New-York tribune., 1898-11-22
PRICE THREE CENTS.
SHIPBUILDERS FORM A TRUST
FOUR GREAT FIRMS PRACTICALLY
POOL THEIR INTERESTS.
SUDDEN INCREASE IN THE PRICE OF MONITORS
RESULTS. AND THE NAVY DEPARTMENT
MAY HAVE TO MODIFY ITS
PLANS AGAIN.
rsY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrprxE.l

Washington Nov. 2l-An American Ship
builders Trust is already looming up a a
suit Of the war with Spain and unless the vast
extension OF the commerce OF the United States
with its colonial possessions causes capital 10
flow into the industry Of constructing vessels.
the extensive naval programme contemplated
by the Administration may be modified by Con-
gress in the interests of economy. The pur-
chase by the Navy Of over a hundred auxiliary
vessels. including tugs. yachts and other craft.
and the heavy draft on the merchant marine for
Army transport service. have materially reduced
the number Of vessels available for commercial
purposes and the deficiency must be remedied
by the building of numerous steamers for indI-
vduals and corporations in the next year be-
yond the capacity Of existing marine establIsh-
ments. Only three such yards in the country
have up to this time been able to take naval
contracts for vessels of more than 5000 tons
These three concerns have built all the battle.
ships and armored cruisers hitherto authorized.
and as the number OF these vessels has been
extremely limited their prices have been opt
down to reasonable figures, either Of the three
yards having been capable Of taking all the
large vessels authorized by any one Congress.
FIRMS IN THE COMBINATION.
The Navy Department has. however had q
strong intimation from shipbuders recently
that SITTER prices will prevail in the future. and
an unmistakabe irdic1ton Of what IS in store
has been disclosed at a meeting held in New
York City several days ago. when representa-
! tives Of the firms which have contracts for the
obsolete and discredited type Of single -turret
monitors practically pooled their interests and
| determined, fguratlyely speaking, to put the
screws on the Government before they got
through with the job. 1t is the understanding
aFfnD
were Henry T. Scott, Of the Union Iron Works.
san Francisco, contractors for the wyoming
superintendent Hanscom. Of the Bath Ship
| building Works contractors for the Connecticut;
Lewis Nixon Of Elizabeth. y. J.. contractor for
the Florida. and an official Of the Newport News
company. contractors for the Arkansas.
Their gathering in New-YOrk was brought
about in a manner unknown to naval officials
generally though it followed promptly on tho
dispatch by Secretary Long Of request to
each Of the concerns asking them II estimate
| on the increased cost Of the improved monitors
described in The Tribune week ago Mt
Scott and Mr. HanscOm were in washington
to-day. and they to appear with Mr. Nixon
and probably Superintendent Post. Of the New
port News company. before the Naval Bureau
chiefs at a special meeting Of the Board or Con-
struction tomorrow morning to reply 70 the
questions raised by the Navy Department IN
relation to the possibility Of getting decent
warships Of the monitor type within the limits
! of the Congress appropriation.
RISE IN THE PRICE OF MONITORS.
The results OF the meeting in NewYork we're
apparent when the builders visited the Navy
Department to-day It quickly became evident
to the officials with whom they conversed that
the price of monitors per ton. which averaged
mo a when
we're opened for 27O0-ton vessels, had risen IN
six weeks 10 about SiOD a ton when i,ro-ton
vessels appeared to be desirable.
Before the contracts were formally executed
three Of the builders evinced readiness to en-
large the vessels at the rate Of 500 a ton Dut
their willingness had altogether disappeared TO-
day until they found as result or thelr IN
ouires that the Department was terribly IN
earnest about improving the monitors. and un-
less the builders showed disposition 10 meet
the Government halfway all the facts woud
be presented to Congress next month, with an
urgent recommendation to annul the contracts.
The authorities are also fully determined 10
make an example Of the contractors If any ex-
tortion is attempted even to the extent or 10
barring them from bidding for future work
PLANS MAY BE MODIFIED AGAIN.
7, became evident to-day. in view Of the atti-
tude Of the contractors, that the improved YES
sells would have 20 be still further modified, and
that instead OF 1000 tons displacement com
promise on about $500 tons would probably be
reached This will probably mean the abandon
rnent OF 200 tons Of coal, making the bunker
conacitv lust as Il was In the original design.
200 tons This sacrifice Is not considered at an
ini,.rious for these vessels are not intended
for long sea cruises and great coal "n"uidh,e
is NOT essential especially as Independent col
Hers will hereafter be consDl' uous IN me nee. %
T'bere is a growing sentiment in the Navy that
coal endurance is getting 10 be Overcome III tu7
direction Of harbOr and cOast-ieftnce Nesseis'
which are not Intended 10 keep the open sea
f,~ lnno ueriod, Great coal capacity compeis
n much wider armor belt. as every hundred tons
Of coal burned lifts the vessel - much hlsher
ant of tho water and in the case Of many yes
soils when oyer half the coal - consumed the
arroor belt IS apt 70 emerge altogether.
II is probable that about twenty tons ~ pro
,..tiva dock costing about $1,000 which waS
added To the monitor designs about ten days
apo will he taken off useless. The original
7oo-ton vessels had a deck one and a hair
inches thick which increased an inch In
th, modified plans. This addition ~ not con-
sidered AT all essential. as any shell which eN
rlodad would destroy two and half inches ~
protection as easily as II "ouId a de'k OF ha'r
that thickness
II was also suggested to-day that the original
engines should be maintained. thereby reducing
rho suecd To eleven knots To maintain twelve
tons Of engine weights had been added which
materially increased the expense. II IL now
thought that eleven knots is sufficient speed
FOR monitors as they not expected 20 keen
company with cruisers under any circumstances.
With these deductions il is said that good ships
can ye; be obtained from the Appropriation
ships far superior 10 the antquated single
turret affairs at first fosted on the Department
THE MARIA TERESA ABANDONED.