The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-09-25


This Is ? matter ~ considerable import
ance IN us ard I hops that the rule O. the
navy Department. a. 70 specifying sou.A-
ern rine will hereafter be entirely chan2-
81 so a = TO permit tire Use Of Puget Sound
fir Puget Sound fir has also been sf'opf-
Cd IN the specifications for new revenue
cutters. which are built under the o4ENc-
ton of the treasury department
Robert Moran'- Labors Rewarded
During the last summer Robert Moran
has been steadily studying the require
menfs Of the government as to the details
Of the vessels referred 20. and had Pre-
Dared himself to make an intelligent bid
As = result u his labor and energy hs has
been awarded the contract for he tor
pecio boat Today ! received a dispatch
from the secretary OF the navy informing
rue Of that fact. However. il Is provided
that the capacity OF this company be re-
ported upon favors bly,, but as 10 this point
] entertain no doubt. because I have al
ready forwarded the secretary letters
from seventeen different companies. con-
siEtinz Of steamship companies. banks and
others. certifying 10 their ability and ca
pacity. The government does not require
that they shall have everything on the
ground 10 complete this work. but that
they shall have a capacity for speedy and
suitable enlargement, so that the equip
ment may be In proper readiness within.
q
contract.
Moran Bros. have shown that they
possess the enterprise. energy and integ-
rity as well as mechanical skill and fnan-
clal ability 10 undertake the contract.
The price is slightly reduced from their
bid, which was sls3350. The secretary at
first decided 20 reserve SIS. 900 for the ar
mament Of the torpedo boat out OF the
total OF $1,000 provided for its construc-
ton, but he afterwards practically de-
cided TO reduce this reservation 10 $i5,000
BY allowing Moran Bros. $4,000 upon
which sum The contract was closed. The
Herreshons, the celebrated yacht build
srs. had offered 70 build the three torpedo
boats for $4,000 each on plans Of their
own. bat as the law distinctly provided
that one OF the torpedo boats should be
built on the Pacific coast, the secretary
evidently considered that point as an ele-
ment in the case, especially as one Of the
torpedo boats Is really needed for service
or this Coast
The Terms of the Contract.
The following special telegram from
Washington City tells Of the award Of the
contract:
Washington City. Sept. 2s.-Moran
T.-os. Co. OF Seattle. were today award
ed the contract for building a torpedo
boat on the Pacific coast at SEQ, 600. the
awarding Of the contract being condi-
tional only upon the report or NataI In
gineer Wilson. Of San Francisco who has
been ordered by Secretary Herbert 10 90
10 Seattle and report upon the condition
OF the company. and its ability 10 provide
a necessary plant within three months.
The order was rent out by telegraph and
Engineer Wilson will leave San Francisco
tonight He viii also make his report by
telegraph. Robert Moran. who is here,
states that this IS a mere formality and
that ne is now certain 10 get the con-
tract. which will be signed in a few
days"
The Associated Press sent out the fol-
lowing dispatch concerning 1t:
Washington City, Sept 24.-Secretary
Herbert has ordered Chief Engineer
Wilson to proceed from Mare Island
navy yard TO Seattle 10 examine the
plant OF Moran Bros, who submitted a
bid for the construction OF one of the three
new torpedo boats. with a view to ascer-
tanning their ability to do the work. The
bid Of Moran Bros. was $50, about s15.-
COO above the lowest bid. which was sub
mitted by Herreshoffs. but as the score
tary may exercise his discretion in making
awards. II Is assumed that he VIII give
effect TO the intent of congress and en-
courage the development of new ship
building plants by awarding one contract
20 the Western firm. At the figures spec
flied in the bids of Moran Bros. and the
Herreshofs. the aggregate cost OF the
three vessels. If one be awarded to the
Morans. viii he $4,000. which viii leave
$4,000 FOR the ordnance for them.