The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-09-17
total Of 100000 is allowed. an average of


1t is expressly stipulated that not NOR,
than three of any of these boats are t.
be constructed in one yard or by ONT
contracting party. II possible. at leas
one boat is to be built on the Mississippi
one on the Gulf of Mexico and one or
the Missouri River. For the ten smaller
vessels the department will entertain
bids for two separa' types, for which
plans are supplied ,hvolving approxi-
mately los feet length, 1915 feet beam,
AZ feet mean draught. 6S tons displace-
ment, $50 horsepower and 20 knots
speed. armed with two single deck tor
pedo guns and one one-pounder rapid
fire rifle. No premium will be paid:
but deduction at the rate of $4,000
per Knot Will be exacted below 20 knots.
On plans of their own bu!lderrs are
invited 10 propose 221kknot boats
which are to be about 10 feet long $50
tons displacement and LOO horse power
The thirty-kuot vessels are also TO be
upon thu builders own plans. their ire
mendous speed on trial being required
for only one hour, while in the case of
the other boats the rate of twenty or
twenty-five and one-half knots Is TO be
maintained two hours. The widest lati-
tude has been allowed the designers,
speed being practically the sole consider
alton.
About thirty builders have informed
the Navy Department that they are fig
uring for these vessels. The awards
must be made by October 8. IT is not
texpec,ed that the bids on their face
Will give any Indication of the result
of the competition.
In regard to the bids recsntly opened
for the three new battleships. the New
| York Times has the following to say:
| 1t was directly apparent that the New
| port News Company was thu lowest bid
der. and that II 1t had offered 10 take two
ships at the same rate It would have
| been entitled to them. But the Cramps
| alone asked for two. il had been cX-
pccted that all the COMPANIES would
have tried To get all three ships; and the
gu, stion has been presented to the legal
AUTHORITIES as TO whether more than two
could be given to any bidder. The decis-
lon had been reached that such a thing
was possible under the law.
AT the first sight the bid of the Union
Iron Works would appear to exceed
| those of the Cramps and Of John Dia-
| loSue; but difference in favor of Pa
ci!ic coast builders has always been al
lowed on account OF the cost of trans
| porting materials across the continent
and to Offset the voyage of Atlantic
built ships nearly around the world for
duty on the Pacific. This has been fixed
at per csnt,. which, for purposes of
comparison. brings the San Francisco
bid down TO s2.59S952. or within $685.
OF the lowest bid. and consider ably UNI
der that of the Cramps.
1T was rumored just before the bids
We're opened that several OF them would
contain the stipulation that the proposal
was made only in case the Governme nj
would enter into an agreement to pay II,
gold; but on examination none was found
TO contain any such clause. All the COM
panies pledged themselves to give bonds
In psnal sum equal TO 10 per cent. oil
their bids, and each bid was accompan-
led by certified checks which, when TAX
Ell in charge by Judge Advocate Genera
Lemly, were found to aggregate $500 OOG
wi "a d
for the battleships Kearsage and Ken,
lucky, which are now being built a,
Newport News for s2.250,O0O each, the
DDS to-day show a slight increase. Th,
competition for these two ships was
however, characterized by wide diver
islty between the bidders. and somewhat
lof a sensation was created by the low
estimate OF the Virginia Company THE
three ships. so far as the ship building
contractors are concerned should eos
exactly the same as their two mos
recent predecs ssors. Congress appro
priated for the Kentucy and Kearsag,
t.OOO,OOO each. of which about 81 900. 0Ot
was to be allowed for armor and guns
and the act of June 10th, 1885, author
l2ing the last three fixed the limit a
S3,150,0O0 each, the same amount as II
the former instance being set aside fol
armament. For the Kearsage and Ken
lucky the Newport News Company bic
$3.50, 900 each for two The Cramps n
modified plans, involving disappearing
gun carriages, with and without armo
and guns, &c.
They asked $3.50 900 for one ship OF
the departments plans, or So, 750, 600 eacl
for two. On their own plans they of
fered three ships for IS, 900 900, and will
other notifications. two for s245O.Oot
each, at the same time the Union Iro1
Works. on the departments plans, of
fered one ship for S2,740, 900, and two TO
S2,69O00O each. They also had som,
plans of their own by which the Govern
ment could save $4,000, but the Newpor
News Company was practically alone IL
the competition and got both ships
Since that time, when the policy OF TIT
Government has been to build less cruz
sens and more torpedo boats, it becam.
certain that future competitions for hi,
work would be very close, as there wa,
hardly sufficient work to go around
and this belief was fully justified whei
the three big companies divided tn,
plums equally.
In explanation of the slight incl as,
IN the figures for these ships over In,
contract price for the two earlier ships
one OF the winning bidders said to-day
The rise in the price of coal alon,
would account for 1t. That enters int,
the cost Of manufacture In a sufflcien
degree to make the slight rise In tn,
average OF bids to-day over the mean O
those last winter. ] think the flnancia
agitation has not been practically con
sidered by the bidders The contracts
must be signed in accordance with TIN
law by October g. and the ships must b.
finished In three years from that date