The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-20
anE rHREE VIEW SUyBoA1a
The New Bidders for Their Corrtruetion-
The Character OF The Vessels.

| The Character OF the Vessels.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 19.-Thcre are several
points Of special interest about the competi-
ton for building the three gunhoats authorized
| at the last session OF Congress- The opening
| OF tho bids on Tuesday showed not only that
ak different establishments had entered the
| list. but that four out of the six were shin
| building firms that have never yet constructed
| either gunboats or cruisers for tho new navy.
| These firms wcro the Maryland Steel Company
| of Baltimore. John Ii. Dialogue 4 Son OF Cam
den. tho Coronado Foundry and Machine Com
pany OF California. and the Newport News
ShipbuldinR and Dry DOCK Company. All but
one OF these proposed to undertake all three
gunboats. tho Coronado COM any alone limit
ing Itself to single vessel The bids OF all
four were reasonable, and those OF the Newport
News company wore. in fact. much lower than
any others submitted. The builders already
engaged in constructing cruisers or armored
ships were 1presented in tho current bids by
tho Union ZION Works OF san Francisco and
the Bath lyon Works OF Maine.
= OAso ufe gteatest sources OF encourage
ment which tho Government has received
since its policy Of building up II new steel
navy in this country was founded about ten
years ago. has been tho steady increase In the
number OF establishments capable OF UNDER
taking such work. When it is considered that
every one OF them was obliged to put In new
plant for this purpose. the growth in their
number is still more remarkable. 1t was ex-
pected however, that the three new gunboats
would bring out several additional bidders. as
they are intended to have displacem ents in
one case OF but 1.281 and In the two others OF
1913 tons. SO that they could be undertaken
by establishments which could not COM
pete for heavily armored war ships. Perhaps:
also. the knowledge that, with the exception OF
torpedo boats. our naval construction is likely
to run hereafter chiefly to heavy baltic ships
or other very large vessels tempted the small
or establishments to seize the present excep-
tional opportunity OF securing Government
Cramps were not to be com petitors, there was
q sti II further chance for other builders. In
deed. among those who applied for plans and
Specifications were many that did not offer
bids: and while some of them were doubtless
only DESTROYS Of getting the designs of the
mess others were at least capable OF under
taking vessels OF this character. At ali events.
so many responsible establishments in tia
United Unite States esnabie Of building Vessels
The six, firms all offered to build the gun
boats on tho Governments plans prepared by |
Works and Bath Iron Works presented plans
designs. has length on load water line OF |
20 feet breadth on that line, Of ,6 feet. a
o .aG1 St mst and dis
speed Of II knots through a four hours trial !
under specified air treasures in the ashpits. |
for an excess or u shortcoming in speed. and |
she may H., he rejected II sho falls below 10
s sygbdiyyisons: The engines, which, viii be
cylinder, direct acting type: are particularly
81 in wa
intended TO develop 1850 indicated horse
enEin with duadruple expansion for steamng
Mt full power. hut MS triple expansion with in
ieerior power. There is also a novel comblna-
The battery will consist OF eight finch guns.
OF whlch Two Will be mounted forward and two
q by shields attached to tho car
covered gun deck. two on zach broadside. In
the ne secondary eco battery viii be four s. pounler
whe torpeGo tsba
placed at the bow above the water line. Coal
is given ct this line: The normal
however OF $50 The piement viii viii be be- ia
7Iicers and men.
No: Sand No; 3 are Of a little larger, displace-
Dad water line is $50 feet their beam 20 feet.
heir mean draucht 8 feet 10 inches. making a
iispl9cement OF 1918 tons. Their contract
md penalties. The engines will be OF the same
sS csndsrs IT, snd s1aD1s nsbss n a.
rhey are to yield 1900 indicated horse power.
Thei: armament is like that Of No. 7. except
y the foreeastle and the rest on the gun deck.
me Complement Is $50. The normal coal
MP}ply i 100 tons. and the maximum capacity
tructed with specific reference to service in
ivers and shallow coast waters. and they
hoIId be Of special value on the Asiatlc and