The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-04-16
NEW TYPE OF VESSEL
UNIQUE SCOUT SHIPS FOR THE
 UNITED STATES.
Navy Department Opens Bids for Three, the Far Eastern War Having
 Demonstrated Their Great Usefulness.

Washington, April 15.-The lowest bid for three scout cruisers opened at the Navy Department were as fol- lows:
 Fore River Ship Building Company, Quincy. Mass, one at $1,629,000, or two at $1.557. 1000 each.
 Union Iron Works, one at $1,6S9, 900 or two at $1.666,00o each.
 The bids are for the construction of the cruiser under the departments plans with reciprocating engines. The lowest bids submitted for cruisers with turbine engines were as follows:
 Fore River Ship Building Company, two at $1,46S,00O each.
 Bath Iron Works. two at $1.573,o00 each.
 The Iiveliest interest was manifested in the reading of the bids. The large reception room of the Secretary of the Navy held one of the largest crowds that has recently attended the open ing of proposals for ship construction. Seven concerns entered into the com- petition. Under the law two ships can be awarded to any one concern. The Newport News Shipbuilding Com pany, having contracts for the build ing of tw ovessels under the act au- thorizing the construction of the scout cruisers and other ships. was not d bidder.
 The bids were under two classes one for construction under department plans and one proposing the lnstalla- tion of turbine engines. The Maryland steel Company of Sparrows Point M. D., nroposed to build one under either class for s1S75.0OO The New York ship building Company, Camden, N d., pro- posed to build one cruiser department plans. for S1.S24.O00; with twin screw turbine engines, $1,S3O,OOO, or with threo
 |
 Wuliam Cramp & Sons Ship Building and Engine Company proposed to build two cruisers department plan at $l,- 750 o0O each, or two with turbine en- a,Jnns three or four screws, at Sl.S26,- 900 each. ,, .,,h,i,+eA a number of prGP0sSitI; rGPDsrtnoent % plans at $i.- 7oe o00 each. For turbine installation tGey submitted prices ranging rom two ships at s1,573,o0o each to one ship at $1,6S0.OoO. .,,, oo-. ,aav ouincv. Mass. submitted a num- bar of hids. offering to build one cruis- ar department plans for $l,629.OOO or t,,o at s1.5570O0 each. For ships with turbine installation their prices ranged from S1, ,46S, 900 on basis that they be awarded two ships, to $l'572'oOO for one. .,
  there will be added to the navy new and uniaue type of vessels In the oDinion of naval officers the war in the far east has demonstrated the great value of scout ships, and since these are planned to have a speed of twenty four knots and great steaming radius, they are expected 10 prove important additions to the naval service. Their building also opens up the possibility for the introduction of turbine machin- cry, as the department in the adver- tisement for bids announced that al- formative proposals for the installation | of turbine engines would receive the departments consideration. The scout ships are to be 42o feet long with a breadth of AS feet inches and draft of sixteen feet 1-2 inches. The displacement on speed trial is to be not more than 3.75O tons. Provision | is made for a total coal carrying ca pacity of about l,250 tons. Each will be provided with bat terv of twelve three-inch rapid fire guns and two submerged torpedo tubes.