The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1897-09-15
BIOS EoR RArTLE.sHlPs.
Proportions OF Builders Opened at the
Navy Departments.

bids for the three new battle-ships
authorized by the last Congress. The
lowest bid OF each for any type OF one
vessel follows:
Newport News Shipbuilding Com
pany, Newport News, Va, 81, $50, 900;
Philadelphia, $3.50, O0e;
Union Iron Works, San Francisco,
81, ga, 900; Dialogue & Co., $3.50,
600.
The result Of the bidding is emf
nently satisfactory TO the Navy Depart
ment. From the face Of the bids it is
clear that the Government is going TO
secure much more ia the matter of
power and speed than was expected;
that the cost is going to be less pro-
portionately than was paid for the
illinois class, and finally that the de-
partment will be able to distribute the
work among the three big building
concerns, method OF construction
that always rebounds TO the advantage
of the Government.
The bids were opened in the pres
ence OF number Of representatives of
shipbuild;ng concerns, OF bureau chiefs
and other men connected with the de-
partment. Acting Secretary Allen sat
at the head Of the table on which the
bids we're placed, with Judge Advo-
cate General Lemly on his left. Engi-
neer-in- Chief Melville and Chief Con-
structor Hichborn were seated on the
left with Constructor Taylor and
Passed Assistant Engineer Mcfarland.
Surrounding the table were the rep
resentatiyes OF tine shipbuilding con-
Germs, among them being President
Henry Scott OF the Union Iron Works
OF San Francisco. President Orcutt OF
the Newport News Shipuilding Com
pany, John Dialogue Of Camden,
Messrs. Charles Cramp, Cannon and
Williams of Cramps Edward Hyde OF
the Bath Works, Superintendent Will
son and Naval Architect Cheesborough
OF the Sparrow Point Works and Con-
structor Woodward from Newport
News.
The bids were made in three classes,
the first being under the plans pre-
pared by the Navy department. calling
for ships Of about Il 500 tons, with
speed OF sixteen knots. Other classes
were under plans prepared by the
bidders themselves, in some cases on
plans prepared by the Engi
neering Bureau, but not included in
the original specifications sent out to
The bids were opened in the follow
ing order:
J. II. Dialogue & Co., Camden, N.
J.-One ship in thirty-three months,
under class /, for the sum of $780,
900.
Newport News shpbuilding Conn
ship, under class /, in
thirty-one months, for the sum Of 3d.
$50, 600; one ship, under class 2, with
a speed OF seventeen knots, in thirty.
two months, $4,000, 900; one ship OF
about 1880 tons, with speed of
eighteen knots, in thirty-two months,
~, $50, 600.
William Cramp Shipbuilding Com.
pany of Philadelphia--One ship, un-
der class /, in twenty-nine months,
for 1850, 900; two ships OF the same
class for $3,625, 900 each; one ship,
under class 2, with speed of seven
teen knots, in thirty.two months,
with tonnage of 800, for 81, 725,-
900, or two OF the same for $780,
900 each; one ship of 1915 tons and
a speed OF eighteen knots, in thirty
two months, for 1885, 900, or two Of
the same for 81, $40, 900 each.
Union Iron Works OF San Francisco
One ship, under class /, for 1864, 900
in thirty-one months; one ship, under
class 2, with speed OF seventeen knots,
Tor ~, $4,000 in thirty-one months;
one OF $4,000 tons, eighteen knots, in
lhirty-tmee months, for $2, 1893, 900.
A careful examination OF these bids
shows that the prices asked for the
vessels planned on the department
designs average slightly less than the
price to be paid for the Illinois class,
although the ships are improvements
IN some respects. But it also appears
that the bids were within the limit OF
cost fixed by Congress, even where the
builders propose to make them OF
eighteen knots speed, much better
ships than called for by the depart
nent. 1t is expected that the only bids
therefore, will be for the
ships. In this case the
Newport News Company is the lowest
bidder, but bids for only one ship.
The highest is the Union Iron Works,
but the act of Congress allows the de-
partment to make an allownce of not to
exceed 4 per cent in favor OF the
Pacific Coast bidders, so that brings
their bids within line.
The Cramps come in between them
md consequently the three ships are
likely to be distributed geographically
in that order. In the case OF the
eighteen knot ships both Cramps and
The Union Iron Works submitted SIM
liar plans. The Newport News bid
or the eighteen-knot vessels is original
with them. II it should not be satsiac-
,ory to the department then Cramps
would probably get two OF the ships.
The bids have been taken under adj.
gisement by Acting Secretary Allen.