-
tween the rival shipbuilders.
The largest of the three vessels, and in
fact the largest vessel ever designed for the
United States navy, is known officially as
"Armored Cruiser No. 9" and popularity as
the " "S100-ton vessel"
She belongs to the class Of swift cruisers
and is very close to battle ship in that she
is provided with a moderately heavy armor
belt, besides protectiee deck. Her armor
viii be about four inches thick and the
curved protective deck will be six inches
thick.
She will be aTmored with six 6-inch and
twelve 4-inch Ureech-loading rifles. Her
engines viii develop 5000 indicated horse
power and a speed of twenty knots an hour.
treme breadth, 64 feet 2715 inches depth in
hold, IL feet inches.
THE OTHER VESSELS.
The other large vessel, designated as
Cruiser No. G. is TO have displacement Of
$500 tons. She has no armor, but is pro-
vided with a protective deck Az inches
thick.
The third vessel will be practice cruiser
of 500 tons-a miniature man Of war for the
training Of the cadets at the Naval Academy.
1t is generally expected that the builder
who is awarded the contract for this last
vessel will lose money. as there is just as
much material to go into her as in some of
the larger cruisers. The appropriation lin
its for the three vessels are: AImored
cruiser, s3.5OO.OOO; protected cruiser, ST.
10000; practice ship. S260,000
sCCTTs BID THE LOWEST.
Bids for the armored cruiser No. were
first considered, as follows; For the vessel
according to plans and specifications pre-
pared by the Navy Experimentation
Iron Works of San Francisco, $500, 600;
William Cramp & Son of Philadelphia,
S3,150O00; Risdon Iron and Locomotive
Works of San Francisco, S3,450,00O.
The Union Iron Works ana Cramp s.
Sons also submitted bids for the vessels ac-
cOrding to their own plans and specifica-
tions. The formers bid was So, 900, 900, and
the latter's S2,9S5,OOO
THE ONLY BIDDER.
On the 5j00-ton cruiser the Union Iron
: " Orks was the only bidder and are reason
ably sure OF that contract. On the S1O0-tOn
eraser the Union Iron Works underbid its
Eastern rivals by $4,000 on the depart
menIs plans, and was but $4,000 higher On
the contractors plans.
The general impression at the depart
ment is that the Union Iron Works will
get both contacts. Irving Scott is very
lubilant. Six months ago he told the Cali
foTnla Associated Press representative that
he proposed TO build both vessels, aud it
i30l-i nov as if he will. There were two
bids fer the practice vessel, as follows: +.
w. Wheeler 81 Co., Bar City, Mich. S245,-
600, and 5. L. Moore & Sons, Elizabethport,
n. j., for $3.50, 600.
THE sEcRETARY's BABY"
The Star tonight says: II is understood
that Secretary Tracy has peculiar fond
ness for the plans which have been drawn
by the department for the armOTed cruiser
which is often called the Secretary's
baby" and the feeling is that the award
will be made on the departments designs
In this event the SCOTS Union Iron Works.
will undoubtedly get the snip. If, how
ever, tile lower bids of the contractors
plans class should prove an attraction to
the SecTetary's economical eye there will be
sharp strife.
Mr.. Scott submitted huge bundle of
plans and drawings explanatory of his de-
signs, while Cramp handed in a single
small roll Of blue prints. This particularly
OF design may have great weight in the
award 0f tile contract. Great surprise is
expressed that the Cramps did not enter
into competition for the 5500-ton vessel, and
1t Is being alleged that they were very sure
oI obtaining the other.
CRUISER No. 6.
Cruiser No. 6 is a twin screw, steel pro-
teeted cruiser OF about $500 tons displace-
ment, designed under authority of an act of
Congress, approved September Z, 1883. Fol-
lowing are the dimensions, descriptions of
the principal features of hull, machinery.
endurance, powers Of offense and defense,
ETC.:
Length on mean load water line, 800 feet.
Breadth, extreme, 50 feet.
Draught of water, mean, 21 feet inches,
Displacement on normal draught, $500
tons.
Indicated horsepower, 13,5O0
Speed, 81 knots.
TECHNIcALITIEs OF CONSTRUCTION.
The hull is to be constructed of mild steel
required to pass certain tests prescribed by
the department. The vessel is designed on
transverse frames within the double bottom
are Of angle AZ by 8 irIhes OF IL pounds.
with reverse frames Of Sby 3 by 10 inches;