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

Secretary % the Navy II. a. Herbert
yesterday awarded 10 the Moran Bros.
Co. Of iris city, the contract for tne con-
struction OF one Of the new government
TORPEDO boats. tic price being SIps.f1
Secretary Herbert named bat one condi-
lion. which was that chief Engineer VII
son. Of the Mare island navy yard. should
make a favorable report on the capacity
of the company to do the work, and this
will be but mere forfnality. for the 40
ran Bros. CO. IL abundantlY able 10
prove that II has ali the facilities neces-
sary to fuifl its contract 10 the letter.
The securing Of such a contract as this
by a Seattle firm il something on which
every citizen % the Twin Harbor city
the Sound and the state Is 10 be con-
graduated. The fact that one torpedo
heat il To be built here Is not OF 50 much
importance or significance as the TACT
that Seattle has the facilities, the men
and the opportunity to do this class OF
work, and has proven Il 10 the depart
nent officials at Washington CITY. Inc
building OF this torpedo boat IS. but
start and there Is nc reason why II should
not be followed up with larger contracts
for larger gunboats In the future. The
recognition Of Seattle as a point on me
Pacific coast where boats for the navy
can be built outside Of San Francisco. Is
OF greater benefit than the contract which
Is to be filled here now.
Morans Have the Plant TO DO II.
I'VE are not at all afraid Of it, said
Frank Moran last night speaking or X 10
a Post-Intelligence reporter. we have
long wanted to get into this kind Of work
and have made every preparation for II.
We have twelve acres, TWO blocks wide
and two blocks or the water front, on
xzra ri
ready cost 500 900 We have all of the
modern machinery necessary In snip
building. and The best appointed foundry
on the Coast, with the one exception OF
the Union Iron Works. OF San Francisco.
The company is financially strong and
perfectly able 10 handle a contract OF this
class We now have most Of the neces-
sary machinery. tools. etc. and what we
need and have not will be purchased by
Robert Moran before he comes home
Robert Moran has been working a long
time 10 put in an intelligent bid for this
contract, and his firm says that senator
Squire has been OF material assistance 20
him. The senator felt much eiated yester-
day when he received a telegram from
Secretary Herbert announcing that he
had let the contract TO the Seattle com
pany. He said:
The New warships tn BE Built.
"During the discussion OF navy building
in the last congress, the Pacific coast dele
cation united In efforts 10 secure a recog-
milton Of the ship-buiiding facilities and
navy necessities OF the coast. 20 the end
that we might have the building Of at
least one % the battleships, one OF the
eunboats and one Of the torpedo boats
The bill provided for the building OF two
immense battleships or 1o,e0 tons each.
20 cost 100000 each. six gunboats, 70 cost
$4,000 each, and three torpedo boats, 20
cost $4,000 each The law provided that
one OF the battleshps and one Of the tor
pedo boats should be built on the Pacific
coast, provided that suitable bids could
he obtained II also provided that not
more than two OF the gunb-ats should be
built by the same company. II is wei
known that the Union Iron Works, OF san
Francisco. possesses the largest ship-build-
ing plant on the Pacihc coast. The gov
eminent has assisted I'm building up this
plant for many years. and il has done a
great work FOR the navy. u Is greatly 20
the interest 81 the government that this
great ship building plant shall be main
talned IN the future. and I have no doubt
that the Union iron Works Will secure
the contract for building one Of the TWO
great hattieships referred - The Mon
terey. very important harbor defense
vessel and one Of the hest NJ its type.
was built there. II has also obtained
great credit by the construction of the
after the capital - this state The then
secretary Of tho navy. Mr. Tracy, request
81 me - suggest name for this vessel.
and ! told him | thought the people Of
This state would be pleased 20 have ~
named after their capital We have every
reason - be proud % the vesse! Tor her
fast cruising qualities and other clements
az superiority - most. II not all vessels
81 her class.
Puget sound Fir Recognized.
ct seemed % me- needful and important
that the government should lend It's pat
reuage "a the fostering Of at least ore
more ghip building plant on the Tacibc
coast. and tha, this should 20 located At
some point on Puget sound With this end
IN view. ! have had considerable CORE
spondence during The last summer With
those who were willing 70 engage iu an a.
fort 10 secure a contract from the navy
for the building of one ar the Euuboats OF
torpedo boats named in the Law Moran
Ffos Company. ~ this CITY. took f.Nelv
interest "a the subject from enc start. Z
visited rho navy department frequently on
this business srI obtained aN the iufornla-
tion I tauld on thc subject pus of the
questions discussed was fho suttablcness
~ PUGET souud fr for ship bauIinr The
specifications. as adopted hV thc navy te-
psrtmeut go cVerN instance required tho
lse ~ Southern uiu~. although ,hev had
permitted the Substitution of what vas
called oregon oinc in fhoee vessels which
have been cons truefei oD fhe Farie- coast.
eudeaVored 20 ret thls changed $50 AS -
permit the naming ~ FuEet sound SIR in
the specification as she equivalent 80
Southern pine not only GER vessels h.rtft
on thts coast hu' for those buil, cu tac A..
iantic coast. 7 Informed tAe RAW depar.-
ment that There bad been Important .elo-
rnents 81 ruert sound fr fo Nrwvrrt
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