New-York tribune., 1903-01-07
BIDS FOR WARSHIPS.
TWO 4RMORED CRUISERS.
The Tennessee and the Washington
To Be .S1cittea an the NaUy.

Washington Jan s-Bids for building s9oso.o"
worth of warsilips opened at the Navy Depart
ment to-day in the presence OF representative c-
nearly every shipbuilding concern Of note IN inc
country together with host OF sub-contractofs
who supply structural material for the ols Shlps-
The bidding close and exciting. A feature was
the submission of proposition TO supply tne enof-
nous horsepower required to drive the Tennessee
and the Washington, the speedest ships or war the
United States Navy will carry its lists. with the
new turbine motors, the latter to be supplied ny
an American company. Another feature was the
submission of a statement from one of the largest
bidders TO the effect that no less than 5000 horse
poyer would be required to drive the ships at the
calculated speed. thus verifying the estimates Of
the engineer in chief. Rear Admiral Melville The
bids follows:
Newport News ShfpbuildIng Company-One ship
in forty-two months on department designs for
Fore River Shin and Engine Works Of Quincy
Mass;-one ship apartments designs in forty-tWo
Bath Iron Works-one ship in forty-tvo months.
departments designs. for 81. 10000
fortVtRo nGR 1F1m months. s. 90 ''''
New-York shipbuildins Company, Of Camden
designs. for s25o.oe: two ships, same class. for
s4156,oo each. to be delivered in forty and forty
same cornpany, on its own designs, providing for
forty-two months si3so.ooS each. It was in con.
demanding an. aloWanee of 5000 horsepower.
Moran Brothers @ Co. g ,a2 Of I'd seattle-one ship in
William Cramp Sons. Philadelpha-One ship,
departments designs. thirty-nne months, s4.aeooe-
delivered in thirty.six aud thirty-Eine months and
$4,000; two ships on same plans for s4cooooo
Same company on plans of its own providing for
the OF steam turbines and water tube boilers.
$4,000 for and S,oSo.ec0 each for two
The Judgment Of the board Of bureau chiefs will
be necessary TO determine the awards.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SHIPS
The ships for which bids were opened to be
rSt 81 Wer
by act of Congress. approved July I. 1902. The
of each is not TO exceed s4.65o,OOo. Forty-tvo
months is allowed for construction and a minimum
speed trial of az knots is required Each cruiser
measure load waterlne 500 feet in length and y
feet I015 inches at extreme breadth They will have
a trial displacement of not more than 1850 tons
each, q total coal bunker capacity of about 1000
tons and mean draught at trial displacement OF
twenty-five feet. The huIls to be of steel
throughout The armament of each Will consist Of
d main battery OF four 10-nch and sixteen S-inch
breech loading rifles and twenty-five 3-inch rapid fire
guns. and secondary battery OF twelve 3-pounder
semi-automatic rapid fire guns, two 1-pounder au-
tomato, guns. two 1-pounder rapid fire guns, two
0o Ca eabrs eating Sat guns six a9 caliore Colt auto
The hulls will be protected by waterlne belt
%bere " aTtr e will be about M eshen fef m he %
will be of uniform thickness OF i've inches
and es and na aft of .
The protective deck win extend from stem to
den and Sf al eh # W be 1p o
pound lower plating throughout, With nickel steel
slopes Hosts driven by an electric motor and
delivering pieces minute viii convey the
ammunition for 6-nch and smaller guns directly
from the ammunition rooms TO the deck where IL is
required. The turret guns will have regular
muntion hoists operated by electric power leading
TSe Ships 5s will hS be propesd By vereaf twin
four cylinder triple expansion engines OF COM
biued horsepower of not less than 2, 600. There will
De sixteen boilers of the straight water tube type
partments a These viii furnish steam for the main
engines and all the necessary auxiliary and other
a~bfn "
be fitted with four tunnels 100 feet high above the
base line. The vessels will be lighted throughout
with electricity. With the exception of certain
auxilaries TO be operated by steam. all power on
board will he electric including foot cranes.
ret turning motors, ventilation, fan motors. etc.
Designed fiagships, the cruisers will pro-
vide Accommodation for flag officer. commanding
officer. chief of staff. nineteen wardroonl. twelve
Junior and warrant officers. and not less than
S14 men. including sixty marines. Each cruiser
carries steel masts forward and aft. and the Spec-
hcatous require that they shall be arranged for
wireless teiegraphy. The ships will be able TO
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