The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-02-01
BIDS FOR THREE CRUISERS.
The Contractors Plans Considered
by Secretary Long.

! The Contractors Plans Considered
by Secretary Long.
Only four shipbgilding firms competed
il the bidding q the Nav Department to
day for the construction OF the projected
cruisers St. Louis Milwaukee. and Charles
ton The bids were opened in the Office
OF the Secretary Of the Navy in the pres
ence Of the usual ssem5!age OF naval Off
Gals and representatives Of ghlDbuilding
concerns. Secretary Long. who presided,
asked the shipbuilders present IL the. all
understood that certain. articles OF equip
ment had been stricken frcm the specIfl-
cations. thus reducing the cost OF construe-
ton 20 the ConJCaclorG. ne went On TO
explain that articles OF construction % be
furnished by the Government were to ba
laid down ia the shipyards Of the contrac-
Tors and that the cost Of the arl.or TO be
Deducted from the appropriation h2d been
reduced from 1863 600 10 $50 tic The limit
CT cost fixed BY Congress Tor each vessel
was S2SuJ,gV0, and with $50. Geo deducted
Ter aTnor. the limit Of cost TO the coutrac-
tor was $2,75G.GGO
secretary Long asked i any bidder had
not understood that these changes had
oeen made. and as there vas no response
the opening OF bids proceeded
Three OF the four bidders submitted pro-
posals within the limit o. s.. $50. COO. They
we're the Ne%port News Shipbuilding and
Dry DOCK Company Of Newport News
Va, class 2 builders plans). one within
tnIfty-slZ months at 2.I41 eea; the Bath
iron Works Of Bath Ne. class 2, enc
vessel within thiTty-six months at g. $50.
csc. and Neafic q Levy. OF philadelphia.
one vessel departments pians) at 1910
COO
The bids Of the Newport News and Bath
concerns We're straight, containing no
reservations Heafc & Levy's bid. while
the lowest Of the three provided for the
elimination of certain equipment work and
that lineoieum and ceIluloise should be
furnished by the Government.
The William r. TriSg Company. of Rich
mcnd, vas the fourth competitor It cid
not submit formal bid, bur sent q letter
explaining that II had decided not TO Gem
pete formally because Of the reduction for
the cost OF armor made from the aDpro-
pFiatiOn by the Navy Department How
ever, the Trigg Company offered to build
one vessel for s.. 7S0. 0tG or two vessels
Ter $3.50 GOO, being S2,746,ee0 each. & fig
ure within the limit OF cost set by Con-
Gress- a telegram was received during
the opening from Richmond bank saying
that the bank guaranteed the bid Of the
Trlgg Company and would forward the
necessary certified CE2ck OF $50 600 TO-DAY
IneTe WAS a buzz OF SUNRISE among he
crowd Of Spectators wien Secretary Long
announced after the openiag Of the fourth
bid that NO more had been received It
was reported among thcse present that
several big shipbuiIding firms had re-
Trained from bidding because they be
lievcd that ships Of such great dispIace-
meEt-9.Tg0 tOns-couId Eot be built for
the price fixed by Congress On the 9TH
or hand. it was claimed BY some Of the
naval experts that the Isn't OF cost was
not too low. and that ships Of the type
demanded could De constructed within
the limit OF cost In support of this It
was pointed ont the Maine. the Missouri.
and the Ohio, baJtIeshIps Of u 500 tons.
we're being constructed a prices Of only
about $135,ooe higher than that fixed for
the St Louis class. the Cramps. o. Phil
adeIphia, havir= undertake he con
struction OF h Maine 81 S288E 00e
The ACT providing for "a s. Louis. the
milwaukee, and the Chr z--yG E-oVi5e
fol ships OF about s, o30 tons Displacement
70 cost not moro than Sc sc 0G9 each
The Naval Board on Construction. act
Ing zlder discretion. given IN the word
about" provided plans for ships Of 6. 100
tons Il had no authority. however. 10
Increase the Ga4it Of cost