The Portland daily press., 1896-09-19
THE NEW NAVY.
Proposals Received from Both Costs and
Are Very Reasonable.

Washington, September l8.-The recep-
tion Of proposals for torpedo boats
authorized by the last session of Congress
has attracted an unusual crowd of boat
builders from both coasts Of the United
States today. Three thirty knot boats
are to be built upon the builders own
plans, and smaller boats were to be of
two GLASSES: one of 2211 knots speed, and
the other twenty five knots. For both of
which original designs were permitted.
This added to the uncertainties of the
bidding. Among those present were
George Lawler of Boston. builder of the
Queens cup Defender; Herreshoff, Bris-
tol, R. l., Gen. T. W. Hyde of Bath,
Maine; Mr.. Waterman, of Providence,
R. I. No representatives Of the
Mississippi and Missouri rivers and Gulf
Of Mexico, which Congress provided
might have boat each were in attend
ance. The bids were: For 80 knot
boats. Union Works, San Francisco, bid
for one at s2a7, 500.
Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine. for
two at $l94, 900 each, and for three at
$1S9, 900 each. Bath also submitted an
other proposition for two at $235, 900 each.
The Herreshotf company bids for one
at $31S 900, and for three at $206, 600 each
John H. Dialogue & Son, Camden. N
j., for one at $3.50, 900, for two at $500, 600
each.
Columbian Iron Works, Baltimore
offered one, two or three 20 knot boats
for s49, 900 each on departments plans
and OH their own design for same speed
at $45, COO each. The same company asked
S79, 100 for 22 knot vessels.
ton, bid $50, $40 for one 20 knot boat,
$56, 92S each for three They offered to
take three 90 raters at "a, 255 each.
The Bath company bid $50, 600 each for
three 22l boats, 1923, 500 each for three
special 25H knot vessels. The Bath bids
were accompanied by proposition to use
bronze In the construction of vessels for
slight increase.
The Herreshoff company offered three
so knot boats for $37, 500 each or one for
$4,000, they had bids for 2ak knot vessels
as low as $50, 600 each. Their a21a knot
designs are exact duplicates OF the Cush-
ing, and were offered for $92, 500 each
with certain notifications, for $73, 900
each.
Wolff and Sewicker. Portland, Oregon,
wanted to make 20 knot boat at $40, 600
o"ShS 1OI VAo %S/2 ]>AAS' So'sSS WV Aoo
each.
The Providence Steam Engine COM
pany, Rhode Island bid $51, 900 each for
two departments 20 knot plans and S4S.
$50 each for three.
Lewis Nixon, Elizabeth, N. j., had his
own design for little boats and asked
$6e, orc for one or $685. GOO each for two.
Charles Hillman, ship and engine COM
pany Of Philadelphia, asked S4S, ,en' each
for two on departments plans, and for
same, John Dialogue asked SoS, 800 each.
George Lawler 6 Son of South Boston,
submitted their own designs for 20 knot
boats asking S56, 885 for each; II three
were awarded them as $61, 500 for one.
They offered 22H knots as low as SIS, 900
each for thee. or $3. 500 for one.
There was an irregular bid from
Alexander, Va, for electric boat to run
80 Knots for whloh $53, 00O was asked.
Many companies made combination
proposals for two of one oloss, one of an
other. Some of the bidders furnished
various designs, which will have to be
carefully examined by the bureau of en-
gineers before any award is made.
1t was remarkable that no bids were re-
oeived except from coast builders and so
few companies competed. 1t is stated
that bids are in the main very reasonable
and while not more than two of the 80
knot vessels can be built under ths ap-
propriations the result giyes considerable
satisfaction.