Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-15
SECY HERBERTS REPLY
To Mr.. Holman's Resolution in Regard
to Premiums to Contractors
Reports From the Chief Naval Con-
the Increased Speed of Cruisers.

Nearly, If not ALL of the information rel
ative to the premiums paid contractors for
increased speed in naval vessels, called for
by the resolution introduced in the House
by Mr.. Holman Of Indiana, is already before
the House.
During the extra, or first, session of this
Congress Mr.. Blair introduced resolution
calling on the Secretary of the Navy for
this data The resolution was passed, and
Secretary Herbert gave the desired in
formation.
This reply Is composed of reports Of Chief
Naval Constructor Hichborn and Chief En-
gineer Melville, and gives the total premi-
ums paid or due on account of increased
speed at s69O.OOO, divided among five
shipDuilding firms. The subject of increased
boiler pressure is treated fully, and the
opinion is rendered that 1t has not been
detrimental. The boilers of the ships have
all been designed with a large factor Of
safety, and have been tested to a pressure
much higher than carried on trials or in
the service. In powering our ships it tas
been the practice of the department TO give
them ample boiler power. for 1t Is in this
respect that foreign war vessels are most
deficient, so much so that Great Britain las
deemed it unwtse to subject the prototype
OF the New York and number Of other
vessels to test under full power with
forced draft. That our practice has been a
wise one may be inferred from the fact that
We have yet to record failure of one of
our boilers on trial.
What the Effect Has Been.
1t is their belief that such a practice has
not resulted in giving contractors large
premiums for increased speed: it has rather
had the effect of getting lower bids than
would have been possible had the power
been barely sufficient for the contract speed,
for contractors, in making thei- estimates,
must, II they are anxious to get the con-
tract. take into consideration the probable
ity or the certainty of a premium for in
creased speed and adjust their bids accord
ingly. This point is amply illustrated in the
case OF the Detroit and two sister ships.
When the frs. bids for their construction
were opened 1t was found that all of them
wee greater than the amount appropriated
by Congress. This was because the speed
required was eighteen knots, the contractors
peHeVing that even with a slightly greater
speed there was no money in them The
department accordingly reduced the require
ment to seventeen knots, keeping the same
specihcations for construction, which was
equivalent to increasn the approximation
100000. and the bids received showed that
at least one of the bidders had figured on a
speed or more than eighteen knots an hour
and consequent premium.
Not From Increased Boiler Pressure.
In conclusion. the report says that we do
not believe that any increase Of speed has
resulted from the increased boiler pressure
carried on the vessels In question. When
the designs were made 1t was contemplated
that the pressure at the engine would be 100
pounds on trial In the Machias 1t was
leo. in the Castine 159. in the Bancroft 163
in the Detroit 16s and in the New York 16s
In the latter case the engine throttle valves
were Partially closed: IL they had heep run
wide open the pressure in the boilers would
proba bly, have been less than lGO pounds
but there would have been no difference In
the speed maintained. In the case of the
Bancroft and Detroit premiums were Maid
on basis of 14.25 and 1880 knots, re-
spectively. and as they made 1437 and Is. II
knots, the contractors gained nothing by
carrying three pounds additional pressure.