The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-05
FEW BIDS FOR WARsHTPs.
Kansas, Minnesota and Vermont to
Cost About S4,2Oo,OOO Each.

yVashfncton. Tune Bids have been
opened at the navy department Tor me
construction of the Minnesota Vermont
and Kansas the three 5000 ton battle
ships authorized by the last congress
each to cost not exceeding S4,2l2O0O The
Newport News Shipbuilding company OF
bidders for one vessel. The William
Cramp 6. Son Ship and Engine company
were the only bidders for more than one
ship Following are the bids:
Newport News Shipbuilding company,
one vessel. departments plans. to be
completed in fOrty-two months from
date of contract, S4,110O00; William
Cramp &, Son Ship and Engine Building
company one vessel, departments plans,
to be completed in forty-two months,
81 100 600 or two vessels, department
plans in same time $41Sl,OOO EACH FORE
River Ship & Engine Building COM
pany. one vessel. departments plans,
forty-tvo months. s4.179 600; Eastern
Shinbuiding company, one vessel, forty
two months. "a 1872, 600; New York Ship
building company, one vessel, depart
ment's plans fOrty-tWo months, 81
165,000.
1t is supposed that the unsettled labor
conditions throughout the country IS
the cause of the small number of bid
ders and for the fact that only one COM
pany bid on more than one ship
These battleships win be the most
powerful vessels Of the American navy.
They viii have required speed of Is
knots displacement of 5000 tons. q
main battery Of four Finch. eight s.
inch and twelve 7-inch breech-loadlng
rifles and n second battery OF twenty g.
inch 14-pOuuder. rapid-flre guns, twelve
3-uounder semi-automatic guns six L
FOUNDER automatic guns two 1-pounoer
semi-automatc guns, Two 3-inch field
pieces, two machine guns and six auto
matte guns.
Arrangement Of the batteries will be
as follows.
The Pinch guns mounted in pairs, il
the electrically controlled. balanced
elhptcal turrets. on the center line, one
forward and one aft. each with an arc
of fire of about 270 degrees. the S-inch
gums in four electrically controlled. bal.
anced elhptical turrets, two on each
beam at each end of the suDerstruc-
ture; the I-ineh guns in broadside. OF
pedestal mounts on the gun deck be
hind 7-inch armor each isolated by
splinter bulkheads of nickel steel for
ward and after guns arranged to fir
right ahead and right astern respect
ivelys the other 7-inch guns to have III
usual brOadside train.
Guns of the secondary battery will b.
mounted in commanding positions, haV
ing large arc Of unObstructed fire
They viii have 12-inch and S-inch tur
rets. complete belt of armor. Q fee
3 inches wide. viii protect the hull abov
the water line, and the necessary case
mate armor and protection for ammu
milton tubes viii be provided. The pro
tected deck will extend from stem t
stern. built up of 20-pound plating. wit
nickel steel of 40 pounds on the fiat an
100 pounds on the slope.
Vertical twin screw. four cylinder. tri
pie expansion engines viii propel ther
and each vessel viii be supplied with /
Water-tube boilers. The total ammuni
ton Of each vessel will aggregate 594-
tons
Following are the general dimension
and features Of the ships.
Length on load waterline. $50 feet
extreme breadth at load waterline.
feet 10 inches; trial displacement 16 O(
tons. mean draft. "A feet S inches; gros
draft fun load. about p feet inches
total capacity, 2.200 tons.