New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-02
BIDS FOR NEW CRUISERS.
NAVAL BOARD On CONSTRUCTION AGAIN
DISCREDITED.
SHIPBUILDERS PRESENT SUPERIOR DE-
SIGNS AND GIVE GUARANTEES OF
GOOD FAIrH-THE PROPOSALS
DIET All.

10y TELEGRAPH To THE rRinr>r.l

GOOD FAlIH-TlIL PROGOSAlS
IN DETAIL
10y TELEGRAPH TO THE rRirrNrl
Washington. Nov The Naval Board on Con-
struction. which has made such pitable exhibitions
OF incompetcncy in the design Of warshps in the
last two years against emphatically dlscredited
to-day when bids were opened for tho six sheathed
cruisers Of the Denver class and a number OF
shpbuiders presented designs Of their own for
vessels far superior to those projected by the So
called naval experts These bidders plans were
accompanied by certified checks Of 5000 each a.
a guarantee OF good faith. together with legal doc
umenis binding themselves 20 furnish bonds aver
ging more than $4,000 for each vessei. 10 be for
fei;ed 10 the Government IN they failed TO COM
plete their contracts satisfactorily These iars'
checks and bonds ought - dispose 81 any qu"s'lo"
TO whether reputable. busin"ss-like snlpouae's
arc ready and willing to supply superior warshps
The bureau chiefs furnished no similar guarantees
with their plans and undertook the assumption oi
no particular responsibilities. ON account OF mai
vdual differences Of opinion as 10 the best interests
81 the Navy and OF the Government. they faileh 20
agree upon the best pos-iol" snip WITHIN me Hp-
preparation made by Congress on March last ana
finally on July %. they compromised on design
which has ever since been severely criticised oy
technical experts everywhere.
What the Construction Board accomplished III
nearly five months has now been totally SET AZ
naught by cnterprsing, progressive pracuoa' a.
sgners in less than three months. and the Govern
mont IS now 10 get better ships than It's own 80
lected experts were willing 10 provide, or the Navy
Department will he controlled by influences whose
exposure must result I'm a grave scandal
The designs Of the Board 81 Construction when
has come to he known a. thu Departments plans
cal for a sixteen and half knot cruiser. "hich
will however he acceptable with penalty unless the
speed falls below fifteen and half knots: trial dis
placement. 300 tons; coal capacity. 700 tons.
THE BIDS RECEIVED.
on those plans tho following bids were received;
The william r Trgg Company. Richmond. Va.
rhe Fore River Engine Company, Brain're'
same company. two cruisers, zach 81 o2@co
Lewis Nixon Eliza Dcthport. y. j.. <,'n',''o.
Bath Iron Works Maine Slei SO. ~
Union Iron Works. san Fran',sc 20, S0'lsN
Neahe e. Leyy phila cl,j !, d-S 81 ,S'V'
.The epries Drydock Company. Staten Island
coium 81, Iron Work Baltimore. NllsOm
Moran Brothers seattle. SLIGO"
Townsend & Downey. Now-Nork. S97f""
Same TWO cruisers. each 5000"
The last company IS an unknown factor in the
competition n is said TO be erecting shphuilding
plant AT Sho, ers Island. Bayonn,, y. J., but a.
1t Is possessed Of no yard. It is doubtful how II can
convince tho naval authorities that It can complete
n good sized cruiser i'm twcnty-oue months. as IT
promises or Two II them in tweniy-seven months
Up to the present time it has been doing repair
business az Fri, Basin and unless it can give re-
assurances
will have 70 undergo unusual scrutiny for the
Govornrncnt's protection.
Tho Interesting bids however which are apt IN
command tho most serious attention Of the Navy
Department. are those based on bidders own plans,
involving marked notifications OF the Departments
plans yet fulfilling all the Governments rigi1
renuirements chief among these IL the propo-
sition Of tho William r. Trgs COMPANY whose
works n Richmond were visited by the President
and the Cabinet yesterday. when the ShuDrick was
launched In addition to this torpedo boat there are
row on the stocks AZ this newest Of United states
shipyards the sister vessels Stockton and Thorn
ton and the twenty-tght knot destroyers Dale
and Decatur Tho plant Is Of tho highest order. and
is controlled by entcrprsinG. progressive men who
have secured the services Of tho highest skilled
mon in their profession They presented to-day
with one Of their bids fun model Of one Of the
boats they proposed the first instance Of model
furnishing ever known al = naval competition
NAVAL. EXPERTS STARTLED.
The Trrg Comnanys own model was much Ike
that OF the New Orleans providing for ship iif
teen feet longer than that designed by the bureau
chiefs II has SO tons coal capacity and guaran-
teed speed OF eighteen knots One Of these vessels
was offered for SiO4lco. or two for $685. 700 each
They also offered slightly larger vessel on tho same
lines and speed for 10000. or two at sl024o0o
Finally they offered to build on similar lines 70
knot cruiser for 100000 two Of them for sl039
coo the latter vessel to have about 1000 horse power
These guarantees from a company Of such stand
ing experience and trust~orthiness startled the
called naval experts and the old time bidders on
vessels ~ this size who have hitherto had things
nrottv much their way and whose establish
ments have always had Government work on hand
Tho FORE River Company. another new firm. which
f. now building the Lawrence and tho Marlborough
kpet aesgyfrs s,s"' -. rs tons S" o aai Tor n
cost 81 off, 900 and agreed To furnish two AT 81 o2ooo
each They produced another aiiernatiye design
with tho same increased coal supply. win eighteen
and half knots speed ana agreed to nuhd one
for 81 i0Oeo or TWO for SlOvaV eaeh: 40 loud,
could be raised as 10 The capabilify OF ms concern
or Of the character or designers ana "orKmeh con-
nected with the establishment pom the secretary
and the Assistant Secretary Of the Navy are salts
fed of their anxiety to turnish nheF ooa's th"h
The third set OF builders plans came from the
HI er speed Of seventeen and one-haf knots with
an Increase II only fifty tons displacement over
,his fvno for 81 o5so 600 or two for 81 O55Oo each
As Indicative 81 the readiness Of the bidders TO
nxpedous delivery the bidders offer 10 deliver the
ships completed as follows 1rlgs. one or TWO
ono in twenty-five months. the other in twenty
seven months. Townsend d Downey. one IN twen-
All the other bidders demand the full thirty months
stipulated by the Board on Consructon i9 9e,
he entrrpriSing builders. the Government would
n,b. earIier which is important in view Of the
,r~o,, nocd OF these vessels to-day in the Philip
iiSa reed which promises 10 be almost press
pm 80 .'ars hence II was announced to-day that
ali the bids would be referred To- me BOARD on
nort This is understood to relate wholly 10 the
technical features u the bidders plans ana not 10
onestions OF policy In making the awards
N1TT0NtL CHURCH Music AT JESPERS.
Five vesper services will be held In the church OF
tho Divine Paternity. Central Park West ana sew
.ntv-sixth-st to illustrate National church music
hv means Of the memorial organ quartet OF SOTO
singers and chorus. The services nero , - a. 80"
,l he original and significant. Tho Pastor