The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-11-02
The Richmond Company Underbld
All of Its Competitors.
THE COMPETITION WAS CLOSE
Award of Contract VIII BE Announced
in a Fortnight-Dimensi Of the
Ship-To BE Done in Thirty
Months-Mr. Trigg Returns
From Washington Much
Pleased.

In two weeks the government VIII
award the contract for building a million
dollar cruiser to the W. r. Trigg Com
pany of this city. Bids were opened IN
Washington at noon yesterday and the
bid of the Richmond firm was the lowest
! Twelve firms submitted bids ON SIX
cruisers authorized by the last Congress.
| All the large firms Of the country, with
the exception Of two. were represented
| in the list OF bidders. The exact amount
OF the Trigg Company's bid was SlO-''V'''
| The next lowest bid was sl,039O0o. Inc
other bids ranged up 10 $l0NO" Inc
percentage Of difference IN the Dds is
very slight, and shows how close the
| competition was.
The contract has not been awarded yet.
However. the ability OF the Irlgs CoiI-
pany 10 comply with the terms OF 'he
contract, and to furnish the required
guarantee of compliance, together WIN
| the fact of the cOmpany's BID peins
| lowest, assures the success OF the hlCh-
mona firm MIR TrIgg was congfatuia'eu
By representatives, Of competlns Hii"'
| at Washington. There is no doubt about
| awarded to his company.
The company Did on two Of the cruisers
and there is a possibility of It's receiFihs
contracts for two boats, though THIS ls
not at all probable.
The cruiser 10 be built here VIII be
unarmored, copper-sheathed, ana nav
p speed of l6lk knots. II Will be ~ ieeC
long. and have a beam measurement Oh
fortv-three feet She Will draw l5A teel
| OF water after her machinery guns ana
| other equipment are In place Her TON
maze win be thirty-two hundred
The terms OF the department contem-
plated completion Of the cruisers III
| twentv-four months. An extension Oh SIX
months was granted, however 10 one oi
| the bidders. which means that All sue
| cessful bidders will have thirty Hon'HS
IN which to complete the boats,
R.TRIGG WE'LL PLEASED
Nlr. Trigg was in fine humor lds' 'is'' So
when a Times writer calieu On ~ - e,tl,.
| ho,,o What seemed to please him grea.iy
r,"s the evidences Of respect accorded the
| pichmond Yards by representatives Vl
| rival concerns present when the bias Were
orened This exhibition OF friendnhesS
20 :, strong contrast with the reception
givo,, Afr Trigg when bids for the torpeuo
| boats were opened year ago. i"D'l
rivals smoke disparagingly Of Richmond
| o,nbition 10 enter the lists Of ship-Dulu-
crs In fact. a bitter fight was maae
AGAINST the award OF contracts 70 MI
| Trigg. although his bids were the io".s,'
I'VE are in the fold now" said Air'
| Trigg last evening. I'VE nave s1"Hu'"e
| with the ship-builders or the country. !.
| which means that an important adNailg7
| hos been made All the naval authorl-
| -hf
| dial and fraternal to-day. secretary
| Longs private secretary said 10 q group
| of IA. The Richmonders are in to stay.
| and there will be no stop until batli q
| ship named the Virginia has been launch-
ed al the Virginia capital mat gives
Won some idea Of the prevailing senu-
| ment among the Washington naval men
| MODEL, ACCOMPANIED BID.
The Trigg company performed an act
| unprecedented IN the annals OF snip con-
! tract-making in this country when II pi@-
| pared and submitted 10 the bureau Oh
| construction a model Of inc Nessel on
! which Il bid. This model was on tle uesn
| of the official who opened the blds ana
was admired by the group Of gentlemen
| present as representatives Of their respec-
| tive nrms Mr.. 1rigg stated last night
| that he would probably place this model
on exhibition AT some uptown store very
1
soon.
| ,rne securing OF this contract may ne
| cess.tate additions 10 the plant Of The
| company. The equipment is already very
| complete however and the cruiser could
he built without further enlargement Of
/ the facilities Still, the policy OF the cor
! poration IS 10 expand its business, and
| other future contracts must be provided
| for
All the work on the cruiser will be done
here. As stated. the vessel will be un-
| armored. The only armored portion OF
| the ship will be a protective deck erected
| over the machinery.
OF the million dollars TO be expended
| On this vessel, at least One-half OF the
| amount will be for labor. Most OF the
1 raw material must be procured elsewhere
| than In Richmond. The benefit TO the
| community OF the turning loose OF 50
large a sum as half a million dollars in
| wages is obvious.
| RuMOR DENIED. =
| Mr.. Trigg denies the statement, which
has been published, 10 the effect that ne
| shaft of the Shubrick will be fitted az
| Norfolk. The story arose probably from
| TIA fact that Mr. Trigg some time ago
| secured permission TO have certain work
4 performed IN the Norfolk yards. II does
| not follow that the privilege Will be ex-
| ercised: it was merely precauuon that
| suggested application for such permis-
| sion The Shubrick's shaft will be placed
| in position in the Trigg Company's yards.
TIE MATTED ne AQMhMCNT