The San Francisco call., 1895-12-22
FOUR Big BATTLE-SHIPS.
One of Them May Yet Be Con-
Structed Here,

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 21.-Secre-
tary Herbert received a report to-day
from the Board of Naval Bureau chiefs
presenting consistent plan for increas-
ing the naval establishment by four big
battle-ships, in addition to the two al
ready provided for. 1t is said, in behalf of
the idea submitted, that it is not based on
the necessity for increasing the navy by
reason of any critical aspect of the rela-
tions between Great Britain and the
United States, but on the ground of
economy of both time and money.
The action of this board, officially known
as the board of construction, came about
through its consideration of the bids sub
mitted by the great ship building firms for
constructing the two battle-ships and 6,
one of which is to be called the Kearsarge.
These bids were opened on November 80,
and the bidders were the William Cramp
Sons Ship-building Company of Philadel-
phia, Newport News Ship-building and
Drydock Company of Newport News, Va,
and the Union Iron Works of San Fran
cisco. In the bids for constructing the two
vessels on plans prepared by the Navy De-
partment the Newport News Company was
firm next.
The Virginia company did not make
any offers for construction on plans pre-
pared by itself, and in this class the Union
Iron Works outbid the Cramps In addi-
ton to these the Cramps submitted a
novel bid, agreeing to construct two bat
tle-ships on their own plan, with armor for
both, and also another vessel of the same
kind, without armor, and all for the
$S,000,000 appropriated by Congress for
constructing and furnishing armor and
armament for two. The other bids did
not contemplate furnishing armor.
Secretary Herbert turned over all the
bids and accompanying plans to the
Board of Construction for its opinion. 1t
had been practically determined by this
board to recommend the acceptance of the
bid of the Newport News Company for
building one of the vessels on the depart
mental plans for 81, 350. 600 and that the
Union Iron Works be given an opportunity
OF securing the other by scaling its bid of
$2,740, 900 to figure not so greatly at vari-
ance with the Virginia firms proposal.
Within the past few days, however.
there has been a change of sentiment.
This took the form of more thorough
consideration of the Cramps bid. 1t was
plain to the board, from the variance in
the bids submitted, that there was no
collusion between the various bidders, and
it was shown that the bid Of the Newport
News Company was exceedingly economi-
cal. After careful consideration the board
decided at a meeting to-day to recon-
mend to Secretary Herbert that the bid of
the Virginia company for constructing
two vessels at 81, $50, 900 each Ga deduction
OF 100000 from Its proposal for building
one ship should be accepted, that the
Cramps and the Union Iron Works should
also be given the contract for building two
battle-ships each of the same class, pro-
vided they scaled their bids to figures
satisfactory to the Secretary of the Navy,
the San Francisco firm being allowed to
retain a reasonable amount above the
Cramps estimates to make up the extra
cost of construction and the additional
cost OF transportation of material to the
Pacific Coast, and, finally, that the Secre-
tary ask Congress for an appropriation to
cover the cost of the four additional ships.
AS 100000 was estimated and appro-
priated as the cost of the Keersage and
her unnamed sister ship, twice that amount
would seem to be needed for the four now
proposed, but it is likely that thi. sum
will not be necessary in view of the econ
omy of constructing SO many vessels at
once.
Whether Congress shall be asked TO pro-
vide the increase remains with Secretary
Herbert to SETTLE. In his last annual re-
port he recommended Congressional pro-
vision for the construction Of two battle
ships and at least twelve torpedo boats,
and his estimates for these amounted to
S9, ,638, 1888.