New-York tribune., 1896-10-07
TORPEDO-BOAT AWARDS COMPLETED.
SECRETARY HERBERT sETTL~s a FiER"TLy coz
TE.TED TECHNI~ AL CONTRovER y.

SECRETARY HERBERT sr:TTL~ a FER Fly Con-
1E:TED TECHNICAL CONTgovER
Washington. oct. tSpeciaD-Thc torpedo boat
controversy was settled to-day by the award OF con-
tracts for the smaller craft the distribution being
somewhat changed from the original recommendation
OF Constructor Hichborn and Engneer-n-chef Me-
Vile Herreshoh. instead Of securing three 2-knot
boats, Will build 22iz-knot boat and two 2O-kno
boats. Wolf & Zwicker of Seattle. will build two
22Ilknot boats originally intended The Baltimore
firm the Columbian Iron Works. will build one. in
stead of two 20knot boats much TO the disgust and
d,sappointment Of that firm. in whose behalf these
diminutve craft authorized through the efforts
OF Senator German The Philadelphia Arm OF Charles
Hulman g. CO. will build one 2o-knot boat The re-
arrangement deprives the Baltimore firm OF one boat.
and makes less than was originally Intended with
the advantage Of providing additional 22'z-kno;
boat This Is a concession to the professional views
~ the Naval Chief OF Ordnance. who has contended
with much vigor against contracting for small boats
His original views. had they prevailed. would have
dcnrived Bath OF the two 3Oknot boats and permitted
the Bristol (R I) firm TO build them
A proposition submitted within the last day or
two also 10 contract with the Bath Iron Works for
one sO-knot boat and with Herreshon for another.
General Hyde OF the Bath firm has been In the cily
since the bids opened and Insisted that ne cond
not afford to accept "A contract for one boat lie had
been 10 much expense In preparing plans ana had
emnIoyed the celebrated English expert. Professor
B!les to aid in the work. He was. moreover Obliged
TO buy the plans from Professor Bes at some expense
10 his firm and nothing short OF constructing Two
hoa,s would permit him to accept the Departments
contracts Had the Secretary forced the Bath people
to withdraw In this manner Il Is likely that contract
FOR a 3O-knot boat would have gone 70 Da.ogue q
e., oS Camden y. j., the builders OF a number OF
sma,Ier Government craft. and who. II was under
stood had bought the plans used py farfN"' Ia row .ne
English shpbuider. In his construction ol the ceie
prr.ea nd ,adav OF the contracts for the % and
a2,"knot boats dlsposes OF one OF the most hercey
cc-ant"sred rechuIcal fights In the department., -
coo'rac,s Tor the three torpedo boats which were
swsrded by Secretary Herbert yesterday , we,e
srnmntiv exc ,uted this morning by President scott
~ ~ the Union Iron Works. San Francisco and Gen,
~ oroi HYDE OF the Bath Iron Works, maine ne
,n,sn cast boat is "A sliGht modification OF The
EneIisb boat desperate built by Thornycroft ut, us
disniacement Is 1iO tons. and Its cost S.zI'o. ne
two Atlantic Coast boats are duplicate, 9I Inc
French boat Cyclone, built by Norinahn. oa s
Ling a deyelopment of the speedy forban Vpe.
they are OF ton. displacement ana cSorasnse S, ros
Sa9fhv", Sh 30 original recommendaticns made by Com.
modores HicRborn and Melville which ware Opposes
n.rtended that Hsrreshof should get the contracts