New-York tribune., 1906-06-24
BIDS FOR BATTLESHIPS.
Difference of Nearly a Million Dol
lars BetzCeen Lozcest and Highest.
[From The Tribune Bureau. 7

Washington, June 23.-Bds opened for the
construction OF two battleships, at the Navy De-
partment, this noon, in the presence of some two
hundred representatives Of the ship builders, steel
producers and ub-contractOrs generally The bids
were of a wide range from the proposal Of the
Union Iron Works, of San Francisco, to build one
of the ships according TO the depal tment plans for
ST. $4,000 to s354O0OO the amount Of the Cramp bid
for a ship built the government plans. or
course the Pacific Coast firm out OF it. as it
was realized must be the case, when Congress last
year, In authorizing the ships. failed 10 allow a
dferentiaI the ships in favor of the bidders on
the Pacific Coast.
The contract for one ship, built in accordance
with the plans the department, will undoubtedly
be awarded to the Cramp company. the price being
considered attractive in all respects One of the
ships will be built the departmental plans as to
hull and eauinent and equipped with turbine mech
anism. instead of the reciprocating engines. and
the acceptance OF the bid for this feature will not
be easy TO determine. The experts who made
hurried examination Of the proposals received to-
day and looked over the letters accompanying them
were at loss to to any conclusion in the
matter.
1t appeared to rest between the Newport News
Company and the Fore River Company as to which
should get the contract for the remaining ship
with turbine mechanism. Both firms proposed to
install the Curtis turbine. and the formers range
Of prices was from s37130o0 TO s3s6S0OO while the
Iatter's bids extended from S,6S9.G0 TO S.S45ooO
The differences in the bids were technical. 1t viii
require expert examination 10 ascertain Wllch
is the acceptable bid on the basis or snip
with turbine mechanism. 1t Is possible that both
ships will be equipped, but in view Of the low
bid from the Cramps for a ship built on the de-
partmentaI plans it probable that only one of
the vessels will have turbines. The incident which
attracted most comment to-day after the opening
was that turbine ship bids all higher than
those for ships with reciprocating engines.
The bids for the prescribed machinery were
known Glass bids and the Cramps offered to
-Af, - ,t,gn A. rr,-
York shpbuildng Company offered the next bid in
this class. s3,5S5 COO. AS firm is allowed to
build only of the ships this second bid will
doubtless be accepted in the department de-
cides accept the Glass l plans
In Glass there was a great variety OF bids. and
the prices varied. according to the plans Of the
various shipyards for machinery. Under this class
the machinery may be of the turbine type, and
many OF the bids specified turbine engines. The
lowest bid In this class that of the Fore River
Shipbuding Company, for 6S9.oo0. This bid is on
q ship equipped with turbines
The complete list OF bids in Glass follows:
New Y9r o shIp@bujIdiing M bull i .o Company with turbine
engines. s'SV,vS 49, shq eq S5'NoTvvv' f1S 7,., o.,
2any sSss0e $s558oC0 aT5sOoS and ssSoo The
AF Fore Fref River pos shpbung f0 compans turbines
$500 sS,s2oOoO, S97leeO, s9 10000 s.. 600.
William Cramp and Sons Ship and Engine Build
ing Company, 100000
The great variety in these bids is due to the diff
ference in plans. Most of them turbine
construction but as the size OF turbine engines
not specified. proposals contained prices on many
different sizes.
The new battleshps 10 be 450 feet long and
will have extreme breadth at the waterline 80
feet 25s inches The mean draft at trial dispace.
ment Is TO exceed "a feet S inches. The coal
bunker capacity of the ships viii he 1900 each.
Each ship Will have main battery of eight r.
inch breech-ondns rifles ana two submerged tor
pedo tubes. The secondary battery of each of the
battleshps will consist of twenty-five S-inch IA
pounder rapid fire guns, two S-pounder semi-auto-
matte guns eight l-pounder semi-automatic guns,
two 3-inch field pieces and four machine guns OF
The Pinch guns win be installed in pairs in four
on the centre line. forward and two aft each
with an Of fire Of about 270 degrees The sec
ondary battery guns viii be installed in command
ing positions, with large u1obstructed Of fire
The two torpedo tubes and accessories Will be in
submerged torpedo room forward.
The hulls Of the new battleships TO be pro-
tected by waterline belts eight feet wide, varying
in thickness from eight TO twelve inches. Case
mate arFnor of corresponding thickness and breadth
will extend from the top of the side belt
level eight feet above The barhettes viii carry
inches of armor in front and the coming tower
armor will be twelve inches thick, is a. To
he thickness Of turret CoinpIete hell
of ceulose will encircle the ships u close auto
matiCay holes made by shot below the wa ter level
The Navy Department Specifications provide FOR
expansion in type. supplied with steam by twelve
water tube boilers and superheaters. The smoke
pipes Of these ships will be 100 feet high and
steel Tnasts forward and aft will be equipped with
wireless telesraphy outfits. Every precaution is
taken insIlre against fire.
OF these batteshps Will be foTty-twC months and a
heavy penalty is provided for delay.