The San Francisco call., 1897-06-22
BUILDERS BID ON
TORPEDO-BOATS
Ten Firms Compete for
Three Thirty-KnOt
Vessels.
Union Iron Works of San
Francisco Enters the
Contest.
Complex Proposals That VIII Ne
cessItate a Great Deal Of
Figuring.

WASHINGTON, D. c., June 21.-It was
demonstrated to-day at the opening of
bids for furnishing three 30-knot torpedo
boats for the navy that large number of
shipbuilding firms are prepared TO con-
struct small naval vessels within a short
time at a reasonable cost. Ten firms en-
tered into the competition, among them
several that had not appeared in previous
endeavors 10 secure contracts for war
ships.
a matter arousing comment from a
large number of epresentatives of the
concerns present was that the Herrs-
ehoffs, who have furnished some of the
fastest torpedo boats and have been par
tlcularly fortunate in satisfying ali re-
quirements, did not bid, while several
larger firms heretofore con 6ning their
efforts to securing contracts for big ships
submitted proposals.
The conditions to which successful bid
ders will be obliged to subscribe call for
an excess OF 21z knots over the highest
speed heretofore required. One of the lit
tie vessels must be of not less than 26O
tons and the others not less than 230 TONS
Eighteen months will be allowed 10 COM
plete the boats. Congress has appropri-
ated $500, 900 to build all three.
The opening took place in the office of
the Secretary of the Navy. In addition to
the ten legitimate bids one freak PROPOSE
ton was offered. This bidder guaranteed
a speed of forty knots an hour for $225, 900,
but he did not inclose the required certi-
fed check and his bid was thrown out
The bids are TOO com plex to classify prop
erIy and the lowest cannot be de termined
accurately until the department has done
lot of figuring.
The proposal of the Columbia Iron
Works of Baltimore appears to be the
most reasonable in price. In detail the
bids and bidders are:
Columbia Iron Works, Baltimore-One boat
OF go tons for $4,000 or two for $415, 600;
one boat of $50 tons on different plans for
$195, 600, or two for 1886, 900; one boat of 26O
tons for $225,00O, or two for $444 1000.
George Lawly. Boston-0ne boat OF 410 tons
for $28, 900.
Union Iron works, San Francisco CaI.-one
boat OF $50 tons for S245, $50, or two for S49O.-
500; one boat of 225 tons for 1925, 900, or two
for $440,0O0.
Harlan d Hollingsworth, Wilmington, Del
One boat of $50 tons for $244 600, and one
boat of $40 tons for $235, 900. or both for
$449,000 one boat of 267 tons for 1912, 900,
or one boat OF $40 tons for S235. 600 or both
for $447, 900; two boats of $40 tons for
! $467 600; two boats of 276 tons for S425, 900,
and two boats OF 267 tons for $421 900.
Gas Engine and Power Company, New York
One boat of235 tons for $21OOO0 or two for
$41O. 900.
John Dialogue, Camden-One boat of 243
tons for $243 OOO or two for $47s, 900.
Bond Equity Trust Company-One boat of
270 tons for $269,00O.
Wolff & Sewicker, Portland, Or-One boat of
249 tons for $2I4,5O0. or two for $42O, 900.
Charles Hilman Sh1pbuilding COMPANY.
Philadel phia-one boat of 27O tons for
$3.50, ,OOO
Cramps. Philadelphia-One boat Of $40 tons
for $245, 900.
Bath Iron Works, Maine-One boat of 800
tons for $217 300, and two for $432, ,OOO
The prospects are that the Union Iron
Works will receive the contract for con-
structing at least one of the new torpedo
boats. This is the opinion of Henry T.
Scott OF San Francisco, who was present
at the Navy Department when the bids
were opened. The bidding was so compli.
Gated, however, that the result will be in
doubt until the contracts are awarded.
The difference in sizes of the three boats
proposed by the various builders and
other reasons i'll make it rather difficult
for the department to award the con tracts