Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1898-08-27
FOR THE NEW NAVY.
Bids for the Construction of rs Torpedo
Boats and Destroyers are Opened-ofi-
GERS VIII Decide RB to what Shall be
Done with the Auxiliary Fleet

Bids for the Construction of rs Torpedo
Boats and Destroyers are Opened-oni-
GERS VIII Decide to What Shall be
Done with tho Auxiliary Fleet
Washington, Aug. 24.-The navy de-
partment yesterday opened bids for
16 torpedo boat destroyers and ~ tor
pedo boats, to cost in the aggregate
not exceeding S6,000,000, as provided
in the last naval appropriation act.
These 2S destroyers and torpedo boats
constitute the largest single addition
ever made to the navy. The destroy
ers are to be completed within 1s
months and the torpedo boats within
16 months. According to the require
ments of the department the destroy
ers are to have guaranteed speed of
2S knots and the torpedo boats &c
knots. The destroyers are to be about
400 tons, and are to cost not more
than $2o5,OOO each, while the torpedo
boats are to be about $50 tons and to
cost not more than $170,O00 each.
These destroyers will be the first ves-
sells of that type added to our navy,
except those improvised from yachts
during the recent war.
The naval officials commented on
the absence of the Cramp firm and
Herreshoffs among the bidders. The
bids will be tabulated and awards
made at the earliest day practicable.
The bids number nearly 200.
The disposal of the large feet of
| auxiliary cruisers, about 100 in all, in
Guiding a number of large ocean GO
ing merchantmen which have been
improvised into cruisers, colliers, etc,
| will be taken up at the navy depart
| ment to-day by special board OF
naval officers consisting of Capt.
| Clark, of the battleship Oregon; Capt.
Higginson, of the battleship Massa-
| chusetts; Capt. Chadwick, of the
cruiser New York; Civil Engineer An
| drade, who inspected the ships at
Santiago, and Naval Constructor Taw-
resi-, who was a member of the aux
| iliary board at New York which
originally recommended the purchase
| of these vessels.
This fleet cost many millions of dol
lars. The yachts averaged in cost
about $4,000 and the tugs $4,000.
while the big liners transformed into
cruisers and colliers cost several hun
dred thousand dollars each.
The naval board now to pass upon
this feet will require a month or
more to make the survey and APP
praisal which the law requires when
naval material is to be sold. The
| board will determine at the outset
| what vessels should be retained, as
many of those on hand are serviceable
as colliers, supply, ambulance or dis
tilling ships. Those to be sold will
be appraised, and the navy depart
ment will then advertise for bids for
the ships not wanted. There will be
no auction. Bids will be received at
the navy department, the sales being
made to the highest responsible bid
ders at not less than appraised price.
There is some curiosity as to the
amounts which will be offered for
these vessels. When they were
bought. the urgent needs of the gov
ernment compelled the payment OF
prices which, in some cases, were re.
| garded as fancy" Doubts are eX,
| pressed in naval circles whether these
same fancy" prices will prevail when
the offers to the government are
made, the impression being that some
of the contractors will make good
! profits at both ends, selling high and
buying low. The naval board will
see, however, that the government is
| protected against serious loss.