Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-09-02
NEW BATTLESHIPS.
Bids Opened for Construction
at Washington, Thursday.
Splendid Vessels Of Great Speed
Offered at Low Figures.
Csamps, UaIsn Iron Works and Newport News
Co. the Bidders.

Washington, Sept. 1.-The bids for
the three new battleships were opened
shortly afternoon in the presence Of a
number Of Representatives of ship
building concerns. Among them were
President Henry Scott Of the Union
Iron Works of San Francisco; Presi-
dent Circuit Of the Newport News Ship
building Co.: John Dialogue of Cam
den. N. j.; Messrs. Charles Cramp, Nc
Cannon and Williams OF Cramps; Ed
ward Hyde of the Bath Works. Supt.
Wilson and Naval Architect Chess
borough of the Sparrow Point Works:
and Constructor Woodward from New
port News.
The bids were made in three classes,
the first being under the plans pre-
pared by the navy department. calling
for ships Of about 1850 tons with a
speed of Is knots. The other classes
were under plans prepared by the bid
ders themselves. in some cases on adj
ditional plans prepared by the bidders
themselves, in some cases on addi-
tional plans prepared by the Engineer
ing bureau. but not included in the
original specifications sent out to bid
ders.
The bids were Opened in the fol-
lowing order:
]. H. Dialogue & Co., of Camden,
N. j.. one ship in 30 months under
Glass 1. for the sum of $2.S4O,000.
Newport News Shipbuilding Co.. one
ship under Glass 1. in 81 months, for
the sum Of $2.5SO.O00; one ship under
Glass 2. with speed of II knots. in
80 months. $3.50. 900; one ship OF about
1880 tons with a speed Of Is knots,
in 81 months for the sum of 81 1850, 900.
VIM. Cramp Shipbuilding Co.. )f
Philadelphia, one ship under Glass !,
in 20 months, for $2.65O,OOO; two ships
same class for $2,625, 900 each; one
ship under Glass 2, with speed of II
knots, in ~ months, with a tonnage Of
1880 for $2,775,OOO. OF two of the same
for 900 each.
Union Iron Works of San Francisco,
one ship under Glass /, for s., 674, 900 in
81 months: one ship under Glass
with a speed of II knots for $2,725. 900
In 81 months; one. 1920 tons, Is knots
in 30 months for $2.S99,O00.
A careful examination of these bids
shows that the prices asked for the YES
average slightly less than the price to be
paid for the Illinois class, although these
ships are improvements in somexrspects.
But 1t also appears that theHbids 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 department.
1t Is expected that the only bids consid-
cred, therefore. will be for the 1S-kno,
ships. In this case the Newport News
Co. is the lowest bidder, but bids for only
one ship.
The highest Is the Union Iron Works
but the act of Congress allows the depart
ment to make an allowance of not to ex-
coed 4 per cent. in favor of Pacific coast
line.
Cramp comes in between them. and con-
seQuently the three ships are likely to be
distributed geographically in that order
In the case of the 1S-knot ships, both
Cramp and the Union Iron Works sub.
mitted similar plans. these being practi.
cally the department plans, heightened
about 16 feet in order to get in the extra
horsepower.
The Newport News design for the 1S
knot vessel Is original with them If II
should not be satisfactory to the depart
ment. the Cramp Co. probably would ge,
two Of the ships.
The bids have been taken under advise
ment by Acting Secretary Allen.