The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-02
BIDS FOR BIG BATTLESHIPS.
FoTR sHIP-BUILDING CONCERNS
GIVE ESTIMATES FOR THEM.

Indications That the Ships VIII Ne
of IA Better Quality Than the Navy
Department COntempIated-BIds
Include the Plans of the Depart-
ment and Those of the ship-BuiId-
ing FIrIuS-Cost Less Than Was
Paid PropOrtionateIy for the IIii-
Dois CIass-Estimates for Eigh-
teen-knot VesseIs-Three BattIe-
ships Authorized by Congress.
Washington. Sept 1.-The result of the
bidding for the construction of the three
big battleships authorized by Congress Is
eminently satisfactory 20 tho navy de-
partment.
From the face of the bids IL is clean
that the government Is going to obtain
very much more in the matter of power
and speed than was expected; that the cost
Is going TO be less than was paid propor-
tionateIy for the Illinois class, and, finallys
that the department will be able TO dis
tribute the work among the three big
building concerns, a method of construc-
ton that rebounds to the advantage Of the
government.
The bids were opened shortly after noon
in The presence of a number of represents
atives of the ship-building concerns, OF
department officials, and other men con-
nected with the department. The bids
we're made in three classes, the first being
under the plans prepared by the navy de-
partment calling for ships OF about 1850
tons with speed OF sixteen knots The
other classes were under plans prepared
on additional plans prepared by the engin-
eerlng bureau, but not included In the
original specifications sent out to bid
ders. The bids were:
j. H. Dialogue & Co. of Camden, N. J.s
one ship in thirty-three months under
class i for the sum of s2s40.0o0.
Newport News shlpbuilding Company
one ship under class 1 in thirty-one
months, for the sum of s2,5so.Oo one ship
under class 2, with a speed of seventeen
knots In thirty-two months, 50, 6s0, 900; one
ship Of about 1850 tons, with a speed OF
eighteen knots, in thlrty-two months, for
the sum Of s2s50.OOc.
William Cramps Shpbuildihg Company
Of Phuadelphia-on ship under class 1. in
twenty ty-nine months, for $2,65o0o0; two
ships Of the same class. for $2625,000 EACH
one ship under class q with speed OF
seventeen knots, In thtrty-two months.
with a tonnage Of 1850, for s2,725,0oo, or
two Of the same for 100000 each. One
| ship of l2,1J0 tons and a speed of eighteen
knots, In thirty-two months, for 81 $4,000,
or two Of the same for s2s7o.o0o each.
Union Iron Works, San Franeisco-One
shin under class 1, for $2674,O0o in thirty
one months; one ship under class p with
speed of seventeen knots, for &725 ,0ocs
in thlrty-one months; one 12O00-ton eigh-
teen knot ship, in thirty-three months, for
/ 81. SS9. 900.
A careful examination of these bids
show that the prices asked for the ves-
sels planned on The department designs
average slightly less than the price to be
paid for the Illinois class. although these
ships are improvements in some respects
But it also appears that the bids are
within the limits of cost fixed by Congress
even where the builders propose to maka
them Of eighteen-knots speed, much bet
ter ships than called for by the depart-
ment
1t is expected that any bids consdereds
therefore, will be for the eighteen-knot
ships. In this case the Newport News
Company Is the lowest bidder, but bids
for only one ship. The highest Is the I'M
ion Iron Works. but the act OF Congress
allows the department to make an allow
ance of not to exceed per cent. in favor
of The Pacific coast bidders, so that brings
their bid within line. Cramp comes In be-
tween them and consequently the three
ships are likely to be distributed geo.
graphically In that order
In the case Of the eighteen-knot ship.
both Cramp and the Union Iron Works
submitted similar plans; these being prac-
tically the department plans heightened
about sixteen feet in order to get In the
extra horsepower The Newport News de-
Sign for the eighteen-knot vessel is orig
nal with them. If II should not be satIs-
factory to the department then Cramp
wouh probably get two of the ships. The
bids have been taken under advisement by
Acting Secretary Allen.