Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-05
BIDS FOR NEW CRUISERS.
Naval Board ON Construction Again
DiscTedifed-COmplimcnt To Trigg.


Naval Board ON Construction Again
Observation-Disclosures to Trigg.
(By Telegraph TO the New York Tribune)
WASHINGTON. November 1.-The Ma
val Board on Construction. which has
made such pitiable exhibitions Of incom-
potency in the design of warships i'm the
last TWO years. was again emphatcally
discreditcd to-day when bids were opened
for the six sheathed cruisers Of the Dem
Yer class and q number of ship-builders
presented designs of their own for yes-
sels FAR superior TO those projected 10y
the sO-called naval experts. These bid-
ders plans were accompanied by certified
checks Of 10000 each 40 guarantee Of
EOOu falth, together with legal documents
binding themselves 10 furnish bonds
averaging more than $4,000 for each YES
sci, to be- forfeited to the government IN
case they failed 10 complete their con-
tracts satisfactorily. These large che Ks
and bonds ought 10 dispose Of any ques-
ton as 10 whether reputable, business
Ike ship-bu.ldcrs are ready and willing
TO supply superior war hips The bureau
chiefs furnished mo similar guarantees
with their plans. and undertook me as
sumption OF no particular re>pOnslofl ues.
On account Of individual differences or
opinion as 10 the best interests OF The
navy and of the government, they ianed
10 agree upon the best possible snip
within the appropriation made By Con-
gress on March Sd last. and finally, on
July 221. they compromised on design
which has ever since been severely criu-
cised By technical experts everywhere.
What the Construction Board accom-
plished IN nearly five months mas now
been totally set at nauSht by enterpris-
ing. progressive. practical designers III
less than three months, ana inc govern
mcnt is now 20 get better ships than lis
L. af. nor. ff ii. n .Ia
vide. or the Navy Department Will be
controlled by Influences whose exposure
must result i'm grave scandal.
The designs of the Board Of Consiruc-
ton. which has come 10 be known as lhe
DEPARTMENTS plans. call f0r sixteen
and half knot cruiser. which VII, now
ever. be acceptable with penalty unless
the speed falls below tifteen ana q hali
knots; trial Displacement 5,-D IONS coal
capacity. 7c) tons.
THE BIDS RECEIVED.
on these plans the following bids were
The william r. Trgs Company, Rich
m0nd. Va. $4,000.
Inc Fore River Engine Company
Braintrec. Mas. I,0t5.l)o.
same Company. two cruisers, each
lewis Nixon. Enzabethport n. j..
F'B9. rain 'irou-works. Maine. n,0n.C5O.
Union Iron-Works, San Francisco
Neaae & Levy. philadelphia, $3.50 900.
same. two cruisers. cach 81 AJNtll.
The Burlee Dry-Dock Company. staten
Island n y. Sl.lO5.V1.
Columbian lron-Works Baltimore
Moran Brothers. Seattle. N-l22coo. 49,,
Townsend q DOwney New YORK Ss'4'-
IS Same. two cruisers. each $4,000.
Tho last company is an unknown rae
tor I'm the competition. IL j. salu 10 w
erecting ship-bulding plant M shooter $
Tsleud Bavonnc X. j.. but as it is pos
seen 81 no ward II is doubtful how IL
can convince the naval authorities mat
81 can complete "a g00d-slzed cruiser I'D
twuy-One months. as Do promises "l ~ ~
of them I'm tweut1-sevon months. 70
ia the Dreseut time it has been doing "a
repair business at Erie Basin. ana uHle7s
f. can give remarkably strong aSaui itC -
Of capabiity its bid VIII nave 10 uIlut.
so unusual scrutiny for the government >
Tie interesting bids. however, which are
au- 10 command the most serious dltrh-
ti0l of tine Navy Depai lmehl' are
bascd on bidders own plans iHNolN' .57
m,rl ed notifications Of the Gepdi llheIlt
Mans vet fulfilling az the government
rid requirements. tulel among t..,a
is Inc proposition Of the William r. Ires
COrlIauy. whose works az flchmonu ere
visited by The President ana the tdplh- /
yesterday. when the Shubrick was launch
~ In addition TO this torpedo-boat,
there are now ON thc STOCKS at tiI7 hD"-
estof United States ship-y aras, lhe sl7lel
vessels. Stockton ana thornton aili 'I.g
tweuty-cight knot dcstrOycis, bdle anu
Decatur The plant is of the highest
order. and is controlled 10y enter i@iii-'
progressive men, who nave secuIed ue
services Of the highest skilled men I'D
tLel.. profession. They presented To-day
with one of their bids full model III
one OF the boats they proposed, The irst
instance of model furnishing ever known
al naval competition.
NAVAL EXPERTS STARTLED.
The Trigg Compluy's own model was
much like that of the New Orleans, pro-
viding for a ship u feet longer than that
designed by the bureau chiefs TO has SO
tons coal capacity. and guaranteed
speed of eighteen knots one az these
vessels was offered for 81 Oh 90. or two
for S333,1UD each. They also offered a.
slightly larger vessel ON the same lines
and speed for 100000 or two al Sl,02i0ol.
Finally. they offered 10 build on similar
lines uiucteeu-knot cruiser for N,pisW)
or two of them for 81 O39 90. the latter
vessel 10 have about 7O9J-horse-p power.
These guarantees from company OF
such standing, experience, and trust
WCrfhiucsS startled the sO-caucd naval
experts and the old-tme bidders on yes
sells OF this size. who have hitherto had
things pretty much their own way. and
whose establishments have always had
government work ON hand ana ahead.
The iSOre-Riyer Company. another new
firm which is now building the Law
renee and the Marlborough thir;y-knOt
destrOyors. presented ifs own plans Tor an
cighteen-knOt cruiser. with $50 tons Of
coal. 20 cost Sl,ct1.Oo, and agreed 20 fur
nish two AT M020O09 each. They pro-
duccd another alternative design. with the
same increased coal supply, with eighteen
and One-half knots speed and agreed TO
build one for SllWOO or two for 81 CO.
500 each No doubt could be raised as TO
tho capability Of this concern OF OF the
character OF designers and workmen con
nectcd with the establishment. Both the
Secretary and the Assistant Secretary OF
the Navy are satisfied. or their anxiety 10
furnish finer boats than any other firm
-can produce.
The third set Of builders plans came
from the new corporation Of Townsend
& Downey, providing for a speed of seven
$780, 90 - h-is 's--f- ---'sL saaraa a.