Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-01
FOR THE LOUISIANA
BIDS FOR HER CONSTRUCTION
OPENED.
Lowest Proposal for Building the Big
Battle Ship Was So, 900, ooo-PIan
Of the New Vessel.

Bids were opened in the big reception
room adjoining the office of the Secretary
OF the Navy shortly after noon, for the
construction of the battle ship Louisiana
In the absence of Secretary Moody Judge
Advocate General Lemly opened the vari-
Gus proposals. A number of represe ntatives
Of the great shipbuildng firms of the coun-
try were present and heard the reading OF
the bids.
The lowest bid was that of the Newport
News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company
of Newport News, Va, which offered to
build the battle ship within forty-one
months from date of contract for So 500 600
The other bids as follows: New York
Shipbuilding Company, Camden, N j., 81
O4O,000, within forty months from date Of
contract; Fore River Shipbuilding and En-
gme Company. Quincy. Mass, $4,0S7 600,
within forty-two months from date of con-
tract; VIM. Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia.
Pa, $4,114,OO0 within forty-two months
from date of contract; Union Iron Works,
San Francisco. Cal, 81 100000, within forty
two months from date of contract
Each of the proposals. except that of the
united iron works, was accompanied by a
certified check for sSO.O0O. The Union works
inclosed bond In lieu of the certified
check.
The New Battle Ship.
The Louisiana is sister ship Of the Con-
necticut which latter is to be built by the
government at the New York navy yard,
and these two vessels are the largest bat
tie ships either a1oat building for the
navy. The extreme length of the Louisiana
Will be $50 feet, and her extreme breadth
16 feet 10 inches. She will have a magnifi-
cent battery-in fact, the arrangement of
her guns marks the distinctive difference
between her and our other large battle
ships. She will carry the following formid-
able array of death-dealing weapons; Four
Va-in OIL nfty1f i, ,,,t,-E
seven-inch breech-loading rifles; twenty
three-inch Contemporaries rapid-fire guns;
twelve three-pounder semi-automatic guns;
six one-pounder automatic guns; two one
FOUNDER semi automatic guns: two three
inch pieces, and eight machine and auto
matte guns of 80 caliber.
The Pinch guns will be mounted in pairs
In two electrically controlled elipt cal tur-
rets-one forward and one aft the center
line. The eight S-inch guns will be also
mounted in pairs in four electrically con-
trolled turrets. two each beam, at each
end of the superstructure. The twelve Z
inch guns will be mounted in broadside, six
on each side. TIE end guns on each side
will be trained ahead and astern, ard the
remaining eight will be in straight broad
side.
The novel arrangement Of the ships main
battery will give the Louisiana a bow or
stern fire of two Finch, four 9 inch and
two finch guns and a broadside fire Of
four 12-lnch, four S-inch and six finch
guns. The hull of the Louisiana will be
protected at the water line by complete
belt of armor, 8 feet inches wide having
a maximum thickness of IL inches for
about 200 feet amidshIps Her engines VII
be Of the vertical, twin screw, four cylin-
der, triple expansion type, of a combined
horsepower of $500.
The magazines and shell rooms of the
Louisiana will be arranged that about
one-half of the total supply of ammunition
will be carried at each end of the ship. Her
coal bunkers are to have a maximum ca
pacity of 300 tons.
The Louisiana is designed as a flagship,
and the arrangement of quarters is required
to provide ample accommodation for flag
officer, a commanding officer, a chief Of
staff, nineteen ward room officers, ten jul
nior and ten warrant officers, and not less
than 761 men, including sixty marines. The
vessel is required to equal or exceed a speed
at sea of eighteen knots per hour for four
consecutive hours. She is to have a dis
placement trial of 1900 tons and her
maximum displacement with a full load,
$1,000 tons