The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-07
BIDS OPENED FOR
 NEW WAR SHIPS Representatives of Bidding Con-
 Cerns Present $9OO,OOO WORTH OF SHIPS New Men-of-War to Be Propelled By Vertical Twin screws-DescrlP-
 ton of the Ships for
 Uncle Sam.
S9OO,OOO WORTH OF SHIPS

Washington, January c-Bids for puiio- ing seO ,OOo worth of warships were open ed at the navy department today Ill the presence of representatives, oI heaiy every shipbuilding concern of note III the country, together with a host or sup contractors, who supply constructural material for the big ships. The piooing was close and exciting. feature or the event was the submission of an appro- priation to supply the enormous horse power required to drivs the Tennessee and Washington, the speediest ships Of war the United States navy will carry on its lsts with new turbin motors the latter to be supplied by an American company. Another feature was the sup mission of a statement from one or the largest bidders that they had satisneo themselves that no less that 26,OOo horse- power would be required to drive the pig ships at the calculated speed, thus veri- flying the estimates of Engineer in Chier Melville. The bids were as follows:
 Newport News Shpbuilding company. one ship in forty-two months, on depart ment designs, for s4,325,t-J.
 Fore River Ship and Engine works or Quincy, Mass, one ship department de- signs, In forty-two months, for s4,75S,00O Bath Iron works, one ship in forty-two months department designs, for s4,5Oo,OOo Union Iron works of San Francisco, cae ship in forty-two months, $4,3650OO. New York Ship Building company of Camden, N. J., one ship in forty-two months, de- partment designs for $4250,0O5 Two ships same class for $4,15o000 each, to be de- livered in forty and forty-two months. Same company on its own designs pro- viding for twenty-two knot ships to be delivered in forty and forty-two months. $4, 280, GOO each. It was in connection with this bid that the letter was submitted demanding an allowance of 25,0OO horse power
 Moran Bros. and company of Seattle, one ship in forty-two months for s4,39I. 900. William Cramp and Sons, Philadelphia, one ship, departments designs, thirty nine months, $4,20000O. Same company on it's own designs, ships to be delivered in thirty-six months and thirty-nine months and to be of twenty-two knots speed, one ship for $4139.0oO, two ships on same plans for s4.000,000 each.
 Same company on plans of It's own pro- viding for the use of steam turbines and water tube boilers, s4,100,000 for one and s4, 06O, GOO each for the other two. The judgment or the Doaru or bureau cnielS are to determine the awards.
 The hulls of the cruisers will be pro- tected by a water line belt of armor work ed in vertical strokes, amidships, where it will be about eighteen feet in height. The armor will be of uniform thickness, of five inches throughout the machinery and magazine space and three inches for ward and aft of this.
 The new men-of-war will be propelled by vertical twin-screws, four cylinder triple-expansion engines of a combined horse power of not less than 5000
 The cruisers will be lighted with elec- tricity
 Designed as fiagships the new cruisers will each provide accommodation for the following complement.
 Flag officer, commanding officer, chief of staff, nineteen ward rooms, twelve junior and ten warrant officers and not less than 814 men including sixty marines. Each cruiser carries steel masts for ward and aft, and the specifications re- quire that they shall be arranged for wireless telegraphy. The cruisers will be enabled to cruise for three months with out replenishing provisions.