New-York tribune., 1905-04-16
TURBINES PROPOSED.
Offers to Bald Scout Cruisers
Opened IN Washington.
[BRoM rBE rR1BUsIB BUREAu.I


Washington, April 16.-The greatest interest
prevailed this afternoon in the reception room
Of Secretary Morton when bids opened
for building three scout cruisers. type
tirely new to our navy.
The duluess Of the shipbuildlng industry and
the keen competition among the bidders served
TO bring to the city and the department about
three hundred men more or less directly in
terested in the result Of the bidding and the
award Of contracts. The bids were on the de-
partment and the bidders plans, the distinction
being that in the latter the specifications In
cluded the use Of turbines instead OF recipro-
eating engines. 1t is the desire Of the DEPART
ment to build one scout with the reciprOcating
engines and another with the Parsons turbine
and the third with the Curtis turbine.
There were numerous bids from the Bath Iron
Works and the Fore River company. OF which
F. T. Bowles, a former chief constructor OF
the navy, is the head. 1t is altogether too early
to predict TO whom will be awarded the con-
tracts but from the indications to-day and IN the
opinion Of the naval experts the chances were
that the Fore River company would build two
Of the scouts and the Bath Iron Works ths
third vessel. the former contract providing for
the Parsons and the latter for the Curtis tur-
bine
1t was an interesting development that one
bidder refused to guarantee the quality Of speed.
which. when all is said and done. Is the princi-
pal feature OF the type.
The Bath people guaranteed speed Of twen-
| ty-four and one-half knots.
The Maryland Steel Company. Of SparrOw's
Point, Md. proposed TO build one under either
class for $1.S75.OOO.
The New-YorI Ship Building Company. Cam
den. n. J., proposed to build one cruiser. depart
ment plans. for S1.S24, 600: with twin screw tur-
bine engines. $1.SS0OoO. with three screw
turbine for $1.S66,OOO.
William Cramp & Sons Ship and Engine
| Building Company proposed 70 build two cruis-
era. department plans. at $1.75OOoO each. or two.
with turbine engines. three or four screws, at
| 81, ,S25,O0O each
The Bath Iron Works submitted a number OF
proposals. Offering to build two cruisers, depart
ment plans. at $1.720.OOO each. For turbine in
| ctallation they submitted prices ranging from
two ships. at $1.573.OOO each. to one ship at
! 81, ,6SOOOO
The Union Iron Works proposed to build one
cruiser. department plans for $1.6S9.OO0 or two
at 1.666.OOO each.
The Fore River Ship Building Company,
| Quincy, Mass. submitted a number OF bids, Of
fering to build one cruiser. department plans.
for $1.629,O0O. or two at 1851. 600 each. For
| ships with turbine installation their prices
| ranged from 81 ,46S.OO0. the basis that they
be awarded two ships. to S1.572O0O fer one.
According to the figures. the proposal OF the
| Union Iron Works TO build two at $l,668OOO
each and that OF the Fore River company 10
build two at $1.55T.OO0 each. are apparently
the lowest for the construction OF the ships un-
| der the departments plans. while the price sub
| mltted by the Bath Iron Works to construct
| two with turbine installation at S1573OOO each
! and that Of the Fore River Engine Company
for two at 81. .46SO00 each are the lowest OF the
! turbine class; but all the proposals are 20 be
| carefully reviewed by a board OF naval officers.
who consider and compare the various plans
and specifications submitted. together with the
| prices at which they are to be built. In view OF
| the Introduction of the turbine plans. some time
| may elapSe before the department Is ready 10
! make the award.
With the completion OF these ships there will
| be added 70 the navy new and unique type
OF vessel. In the opinion OF naval officers the
war in the Far East has demonstrated the great
value Of scout ships and since these are planned
TO have high speed and great steaming radius
they are expected TO prove important additions
| To the naval service. Their building also opens
up the possibility for the introduction OF tur-
| bine machinery. the department in the ad-
| veTtisement for bids announced that alternative
| proposals for the installation Of turbine engines
! would receive the departments consideration.
In the mean time the Bureau OF Steam En-
gineering has been making a study OF turbine
! systems and has been closely observing all ex-
periments that have been conducted In that dl-
The scout ships are to be 42O feet long, with a
| breadth OF fOrty-six feet eight inches and a
| draft Of sixteen feet nine and one-half inches
| The speed Of the vessels will be twenty-fOuF
| knots The displacement speed trial Is 20 be
not more than 3, 75O tons Provision Is made
for total coal carrying capacity OF about ,25O
tons.
Each cruiser will be provided with the battery OF
twelve 3-inch rapid fire guns and two submerged
toPpedO tubes -Four smokestacks Will rise
10 height OF seventy-two feet above the base
line The maximum time allowed for compile
tion Of the vessels Is fixed at thiTty-tWO months
II reciprocating engines are adopted and thirty
six months II turbines are adopted total
| weight OF about 1S4 tons OF nickel steel will be
employed IN the construction Of each vessel FOR
protective purposes.