The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-08-28
sfr. NiNon's Views

the material he will need at the price at
which ne fisured the cost in making his
estimate.
Mr. NiNon's Views
Here is the story of the battleship con-
tracts from the beginn n.y." said Mr. Nix
on. THE three new ships are to be built
under an act of Congress approved May
4. The Secretary of the Navy recommend
ed their construction TO Congress: Con-
gress appropriated 100000 each for
them, with certain limitations; the Secre-
tary of the Navy had plans and specifi-
cations prepared and advertised for bids,
and now the bids are about to be opened
and the awards to be made.
AS soon as the appropriation was au-
tnorized by Congress representatives of
the big shiDbuilders began to visit the
Navy Department to learn what the
plans for the new ships were to be
These plans We're prepared chiefly in the
Bureau of Construction. and drawings
were made there. under the Secretary's
approval, for the guidance Of the bidders
in making estimates. Specifications also
were drawn up and printed in little books,
copies OF which were prepared for distri-
button 10 all possible bidders.
Early in June circular was gotten
out setting forth the law and quoting
prior enactments which limit the ship
builders work. For example. only
American material can be used in an
American battlesh5p. Then there are lin
ftations on the displacement of the ship
on the coal capacity, and so on Con-
gress put a limit of 1880 tons displace-
ment on the three new ships. and the
weight of the engines and of the coal and
the aTmor must be balanced so as to con-
form to that requirement
Beyond that the contractor mas MOTH
ing TO do with the armor except to see il
delivered in time. Delays in the delivery
OF armor for the Indiana and some other
of our ships have cost the contractors
hundreds of thousands of dollars.
At So Much n Pound
How does the contractor figure out the
cost of such an enormous structure. in
voiving such great expenditures? Build
ers have different ways of doing it, Some
of them figure the cost down to so much
pound When | bid recently on tor
pedo boat chasers l had the heads of the
department in my yard figure out the ex-
act cost of every feature of the vessel
down TO the rivets. By the way. there
stroyer. When the cost of each part had
been figured out, l added good sum to
represent the connecting links between
the departments and the unforeseen con-
tingencies- This extra allowance is some
thing that no man can appreciate unless
he has actually built a boat after making
a minute calculation of the probable cost.
1t is in this particularly that their expe-
rience has helped our shipbuilders to
make estimates for the new ships
One of the great items in the cost OF
shipbuilding, Mr.. Nixon says, is the in
terest on plant. Two great ship yards in
this country, either of which is capable
of undertaking two of the battleships al
once. have s, 600 900 each invested. Labor
is another serious problem.
These yards Mr.. Nixon said, "coult
employ as many as 5000 workmen al
once on contract for two battleships
and these workmen would average two
dollars a day of ten hours. A payroll
of 81. 600 a week is a great item even il
a Sc. 900 900 contract. Wages are a cast
expenditure.
The Labor Element.
Labor is a very uncertain quantity IL
ship construction. Highly skilled work
men earn S. to Sc day. and they are wei
content to get constant employment. Blu
to bring the average down to 81 there Is
very large contingent drawing 81. SIS
and S175. and If these men should tax.
it into their heads to strike and delay
the completion of the contract or to in
sist on an eight-hour day. 1t would be 9
very serious thing fer the contractor