Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-10-01
TO BUILD GREAT SHIPS.
Scenes at the Navy Department when
the Bids Were Opened.

Scenes at the Navy Department When
the Bids Were Opened.
THE CRAMPS ARE THE LOWEST BIDDERS ON BOTH
BATTLE SHIPS AND cnuIsERs-oSx VESSEL TO
| BE BUILT ON THE PACIFIC coAsr-FIorREs SUB
MIrrED TO THE DEPARTMENT.
| The room in the Navy Department where
the board Of officers having charge of matters
pertaining to the increase OF the navy holds its
sessions was the scene this morning Of one OF
the most spirited and important competitions
for government ship building work that has over
taken place in this country. Bids were opened
| at about 1890 for the construction of four war
vessels that will cost the country upward Of
81, 900, 600. A. complete description Of these
ships Is to be found in another part Of The
| STAR.
THE GREAT RIVALS.
| Never before has SO much interest been
| manifested in the contests for naval work.
There>hss been feeling extant among service
people for some time that the rivalry
between the two great firms of the coun-
try. the Cramps of the east and the
SCOTS OF the west, would, in n degree, culmi-
nate on this occasion, and gossip has been rife
| for weeks as to the chances of one or the other
| getting the work.
THE SCENE OF THE COMPETITION.
Ordinarily these bids are opened in tho
large Office Of the Secretary, but this room has
| recently been divided SO as to afford accommo-
dations for the new assistant secretary and it
was found necessary to transfer the scene of
the competition to the board room. across the
corridor By noon the room was half filed
with people representing all sorts Of interests.
PEorLE WHO WERE PRESENT.
Each OF the expected bidders was there in
the person of an officer OF the company,
| and the ssteel men were on hand to
watch the course OF events. There were
Charles and Henry. all OF Philadelphia
Irving NJ. Scott, general manager of the Union
iron works of San Francisco: Gen Hyde and
Mr. McAllistor Of the Bath iron works; Vice
Presidents Moore. Meade and Guyler
/ Of, the Risdon iron works, San Francisco:
Mr.. Hoffman Of Philadelphia. representing
the Carnegie steel interests; Mr.. Milligan Of
New York, representing the Durham, Carrigan
Hayden Company. a steel firm OF San Fran
cisco. owning one of the largest establishments
in the west.
There we're also present nearly all of the
officers Of high rank on duty in the depart
ment. including Commodores Dewey and Far
quhar. Chief Constructor Wilson. Engineer in
chief Melville. Capt. Davis, chief intelligence
officer; Judge Advocate General Remey. Naval
Constructor Hichborn and a dozen or SO news
paper men.
GETTING THE LAST MAIL ~
delay OF nearly half an hour after noon &C.
Cured in order to allow time for messenger
to go from the city post Office to the depart
ment with the mail and certificate from tho
postmaster to the effect tina! all matter ad-
dressed to the department received up to noon
had been delivered.
OPENING THE BIDS.
1t was 1890 when hush fell upon the crowd
and a keen-edged paper knife was run rip
Win oiy$ hrn a,go r..
lying in the center of the long table. Secretary
Tracy Just at that moment appeared in the
doorway and joined the group of listeners. He
had just come over from the White House.
The first bid read was that of the Union iron
works and proposed to build one battle ship
under the plans OF the department for the sum
of So 900, or two ships for S3,2OO.OOO each.
This bid was acc ompanicd by a certified check
for S50,000.
The next bid was from the Risdon works for
one battle ship under the departments plans
for ?3,275,000. So far Scott was ahead and he
winked at Cramp, who stood leaning against
the wall, and whispered question whether
his figure was lower. Cramp twisted his eye
brows out of shape and SAID Yes
Next came tho bid of the Cramp company to
partmsnt for S299O,000. or two such ships
for $2,S90,000 each. As this bid. which
seemed to effectually settle the chances
Of the western people was read. a
hum of excitement ran over tho ROOM while
Mr.. Cramp preserved stolid countenance
Mr.. Scott figured little on the paper before
him and said never q word The next bid was
from the same firm to build one battle ship on
the bidders plans for 80, 120 00O or two for
50, 020, 600 each.
CHANCES PROPOSED IN THE PLANS.
Accompanying this bid was letter from the
bidders explaining the changes proposed by
the firm IN tho plans of the department. The
creasinS the normal displacement 4S0 tons, to
be utilized thus: $50 tons i'll added length OF
frame; remainder to be Used at the
discretion OF the department in heavier armor
IN the sides and heavier protective plates
around the guns. The advantages of this plan
were set forth briefly, comprised in several
points TO which the bidders called attention.
The next bid came from the Bath COM
pany to build one battle ship. under the plans
of the Department., for 50, 10000.
NOW FOR TIE CRUISER.
When this was read Mr. Scott looked up at
The STAR. reporter with smile and said:
Now comes the cruiser; here is the tusse :"
He was one of the happiost looking men in the
room
who offered to build the ship, under the plans
of the department for S2,725, 600 The
appropriation for this vessel is %. $50. 600.
Even this, which proved to be
second. defeat Tor . the San Fran
cisco man, did not alter his good humor in tho
least. He caught the eye of the Secretary, and
poking his pencIal toward the ceiling said,
"Gone up" and laughed.
The next proposal came from the Union iron
works to Construct the cruiser under the De-
partmcnts plans for s3.O25.0O0.
CoEGRArULArING THE CRAMPS.
This ended the bidding as neither Of the
smaller firms cared to build .'The Pirate" and
the crowd in the room filed out. The
Cramps were at once surrounded by people
anxious to congratulate them upon their sue
cess.
The contract will not be awarded for some
days. secondary bid was also submitted by
tho Cramps for one battle ship OH both the
plans OF the department and of themselves, at
the same, figures as tho first bldg for one ship
in these classes.
This done to avoid complication because
of the provision of tho law to tho effect that no
moro than two vessels could be bid for in the
Same proposal, and means that this firm is
willing to build all three Of the battleships.
ONE FOR THE CRAMPS.
Although tho Cramps are the loves. bidders
for tho battle ships one OF the three must, by
the terms of tho appropriation act, be built on
the Pacific coast and so the Union iron works
comes in for its share Of the work
init. the form OF one ship at
the rate of s3,240.000. 1t is the opinion of
those who were present at the bidding that the
Calfornians have by far the bes. contract.
Mr. Scott says he is moro than satisfied and
also that the cruiser ut Cramps price will be
the cheapest war vessel ever built