Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-06-21

| Washington, June 2O.-The Newport
| News Shipbuilding Co. of Newport
| News, Va, with one bid at $3,9S7 900
and the Fore River ShipbuildinS Co. of
| Quincy, Mass, with bid at $4S7171 900
were the successful bidders today for
| building the big 20000-ton battleships.
| The bidding brought together a large
company of shipbuilders and other per-
| sons interested in naval construction
| The bidding was complex, the builders
| freely awaiting themselves of the de-
| partment's permission to submit all
| sorts of combination and alternative
plans. The Newport News Co. alone
submitted no less than seven sets Of
plans which were generally the lowest
with all combinations.
But as the law provides that no COM
pany shall receive the contract for
more than ono ship, the second lowest
| bidder also is assured an award. i'll
| this case the company being the Fore
| River Co. of Quincy, Mass.
The bids in substance were:
Fore River Shipbuilding Co. one ship
on the departments plans to he deliv-
cred in Sc months, S4,4S0.0G0. Hull and
] equipment on the departments plans,
| bidders Curtis turbine engines. $4,31l,-
| 900 Cruising turbines not required in
| this type)
Newport News Shiphuilding Co,
| Newport News, Va. departments de-
signs. $G.9S1 .OG0. Departments hull and
equipment, bidders Parsons turbines.
| engines; ThorneyCrCft-Schu boilers.
| 81. 100000. including cruising turbines.
Another design. departments hull aud
| equipment. bidders Parsons turbine
| same boilers as above, $i,050Go0 Dc
sign includes separate cruising tur-
| bincs.
| Another design; same hull and tur-
bincs $4.1G0,000, including cruising tur-
| hineS Another design: same hull and
turbines $4,090.000, including cruising
| turbines Another design; same hull
| and turbine, $4.125,000, including Cruis-
| ing turbines. Another design; same
| hull and turbines, $4,050.000, including
cruising turbines.
| The bids have been referred for eX
| animation to the board on naval con-
struction which will recommend proper
awards.
The warships arc american "Dreud-
nouShts." or what are officially known
as battlcshirs Nos. . AMI 70, each t.
bc uf approximately 10000 tons dis
placement, the cost Of each not to eX-
| elusive Of armor and armament.
| The total cost of each when complet-
ed is estimated to he $10000.00 Re
s2onSivc to the invitations o; The navy
department and in accordance with the
| instructions to the naval board on CON
struction. there were submitted various
designs and sketches for fhc proposed
| vessels from ShipbuldarS ana tho naval
constructors. These in turn were sub
| mitcd to a naval board On designs. AZ
| the head of which was Assistant SCCrc-
tlry Ncwbcrry, which board reported
| that the 51n-font design Of the bureau
of construction with officers quarters
furwardD was the most suitable.
This board gave the opinion that
| vessel constructed on this design would
carry as heavy armnr ana as powerful
| armament rs any known vessel of this
| class: would have q speed believed to
be tho highest practicable for Il vessel
Of this type and class, and have the
highest practicable readiness of action.
with Intal coal bunker capacity Of
about 300 tons. 4 speed on trial Of Il
lrots p length on the load water line
of about 80 feet AMI an extreme
breadth " about 81 feet and 23s inches.
The armament is to he composed as
1 follows:
Main battcrv--Tcn 12-inch breech-
loading rifles.
| Second battery Fourteen 5-inch rapid
fire guns, four 3-pounder saluting guns,
four 1-polndcr semi-automatic guns.
two 3-irch field pieces, two machine
guns. caIibre 80; two submerged tor
p"do tubes.
The bulls of the vessels are to be
protected by water line belt Of armOr
eight feet in width whose maximum
thickness is II inches and whose cross
section is uniform throughout the
length of the belt Tbs belt armor
gives effective protection to the boil
ers, machinery and magazine spaces
and affords, in connection with the
casematc armor, an extensive COM
partmental subdivision. a reasonable
assurance Of the maintenance Of the
stability Of the vessel under battle con-
ditiOns.
The sile above the main belt armor
h1-