New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-27
FOR THE NEW NAVY.
BIDS FOR TORPEDO BOAT no. 2.
RELATIVE MERITS OF TIE CowLEs AND HER.
REsHOFF PROPOSITIONS


REsHOFF PROPOSITIONS
Washington, March GO (Speciap.-The contract for
torpedo boat No. . has not yet been awarded There
two bids received on December 90 from the
lIerreShof Company OF Bristol, r. l.. and the other
from the COwles Engineering Company, OF
brooklyn. Both firms have been making earnest
efforts 70 secure the award, and the efforts have
continued, although the Bureau chiefs have made
recommendation in the matter. In conversation with
correspondent OF The Tribune upon the subject TO-
day, gentleman who may be quoted as an authority
said The more intelligent bid was made by the
Cowes Company The character OF boat proposed
to be built described in detail In their 3D. Inc
Here hof bid on the ,Other hand, was vague III
fact its acceptance would leave the Bureaus OF Con-
structlOn and Repair and OF Engineering In the dark
as to the nature OF tine boat. while the cost In the
end would be larger than contemplated The latter
company made two bids one, being above the amount
Of the appropriation could not be considered. Their
lower bid exhibits either great want OF professional
knowledge intent to mislead the Department
II is well known among constructors that thirty hVe
cubic feet OF salt water Is displaced by one ION Oh
weight. This torpedo boat called for a displacement
Of about 112 tons. The Hcrreshof Company
proposed, to all appearances, to build boat OF liz
tons displacement but the expert discovered that
boat OF the Herreshod dimensions could produce no
such displacement. II developed then that the ton
used by the Ierreshof Company was only LOU
pounds, which would reduce the displacement Oh
their boat to ninety tons. This discrepancy should
have operated TO reject the bid.
"The Secretary inclined to consider THIS DID,
despite the recommendations Of Chief constructor
Wilson and Engncerin-Chef Melville 10 accept tho
COwlcs bid. II stated that the commander OF the
Cushing has been invited to express his views Ihis
would be equal asking sailing masters opinion OF
ship, of the opinion of the builder or engine
manufacturer. some says that Cowles should
tIo 81 baga ha has
pedo boat That has not governed the Department in
its award for fOrglngs stool plate or the Port Koyh
dock 1t is well known that the CowIes Company has
built tonnage than the llcrreshoh Company
The CowleS boiler. which would be used in the com
pany's boat has been tested. and II Is on record az
the Department that. with 80 per cent less forcing ~
showed nearly % per cent more power than the boiler
OF the Cushing. II appears that the Cowes Company
is we'll equipped for building torpedo boat, and there
cen be no doubt of their competence. CoweS himself
is Naval Academy graduate and professional steam
engineer and has produced evidence Of his financial
liability. The lower and only intelligent bid came
from Brooklyn ald 10 would be fair that tie C0Wles
bid should be accepted 49,, ,,,.
The authority above quoted insists that CowleS
boat Of it, kind afoat. 1t Is peculiar con
timed the informant, that the Department has been
nbie postpone action for three months with snch an
Intelligent bid hcfore II a, the CowieN pTOp,nlu9n
bid like privilege should be extended the tn" C""es
Tie representatives Of the Cowles Company have
II l. said insisted upon this right and Assert that II
ing 81 the HERE 'hoh plans, material reduction Will
be made In the price.