The San Francisco call., 1898-08-24
NAVY DEPARTMENT
 OPENS THE BIDS Lively Competition for
 Torpedo Craft. SCOTS IN THE SCRAMBLE CRAMPS SEEM TO BE AFTER
 BIGGER GAME.
SCOTS IN THE SCRAMBLE
Complicated Proposals of Certain Builders Will Necessitate Delay in Awarding
 Contracts.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

WASHINGTON, Aug 2S.-The Navy Department opened bids at noon to-day for sixteen torpedo-boat destroyers and twelve torpedo boats, to cost in the ag- gregate not to exceed $16, 900, as pro- vided in the last naval appropriation act. These destroyerS and torpedo boats con- stitute the largest single addition ever made to the navy. The destroyers are to be completed within eighteen months and the torpedo boats within twelve months.
 According to the requirements of the de- partment the deStroyerS are to have a guaranteed speed of 28 knots, and the tor pedo boats 26 knots. The destroyers are to be about 400 tons and are to cost not more than $295, 900 each, while the tor pedo boats are to be about 150 tons and to cost not more than s170,000 each. The bat tery will be composed of seven rapid-fire guns The ammunition required will weigh about seven tons. There will be mounted on the midship line two twenty foot torpedo tubes, to carry seventeen inch torpedoes.
 The first bid was that of the Bath Iron Works Bath, Me, for one torpedo boat with a speed of 29 5-10 knots, at $161,000, or four at $160.00O each; one destroyer of 2s knots at $2s2 00O: two at s2Sl 900. or three at $2S0, 800. The other bids follow:
 Dialogue & Son, Camden, N J.-One torpedo boat destroyer, 29 knots, at s2sS.OOO. or two at S2S5. .000 each.
  four torpedo boats. 26 knots at S16O,Oo each; also, under different plans, one torpedo boat sles,OoO; two. 5000; three a6s soOO, or four. Sl61, ,0OO each; also, one destroyer 2S knots, at s293 GOO; two $291, 000 three four or five, S2SS, 600 each; also destroyers under different plans, s2S2. 600 each
 Neafy Levy, PhIladelphia-For destroyers. 2s knots two at S2S4 GOO; three, $2S3, GOO.
 William R. Trigg, Richmond-For torpedo boats of 26 knots, one at s16O, GOO: two. s15O000 each; three. s12s, 900 each; four. s114OOo each: h o1s, ono three S25O 900; four s240, O00 five, $23S 900 each
 Union Iron Works, San Francisco-Destroy- CTS of 29 knots, one at S2s4, 900; two three, s2SJ GOO each: also destroyers under the second class s2s4, 0GO; two, s2S2, ,OOO three, S2Sl.5 each.
 Maryland Steel Company, Maryland-Two de stroyers of 30 knots, s29i 0O0; three, $2S6. GOO; three different bdl. s2Sa OoO four s2S2 900 each one of 26 knots, s262 900; two s159, 400 also diff ferent plans, one sl52. 800; two. $l49, 400 each; also, different plans, one, Sl5 4OO two, Sl5S 800 each.
 Lewis Nelson. Elizabsthport, N. :J;--Toorpedo
 Harlan Hollingsworth Company, Wilmington. Del.-Destroyers of 2s knots; one, $2s4 600; two,
 Fali River Engine Company. Weymouth. Mass-One destroyer of 30 knots, s2S5, 900; one torpedo boat also osd na plans ers different plans, one 30 knots and one 2S knots s2S2, oOO and SIP @ coo respectiyeIyy; also.
 Gas Engine and Power Company, New York-Destroyers, one 5000; also. one de-
 
 or two destroyers and one torpedo boat $780, GOO: or two destroyers and two torpedo boats, sS4s GOO; or two destroyers and three torpedo boats, S9S7, 900.
 Richard S. Peyton. WiaIllanmansport. LII Pa-De- aa- De also one to four 30 knots, s230, GOO; also one to four. 85 knots. $275 GOO. GThe foregoing bid at 40 knots caused some comment
 boat s17O Ooo two, s65 GOO; three. sl6s 900; four s162 500; also, destroyers, 29A knots: one. s2S9, CTS; one $2s50o0; two s2s1, 900; three, s2S9, Ooo
 This closed the bids. The naval off, cials commented on the absence of the Cramp firm and the Herreshoffs amons the bidders The bids will be tabulated and the. awards made at the earliest day practicable. Aside from the price there are many details in each bid, time of de | livery, displacement, speed, design, etc. which will have to be considered in malx | ing the awards.
 | Representatives of all the great shiI | building firms were present when the bid: | were opened.