Evening journal., 1900-12-08
METAL KINGS BID
FOR Big BOATS
Greatest Industrial Event in
Worlds History
CONTRACTS FOR $5O,OOO,OOO
Fore River Works Of Quincy and Mo-
rams Of Seattle Enter Into
the Competition
CONTRACTS FOR $5O,OOO,OOO

washington, Dec. S.-NeVcr since the
birth of the new navy has there been
such q gathering Of shipbuilders and
metal kings as were assembled in the
Office Of the secretary Of the navy yes
torday TO witness the opening OF bids
for an amount Of naval construction
which Secretary Long denominated Is
the greatest industrial event this or
eny other country had ever seen. in
volving the placing of contracts for
about $4,000, 900. The secretary left
the cabinet meeting for the purpose Of
presiding at the ceremony. Associated
with him were the chiefs OF the great
naval bureaus, Admiral Hichborn, Ad-
miral Melville, Admiral O'Neill and
others.
There were eight bidders. and most
OF the bids were we'll within the limit
of cost allowed by congress for the
ships. The notable feature was the at
tempt on the part of the younger ana
smaller concerns to break the line OF
the old organizations which have con-
structed all Of the heavy vessels OF the
new navy up TO this time. While Il is
not possible at this moment to fore
cast results accurately. there are in
dications that In at least one instance.
and perhaps two instances. these at
| tempts will be attended with some de-
gree of success, for It looks as though
some OF the work will be bestowed
upon the Fore River company, which
appears for the first time as bidder
for constructing armored ships
The Pacific coast. too, presents a
likely candidate In the Morans bid.
! Because Of changes made in the speci-
icatlons by the bidders, the general
tendency Of which is to reduce con-
siderably the equipment of the ships,
It Is not possible yet TO tell which OF
the bids are actually the lowest.
The bids for armored cruisers are:
Union works. San Francisco. One
sheathed and cOppered, S3,SO0,O00; one
without sheathing. S3.750,O00; another
under the same conditions $3.50, 900,
making two In all.
William Cramp & Sons. Philadel-
I phia. Ono sheathed, but uncoppered.
i $3.50 900; one unsheathed. $3.50 900.
Newport News Shipbuilding and
n Drydock company: One sheathed and
coppered. S3S85000; one without
sheathing, $3,775.000. this for two ships.
Moran Brothers g. Co., of Seattle,
Wash. One sheathed and coppered.
i S4,132.000, or two at S4,O0S000 each;
one without sheathing, S3,96S,000, OF
two at $3,S4i,000 each.
Fore River Shipbuildlng and Loco
motive works, Quincy, Mass: One
sheathed and coppered, S3,975, 900, OF
two at $780, 600 each; without sheath
ing, one for 81. 500, 000 or two at S3,775.-
600 each. The same bid also is made
: for two more ships at the same price
! and under the same conditions, under
the act OF 1900. Moran Brothers &
Co. made similar propositions.
John II. Dialogue & Son, Camden, N.
} j.: One unsheathed. S3.S25 900; another
{ under the act OF 1900 at the same price.
{ Risdon Iron and Locomotive works,
San Francisco: One without sheath
/ ing. s4.075,0O0.
Bids for hattleships;
Cramp & Sons One sheathed and
coppered, s3,G00000.
Newport News company: One
sheathed and coppered, S3,59S,000; one
unsheathed, S3.540000
Fore River works: One for $780,
0O0, or two for S3,555,000 each all
sheathed and cOppered. Without
sheathing, one for SO 430 600; two for
; S3, ,405, 600 each. A bid also is sub
mitted for two more at the same prices
under the act of 1900.
Dialogue g. Son: One sheathed and
coppered, SO. 400 900; one without
sheathing, S3,29O.0OO. Another at the
4 same figure under the act of 1900.
Bath Iron works. One sheathed and
coppered. s3.59OOOO.
New York Shipbuilding company:
: One sheathed and coppered. $4,000. 600.
d or two at S4.175.000 each. Without
sheathlng. one for s4,10O.OO0 or two for
S4.075 900 each This firm offers TO re-
duce the time limit Of completion six
months.
L Moran Brothers: One sheathed and
Z coppered. 1866 900. or two at S3,7s9.-
r 000 each Without sheathing. one
: for S3.697. 600. or two for S35S6,0o0
: each. Bids also are mado for two more
at the same price under the act OF 1900.
This firm also offers to reduce the time
limit about six months.
Union Iron works: One unshoathed,
y S3,fGO.OO0.
II A naval board will consider the bids
e and report upon them. The acts Of
congress limit the cost Of the cruisers
a TO s3,600,000 each, and OF the battle
ships to S4,250,O00 for the sheathed
and $4,000 900 for the unsheathed.