The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-02
BIDS ON BATTLESHIPS
Four Firms Submit Figures on
the New War Vessels.
IS HIGHLY SATISFACTORY
The Three Ships Will Probably Be Built,
One Each by Cramp, the Union Iron
Works and the Newport
News Concern.

washington, sept. l.-FOur firms to-
day offered bids for the construction of
the three new battleships authorized by
the last congress. The lowest bid Of
each for any type OF one vessel follows
Newport News. Va, Shipbuilding Co..
S2.5So.OoO; Cramps, Philadelphia, $3.50. =
900: Union Iron Works. San Francisco.
s2.s14OOO: Dialogue & Co, s2.s4OOOO.
The result of the bidding for the con-
struction OF three big battleships au-
thorized by congress is eminently sat
isfactory to the navy department From
the face Of the bids, II is clear that the
government is going to secure much
more in the matter OF power and speed
than was expected: that the cost Is go
ing TO be less than was paid, propor-
tionally. for the Illinois class, and, final-
ly, that the department will be able
TO distribute the work among the three
big building concerns. a method of con-
struction that always rebounds TO the
advantage OF the government The bids
were opened shortly after noon in the
presence OF a number OF representatives
OF shipbuilding concerns. OF bureau
chiefs and other men connected with
the department.
Acting Secretary Allen sat at the head
or the table on which the bids were
placed. with Judge Advocate General
Lemlie on his left. Engineer-In-Chief
Melville and Chief Constructor Hich-
born were seated on the left. with Con-
structor Taylor and Passed Assistant
Engineer Mcfarland. Surrounding the
table were the representatives of the
concerns. among them be-
ing President Henry Scott of the Union
Iron Works Of San Francisco. President
Orcutt Of the Newport News Ship
building Company. John Dialogue of
Camden, Messrs. Charles Cramps. Mr.
Cannon and Mr.. Williams of Cramps.
Edward Hyde of the Bath Works. SUI
perntendent Wilson and Naval Archi-
tect Cheeseborough Of the Sparrow
Point Works and Constructor Wood
ward of Newport News.
The bids were made in three classes.
the first being under the plans prepared
by the navy department calling for
ships Of about 1l.500 tons with a speed
OF l6 knots. Other classes were under
plans prepared by the builders them
selves, In some cases on additional plans
prepared by the engineering bureau but
not included in the original speclfca-
tlons sent out TO bidders
The bids We're opened in the following
order: j. II. Dialogue & Co, Camden.
\. J.. one ship I'm 33 months. under class
!. for the sum Of $3.50. 600. Newport
News Shipbuilding company. one ship
under class l, In 81 months, for the sum
ot S2.5S0 900; one ship under class ,, with
A speed Of II knots. In 81 months, 50 $50
BOO; one ship of about 1850 tons. with
q speed Of rs knots in 80 months, for the
sum of s., $50. 900.
William Cramp Shipbuilding company
n Philadelphia. one ship under class 1.
n ha
The same class for s2.625. 900 each: one
ship under class A. with n speed of II
Knots. In 81 months, with n tonnage of
u 800. for 81 725. .000 or two OF the same
.or s.. 200, 900 each: one ship of IL. $50 tons
md a speed Of Is knots, i'm % months,
'or S2.SS5.0OO. or two of the same for
f. $40. 900 each
Union Iron Works OF San Francisco.
me ship under class l. for s.. .674. 900, in
II months; one ships under class 2, with
/ speed OF IL knots, for g.. 725. 900, In 81
months; one ship Of 12 200 tons, IS knots.
n 33 months, for s.. 500 900.
a careful examination Of these bids
hows that the prices asked for the ves-
els planned on the department designs
Iverage slightly less than the price to
De paid for the Illinois class. although
he ships are improvements in some re- |
poets. But IL hlso appears that the bids |
Ire Wltnln the limit or cost fixed by |
even where the builders pro- |
'ose to make them of IS knots speed. |
md are much better ships than called |
or by the department
IL is expected that the only bids con- |
iiered. therefore. will be for the IS |
mot ships. In this case the Newport |
Sews company Is the lowest bidder. but /
ids for only one ship. The highest is /
he Union Iron Works. but the act Of |
sngress makes an allowance of not |
D exceed 4 per cent. I'm favor of the /
'acific bidders. so that brings their bid |
'tthin line. Cramps comes in between /
hem and consequently the three ships
re likely to be distributed geographi-
ally in that order. In the case OF the
s-knot ships both Cramps and the
'nion Iron Works submitted similar
lans. The Newport News bid for the
S-knot vessel is original with them.
II should not be satisfactory to the
apartment then Cramps would prob
bly, get two OF the ships The bids
ave been taken under ADJUSTMENT by
citing Secretary Allen.