Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-14
GUNS OF BIG CALDER.

Bids for Their Construction Opened At the
War Department.
Bids were opened at the War Department
yesterday afternoon for building one hundred
rifed cannon for the army Of high power. The
event marked an era in the progress Of this
country toward the front rsnk of military
powers, and indicated remarkably healthy
condition Of the iron and steel interests Of
America. There were three classes of bids,
twenty-five Of the guns to be Of eight inches
caliber, fifty Of ten inches and twenty-five Of
twelve inches, and fer these guns the sum of
S4225, 600 is available. Three firms made pro-
posals as follows:
Midvale Steel Company-One eight inch type
gun, with ammunition for testing, S22 ,02s. to
be delivered ia three years; twenty-five service
guns of the same pattern at the same price
each, to be delivered in eight years after the
acceptance of the type gun; one ten-inch type
gun. S5l $50, and forty-nine service guns at
same price each to be delivered in eight years;
one twelve-inch type gun, with ammunition,
Soo, ,592, and twenty-four service guns at the
same price each, to be delivered in eight years
South Boston iron works-One eight-inch
type gun, S27. 800; $50 rounds of ammunition.
VA ,332; twenty-four service guns, s20. 695 each
deliveries to begin in 1894 and to be made at
the rate OF six per year; one ten-inch type
gun, $50, $50; ammunition for the same, S43,-
$50; forty-nine service guns, S47, 700 each; to
be delivered five each year after 1895; twelve
inch type gun, $1O0, ,000i ammunition for same
$60,O0O; twenty-five service gum with ten
rounds of ammunition, S79 500 each; to be de-
hvercd five each year after 1896
Bethlehem Steel Company-Ei Eight-inch type
gun, e43 S9S, delivered in l, 400 days, and si3.-
036 ii delivered in 2,190 days Twenty-four
service guns of same kind at Sls 723 each, de-
lvered in o52 days, or Sl7, ,246, delivered in 7SO
days Ten-inch type gun. SIS, s37, delivered in
6sS days, or 1875, delivered in ss2 days
forty-nine service guns Of this size at $40 929
each, delivered In 2,18O days, or S37. .754
delivered in S,404 days. .Twelve-inch
type gun, sails, ,95l, delivered in 79l days,
OF slO6,658 delivered in LOSS days.
Iwenty-four service guns Of this size at S6I,-
S46 each, delivered in 2,03s days, or S5i, ,473
delivered In 3,194 days.
The Bethlehem bid was accompanied by some
conditions, one looking to a change in the pro-
portions Of the hoops Of the guns and another
to allowances for advanced deliveries Their
bid was very complex and it will require sew
eral days time and much close calculation to
ascertain which are the best terms that can be
made by the government. The act Of Con-
gress gives authority to divide the awards, but
at their longest periods Of time the Bethlehem
bids are still the lowest in each class and their
lowest total Of 3d. 1856 $50 for the 100 guns is the
only one within the limit of the appropriation
The total Of the Midvale bid is S5, ,359, 500 and
Of the South Boston bid &5.17A,SI2
The South Bethlehem Company is now en-
gagged in furnishing steel to the navy to be
turned into guns at SO rapid q rate that the
foundry at the navy yard Is enabled to work at
full speed, with no delays for material.