The times., 1899-11-28

The Navy Department yesterday award
ed contracts for building the six unpro-
teeted cruisers Of 3.2OO tons authorized by
the last Congress. In accordance with the
recommendation of the Board on C0nstruc-
tion one each was awarded to the follow
ing firms
William r, Trigg, of Richmond, Va;
Lewis Nixon, Of Elizabethport y. J.; Bath
Iron Works. of Bath Ne; Union Iron
Works, of San Francisco; Fore River En-
gine Company. of Fall River, Mass; Neafie
& Levy, of Camden, y. J. All are to be
constructed on the design of the depart
ment. They are Of the same class as the
Denver
The action Of the department endorses in
every way the views OF the Board on Con-
struction. -Four of the five members of
the board signed the report which recon-
mended that the contract for constructing
one cruiser be awarded to each Of the six
firms. which submitted the lowest bids
on the departments plans, with the eX-
cep.iou of the firm of Townsend & Downey,
OF New York. The ether member OF the
board wanted to award the contracts to
the lowest bidders who guaranteed a
speed of nineteen knots on their own
plans, the departments specifications CALI
! ing for minimum speed of sixteen and
| one-half knots.
Townsend & Downey submitted the low
! est bid This firm had never competed
! before, and. in accordance with its custom,
! the department sent two officers, an en-
/ gineer and a constructor, to visit the
works and make a report on its ability to
( construct naval vessels. These officers re-
ported that the firm was composed OF re-
/ liable men, but did not have all the Heces-
sary tools for engaging in shipbuildng.
had never built any vessels, and could not
! it its plant with the necessary appliances
/ to begin the construction of one Of the
( cruisers within the three months allowed
! for preparation by The Navy Department.
After the Board on Construction submit
ted its report emitting Townsend &
! Downey from the list Of bidders recon-
! mended, the Secretary Of the Navy, to make
! sure that no injustice would be done the
7 firm, sent the Naval Board Of Inspection
1 To visit its plant. This board consists OF
! Rear admiral Frederick Rodgers Presi-
/ dent: Captains Evans. Commander Emory
! Commander Rocker, and Naval Construct
/ or Capps. with Lieutenant Commander
/ Henderson as recorder. all of whom signed
I a report confirming the opinion Of the spe-
/ Cial board OF tive officers. 1t was on ac-
/ count Cf this confirmation that the depart
ment did not award a contract TO Townsend
& Downey. The reasons given by the
Board Of Inspection for recommending that
the bid of Townsend & Dowuey should not
! be accepted were as follows:
at the present time there is no organ
lied force whatever having experience in
the construction Of steel or iron hulls il
| propelling machinery.
The plant now on the spot is entirely
| Inadequate to the needs of a shipbuiIding
establishment Of even modest preteusions
and, though requested, the firm furnished
no definite evidence to show that the de-
livery and installation of the necessary
plant had been provided for within the
time specified by the Navy Department
| under its circular inviting proposals.
In the opinion Of the board, the pre-
paraJions for such a contract should be
well matured and TO q considerable extern
completed before a contract involving suct
large expenditures is awarded"