The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-10-05
THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS.

Bids were opened at the Navy Department
Wednesday for the three new battle-ships and
one cruiser, authorized by the session of Con-
gress just closed. Bids were received in two
classes, class one being for the construction of
the vessels on the plans of the Navy Dept, and
class two being for their construction on the
plans of the bidder The bids for the battle
ships were opened first. The advertisement
provided that not more than two of the ships
should be included in one bid. The Cramps
bid, under class one, for one battle-shp So 990.-
600, and for two, IS, 7S0 900, being S2, 800, 900
each. Under class two their bids were for
one, 50, ,12O, 600, and for two, $6,040,0OO.
being S3,02O,OO0 each. They also submitted
duplicates of their bids for single vessel, to be
considered as their bid for the third battle-ship
If the Department should award them all the
battle-ships, as might have been possible had
the cruiser been taken by Western firm. The
Union Iron Works bid, under class one for one
batte-ship at S3,240,0 000 and for two battle
ships at Sc. 900, or $3,2O0,000 each. The
Bath Iron on WORKS we I bid for one vessel, under class
one, at So, 149,O O00, and the Risdon Iron Works.
of San Francisco, bid 1925, 900 for one ship
under class one. For the 7,300-ton cruiser but
two bids were submitted, both under class one.
The Cramps offered to construct her for 81, 49,
600, which is S25,0 900 less than the limit fixed
by law, and the Union Iron Works bid
So, 025,000, which is S75, 900 above the limit
On Thursday the Secretary informed Mr.. Charles
Cramp, of Cramp & Sons, of Philadelphia, and
Mr.. Scott of the Union Works, of San Francisco
that he had decided to award contracts for two
battle-ships and for the 7,300ton cruiser to
Messrs. Cramp IL Sons, and the contract for the
other battle ship to the Union Iron Works. The
Secretary has decided to have all the battle
ships built on the alternative plan submitted by
the Cramps or modification of it. Mr. Scott
agreed to this, with the understanding that
proportionate increase should be made in their
compensation. The proposition made by the
Cramps was to increase the length of the vessels
by twelve feet, affording 4S0 tons additional
displacement, to be utilized in increasing the
armor protection and otherwise improving the
vessels. Secretary Tracy at once saw the ad-
vantages to be secured by the change and as
the price is still well within the limit of the law
proposition is being made to increase the
length by Is feet instead of 12 feet. The Sec
retary will decide during this week all the de-
tails OF the changes to be made in the plans,
and the contracts will then be signed at once
In the mean time both the Cramps and the
Union Iron Works will begin active work in
preparation for the construction of the vessels.
Comdr. e. E. Wingate has been ordered to
command the Ranger per steamer of the 10th
inst, relieving 1t. Comdr. e. G. Reiter, who is
ordered home.
Lieut.. I. d. Bolles has been ordered to duty
at the Smithsonian Institution.
Comdr. w. G.. Wise has been detached from
duty at the Navy Yard, Portsmouth, n. III. and
ordered to duty at the Navy Yard, Norfolk Va
relieving Comdr r. p. Leary of his duties as
equipment officer.
Lieut.. r. G. Davenport has been ordered to
the photographic Office
Surg, G. G. Herndon has been ordered to the
Naval Hospital, New York, relieving Surg r. c.
Persons, who has been placed on waiting orders.
Ensign r. Stocker has been detached from the
Yorktown, and placed on waiting orders.
Lieut.. j. B. Milton has been detached from
the jamestown, and ordered to duty at the Ma
val Academy
Lieut., j. r. Parker has been ordered to the
Alert. The orders of 1t. S. +. Woodwork to
the Alert and to resume duties at the Pacific
Rolling Mills, San Francisco, have been re-
yoSed.
The official report of the trial board on the
new cruiser San Francisco, upon her recent
test, was yesterday approved by the Secretary
of the Navy, and the vessel was formally ac-
cepted from the contractors, the Union Iron
Works, of San Francisco.
Comdr. G.. w. Sumner has been ordered as
equipment officer at the Navy Yard, New York
w. G. Braisted, of Detroit, Mich, has been
appointed an asst surg. in the Navy.
Comdr. f. G. Dallas, retired, died in Philadel-
phia Tuesday.
The following candidates have successfully
passed their examinations for admission to the