The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-09-06

"a SAiN jig bdlA1CSAktps do-
thorized by congress is eminently sat-
isfactory to the navy department.
From the face OF the bids il is clear
that the government is going TO secure
very much more in the matter of pow
er and speed than was expected: thai
paid proportionate1y for the Illinois
class, and, finally, hat the depart
ment will be able to distribute the
work among the three big building
concerns, a method of construction
that always rebounds to the advantage
of the government. The bids were
opened shortly after noon in the pres
ence of a number of representatives of
~shipbuilding concerns, department Of
ficials and other men connected with
the department.
The bids were made in three classes,
the first being under the plans pre-
pared by the ANY department, calling
for ships of about II, 500 tons, with
a speed Of sixteen knots. The other
classes were under plans prepared by
the bidders themselves, in some cases
or additional plans prepared by the
engineering bureau, but not included
in the original specifications sent out
to bidders.
The bids were opened in the follow
ing order: j. H. Dialogue & Co., of
Camden, n. j.. one ship in thirty
three months, under class one, for the
sum of 81, $40, 600.
Newport News Shipbuilding Com
pany, one ship under class one, in thir-
ty-one months, for the sum of $780,
600. One ship under class two, with
a speed of knots, in thir-
ty-two months, for the sum of $780,
600. One ship, of about 1850 tons,
with a speed of eighteen knots, in
thirty-two months, for the sum of
81, $50, 900.
William Cramps S%hipbuilding Com
pany, of Philadelphia, one ship, under
class one, in Twenty-Five months. for
81, $50, 900. Two ships of the same class
for s., 625, 600 each. One ship under
class two, with a speed of seventeen
knots, in thirty-two months. with a
tonnage of II, 500, for 50, 725, 000, or two
of the same for 81, 700, 900 each. One
ship of L, $50 tons and a speed of eigh-
teen knots, in thirty-two months, for
50, SS5, 900, or two of same for $780,
900 each.
Union Iron Works, San Francisco,
one ship under class one. for 81, GA, 900.
in thirty-one months. One ship under
class two, with a speed Of seventeen
knots, for 81, 725, 900, in thirty-tWO
months. One II, 900 tons. eighteen-knOt
snip in thirty-three months for 81, S99,-
900.
A careful examination of these bids
shows that the prices asked for the
vessels planned on the department de-
signs 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 limit of
cost fixed by congress-, even where the
builders propose to make them eigh-
teen knot speed, much better ships
called for by the department. 1t
is expected that the only bids consid-
cred, therefore, will be for the eighteen
knot ships. In his case the Newport
News Company is the lowest bidder,
but bid for Only one ship. The high
est is the Union Iron Works, but the
act of congress allows the department
to make al allowance of not to exceed
4 per cent. in favor of Pacific coast
bidders, so that brings their bid with
in line. Cramp comes in between them
and consequently the three ships are
likely to be distributed geographically
in that order. In the case of the eigh-
teen-knot ships both Cramp and the
Union Iron Works submitted plans.
These being practically the department
plans heightened about sixteen feet in
order to get in the extra horsepower.
The Newport News design for the
eighteen-knot vessel is original with
them. If it should not be satisfactory
to the department then Cramp would
probably get two of the ships. The
have been taken under advisement
by Acting Secretary Allen.
MORE TROOPS DISBANDED.
The war department has issued or
ders for the following transfers of
troops for the purpose of being mus
tered out at their destination:
First Wisconsin, from Jacksonville
to Camp Douglass, Wisconsin; Fifth
Ohio. from Fernandina to Columbus:
First United States volunteer cavalry
Trough Riders), at Montauk Point:
and Thirty-fourth Michi-
gan. from Montauk Point to Camp
Eaton, Island Lake, Michigan: First
Connecticut, from Dunn Loring to
Mantle. Conn: First Illinois infantry,
from Montauk to Armour in Chicago;
Fifth Iowa, from Jacksonville to Des
Moines; Third Virginia, from Camp
Alger to Richmond: First Mississippi.
from Chickamauga to Lauderdale
Springs. Miss: Second Mississippi,
from Jacksonville to Lauderdale
FRAUDULENT BOND SUBSCRIP-
TONS.
A wide investigation of suspicious
under the last call for subscrip-
lions to government bonds has been
by Solicitor O'Connell, Of
treasury department, and today
he submitted to Secretary Gage the
mass of testimony On the transactions.
Several thousand subscribers were ex-
amined. The facts developed show a
scheme operated by single
parties to secure a large amount of the
bonds. The investigation was the out |
of complaints. alleging wrong
full dealing on the part of many bid |
ders. Secretary Gage promptly insti-
tuted the investigation and Solicitor
.Connell today. after submitting mis-
held a conference for two hours
with the secretary on the Develop !.
nents. The report indicates that mi!- !
$50 =