The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-09-02
IN POWER AND SPEED
WILL SECURE
MORE THAN WAS EXPECTED.
THE COST ENINENTLY SATISFACTORY
Among the Bidders the Newport News Co.
Put in the Lowest Bid, But The Com
pany Bid For Only One

Washington, Sept 1.-The result Of the
bidding for the construction of the three
big battleships authorized by Congress is
eminently satisfactory to the Navy De
partment. From the face Of the bids
it is clear that the government is going
to secure very much more in the matter
of power and speed than was expected;
that the cost is going to be less than was
paid proportionately for the Illinois class;
and finally, that the Department 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 presence of a number of rep
resentatiyes of shipbuilding concerns, OF
Department officials and other men con
nected with the Department.
The bids were made in three classes.
the first being under the plans prepared
by the Navy Department calling for
ships of about 800 tons with speed
of rs knots. The other classes were un-
der plans prepared by the bidders them
selves, in some cases on additional plans
prepared by the Engineering Bureau, but
not included in the original specifications
sent out to bidders.
The bids were opened in the following
order:
J. II. Dialogue & Co. of Camden, n.
j.. one ship in 33 months under class J.
for the sum of $2,S40,000.
Newport News ShipbuiIding Co., one
ship under class l, in 81 months for the
sum of S2,5S0,000. One ship under
class 2. with n speed of X knots in %
months $2,GS0,000. One ship of about
1850 tons with speed of Is knots in
81 months for the sum of $2,SJ0,000.
VIM. Cramps Shipbuiding Co.. OF
Philadelphia, Pa. One ship under class
/, in % months for S2.GJ0000. Two
ships of the same class for S2,625, 900
each. One ship under class ,, with a
speed of II knots in 81 months with
tonnage of II, 800 for 81, 900 or two
of the same for 50. 100000 each. One
ship of 12,250 tons and a speed of Is
knots in 81 months for So, $50, 900, or two
of the same for $2,S70,0O0 each.
Union Iron Works, San Francisco,
Cal, one ship under class /, for $2,674,-
coo in 81 months. One ship under class
2, with a speed of II knots for 50, 725, 900
in 81 months. One $1,000 ton, IS knot
ship in 33 months for $2.S990O0
\ careful examination of these bids
show that the prices asked for the yes
sells planned on the Department designs
average slightly less than the price to be
paid for the Illinois class. although these
snpS 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 of is knots speed, much better
ships than called for by the Depart
ment. 1t is expected that the only bids
considered therefore will be for the IL
knot ships. In this case the Newport
.NewS Company is the lowest bidder, but
bids for only one ship. The highest is the
Union Iron Works. but the act of Con
greSS allows the Department to make
an allowance of not to exceed per cent.
in favor of Pacific coast bIuders, so thar
brings their bid within line. Cramp
comes in between them and consequently
the three ships are likely to be distrib-
uted geographically in that order. In
the case of the Is knot ships both Cramp
and the Union Iron Works submitted
similar plans, these being practically
the Department plans heightened about
lG feet in order to get in the extra horse
power. The Newport News design for
the IL 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 bids have been
taken under advisement by Acting Sec
retary Allen.