New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-11
Tile NAEAL BIDS.
fifth wheel

THE NAVAL bIDr'
San Francisco is becoming the cniei centre
of American naval industry. In the plus
opened bv the Department at washington ior
,ho Construction of three new vessels that city
hos furnished two out of three proposals Tor
tho armored cruiser and the only offers lor the
nro+ectad cruiser The Union Iron works,
,yb;cb received contracts for the Charleston
and the San Francisco, now has rival III the
pisdor Works but an unsuccessful one so tar
os tho nrescnt proposals are concerned, as It's
bids for the armored cruiser were the hlShest
on the list 1t is remarkable however, 'hau
firm which has been making locomotives anu
has had. at least until recently, no shipouiid-
ing plant. should have entered into the com
petition. Its enterprise is largely 10 De at
tributed to the success of the Union iron W orks
IN undertaking Government work under serl-
one Disadvantages and providing San Francisco
with one of the best equipped shipyards III the
Union That has been an achievement that
has excited emulation and competition.
The bids for the two large vessels have been
offered in two ways. Several months ago the
Secretary of the Navy invited the Cramps ana
Mr. Scott TO prepare plans and Specllca'lohS
&c tboir own for these ships, and to present
ofrors on these as we'll rs on the Government
DESIGNS The Union Iron Works complied
with the request in both cases, submitting
complete plans and specifications OF ITS own de-
sion. II is most remarkable that shlpbnld-
inc firm should be able NJ such short notice 10
nresont plans and specifications as complete
and as carefully worked out as any designs
that have ever been sent out by the Navy
DEPARTMENT. The result is all the more cred
liable from the fact that the firm, while having
machinery designs from the Bureau OF steam
Tnrineerng, did not have plans OF the hull
Of the s. 100-ton cruiser from the bureau oi
Construction and Repair. The rapldlty with
which work heavily taslling the resources OF
tho Department has been done by the san
Francisco house denotes extraordinary capacity
and facility. and most remarkable progress in
naval architecture and designing on the Pa
cifc Coast The Cramps also submitted BIDS
for the larger cruiser based upon their own
ne well as upon the Government plans, but
did not compete with their san Francisco
rivals for the second cruiser.
The bids for the three vessels were well
within the limits of the appropriations, 50 that
satisfactory awards will be made and the WORK
speedily contracted for. For the small prac-
ticc- vessel the lowest bid comes from Mchi-
can-a new quarter for the development OF
naval industry. The protected cruiser Will be
awarded to the Union Iron Works IN the ah-
>encc of competition. This is to be 2o-knot
vessel with 1850 horsepower. The s,loO-
ton cruiser will mark a close approach To a
batile-Ship, and the requirements call Tor ~
~, IL .,.I l..se -r.,,tss e.
Cramps and the Union Iron Works are close
together in bidding on their own designs Tor
this splendid ship. but the latter has the adj
vantage of lower offer for the Government
designs. Great discrimination will be required
in order 10 enable the Secretary to decide be
tween tho two competitors Ii Is most remark
able that bids $500, goo and $3.50, 900 within
the limit of the appropriation should have been
received for the construction of 50 large ana
fast a ship.