The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1901-01-25
UNCLE SANS NEW Fighters
CONTRACT WILL BE SOON LET
Moran Bros. of Seattle VIII Probably
Get One to BuiId-Navy Asks for a
Large Appropriation-Mor New
Cruisers.


Washington, Jan. 22.-The board OF
naval construction has completed the re-
vision of the specifications of the battle
ships with view to the bringing Of the
cost within the figures of the bidders. The
electric light plants have been retained in
the specifications, but by making numer-
Gus small cuts and reducing the fund re-
served from the total cost of the snip on
account of inspection the desired result has
been obtained and President Olcott and
Judge Payson, representing both the New
port News and Bath companies, are pre-
pared to accept the contracts for the ships
ON the board terms.
Moran Bros. of Seattle already have
verbally notified Secretary Long of their
purpose to accept the award in their case,
30 that although some techpicalities semain
to be disposed of in connection with their
contracts, the navy department practically
has concluded the task of allotting the
greatest contract for naval construction
work ever let IN the history OF the Amerl-
can navy If congress adopts the depart
ment's suggestion for construction in the
pending navy bill and provides for four
new battleships and two armored cruisers
it is the purpose of the navy depaIt ment
not to prepare new plans, but to invite bids
upon the plans used for the ships Just
contracted for. In this case long step
will be taken toward recovering the ground
lost during the past year.
The next step IN the matter of construc-
ton is the matter of opening the proposals
for the building of six cruisers on the inn
proved olympia type, which is to take
place February l. This vessel being of a
smaller pattern than the big ships il is the
expectation of the department that some
of the smaller building concerns and those
new to the business who failed to secure
awards for battleships and armored cruis-
ers may secure contracts within their abil-
ity, for it is doubtful if the large concerns
will be in a position to bid low for any of
these.
Concerning the new ships for the navy
the report says For the purpose of fur
ther increasing the naval establishment of
the United States the committee recon-
mends that the president be authorized to
have built by contract two unsheathed sea
going battleships carrying the heaviest
armor and the most powerful ordnance for
vessels of their class on a trial displace-
ment of about $4,000 tons each, to have the
highest practicable speed and greatest rad
JUS OF action, and to cost, exclusive of ar
NOR and armament, not exceeding $780,
600 each; and two unsheathed armored
cruisers carrying the heaviest armor and
most powerful ordnance for vessels of their
class, upon a trial displacement of about
$4,000 tons each, and to have the highest
practicable speed and greatest radius of
action, and to cost, exclusive of armor and
armament, not exceeding $4,000.OO0 each.
The maximum cost of the vessels herein
authorized, exclusive of armor and arma-
ment, will be Sl5,7O0OOO."
The bill provides that no more than one
battleship or armored cruiser shall be built
in one yard or by one party, and the usual
provision is made that at least one and not
more than two of the battleships and ar
mored cruisers shall be built on the Pacific
coast
OF the appropriations for the various
branches of the service the principal item
is $25 100000 for the increase of the navy.
The payment of the navy is increased 3d.
4S9.3s7 over the appropriations for the
same object last year. and is accounted for
by the authority granted to the depart
ment to enlist 5000 additional seamen and
80 warrant mIchinists to meet the neces-
sity of properly manning the new ships
soon to be added to the navy. To meet
the emergency of the lack of officers for
the new ships the bin provides that the
two classes now at sea which have com
pleted their four years course at the naval
academy shall be commissioned thereupon-
This will provide for the naval officers de-
sired by the department and. in the ludg-
ment of the committee, will meet all the
eNigences of the present situation.