Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-10-19
Baltimore Sun Special.

Baltimore Sun Special.
Washington, Oct 12. Serious doubt
has been entertained by naval officials
whether shlpyards, in view of the rand
advance in steel, could bid within Ina
limit of the appropriations for the sir
new cruisers for which proposals are to
be opened on November LIST, Assurance.
have already been received, however
indicating that u number Of firms viii
contract to build the vessels for tbs
money available. The law limits ths
cost of each to 81, 100,O 600, but 81
this the government requires about
100000 TO equip each ship after de.
livery to the Navy Department.
In order that tho builders may b
able to undertake the vessels within
the limit, it is understood naval Off.
cials will waive the amount that
should he set aside for their use, and
ask for special appropriations to cover
the deficit; otherwise, il is oonceded,
it would be impracticable to build all
the vessels for the sums allowed with
the prevailing high price OF steel
These vessels arc "A Fart of the FRO.
gramme of increase OF the navy
authorized at the last session. This
programme also includes three large
battleships and three armored cruisers,
equal in steaming and fighting effective.
ness to the most formidable of their
tyne in the British service.
Owing to the unsettled condition Of
the steel market, and the failure Of
Congress and the armor firms to coma
to terms, NO progress has been made
toward the preparation of the designs
of any of these vessels, and no STEPS in
that direction can be taken until the
Navy Department is authorized 70
purchase armor at higher rates than
those now allowed by law.
So determined are the armor manu-.
faoturers TO force the government to
accete TO their demands that it is
realized by ordinance officers that the
government must make its own armor
or pay the price demanded by the firms
which have furnished all the armor
heretofore supplied, if the work Of
Increasing the navy is to continue.
The firms arc in position to con-
cede little, owing to the abundance Of
other work, which they declare is more
profitable than contracts with the Navy
Department. The six new cruisers
| however, require no arnlor and can
therefore be built regardless of its
cost. Should they nave had even a
thin protection on their water lines, 1t
is doubtful il the vessels could possibly
be built under present conditions In
any event, they will be more costly for
their displacement than many of the
recont ships of equal class that have
been built.
| In type these cruisers will not he
unlike the Raleigh and Cincinnati but
with less horse power and reduced
speed. The former vessels have fro
queEtly hecn said to have engine;
powerful enough for battleships, ant
as coal burners arc the most expensive
in the service. The new ships vii
have displacement of 3, 100 tons, Q
speed of II knots and large Goa
capacity and steaming radius of action
The interest manifested by shipbuildpr
indicates that bids will be received
from all the leading firms of tn
country, and possibly many of th
smaller. A firm at Richmond, Va, j
to be among the Competitors, although
the officials doubt its capacity Il
undertake the work.
The firms which are certain to BIZ
are rhe Cramps, tho Newport News Co.
the Bath Iron Works, tho Harlan
Eollingsworth Co., the Columbian lro
Wo.xs of Baltimore, the Marylan
steel Go. and new firm which ha
Just begun operations at New Iuri;
The Union Iron Works, of San Fran
cisco, MAJ also enter the competition
With sheathed bottom that will proven
fouling in tropical waters, fin keel
and powerful battery of rapid iir
guns. the now cruisers are expected
be equal to those of their class in an
service, and superior to the Rsleis
and Cincinnati in all important point:
In awarding contracts the nayi
authorities hone the ships may be $
distributed that not more than tw
will 90 to one yard, and il the bids al
such that firms can be awarded COZ
tracts, the department will be bett'
pleased, as quicker work will
assured. The vessels must Re con
pleted and turned over to the govern
mont in two years from date of contrac
1t is probable the next battleshil
built for the navy will have trip
screws that will drive the vessels at
tiNiAioh'ioAo ihtu VI oIbtu, u nb rap
strides made in speed by wnrships
the last 10 years has beon due not
much 10 tho increased number
screws. as to the power of tho engin
ezerted on tho single and doub
+ screws. While tho merchant maril
Is yet without three-screw vessel
there are many in tho French, Germi
and American Navies which. und
forced draft on sort run, could on
strip the tleetest A American liners. The
vessels were built as commerce d
, stroyers and are designed to overta'
the swiftest vessels a.ioat. Gre
Britain, however, mas never taxi
, cordially to the three.screw system al
so far has applied it to mono of her "
, vessels.
Admiral Melville, the Engineer-i
chief of the Navy, is one of Il
strongest advocates of the system, al
. TO him is due the credit for Il
Columbia and Minneapolis, the taste
F, cruisers in tho world. The big Maiest
I and tho Powerful, England's supe
! cruisers, are Mt least o knot behil
i ! them in speed, but they have but IL
4 sorrows. Admiral Melville proposes
have the new battleships fitted wi
q triple sorrows il it is possible to secu
the approval of the board on co
(, struction. To rut triple screws
q battleshirs might involve u reducti
: In arnlor protection and ordnance.