New-York tribune., 1907-06-21
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS.
Lozo Bids Submitted for 20, ,000-Ton
BattlesMpS.
tFrom The Tribune Bureau. J

lFrom The Tribune BureauI
Washington, June 90
NAVAL OFFICERS SURPRISED-The bids
opened to-day for the two big battleshps the larg
est ever designed for this government were a sur
prise TO the naval authorities for no one had any
idea that the prices quoted by the competing firms
would represent such comparatively low figures. al
though it was appreciated that the desire for one
Of the two contracts was keen. and with rivalry
would lead TO some close figuring. 1t was re-
marked that the highest bid for a battleshp built
on the departments specifications 10000. be
ing the bid of the Cramp company, while the low
est bid on the specifications. that Of the New
port News company, was &,9SI000. remarkable
difference Of &.l3.0o0 in bids based identical
specifications. No one could fully understand why
there should be such range of prices. and it was
suTmised that the lowest bid represented little or
no profit, and was likely TO be chiefly of advantage
TO the contractor, II the bid accepted, in fur
nishing steady work FOR his plant. The indications
are that one OF the ships VIII be built at the New
port News works and the other at the Fore River
Works Quincy. Mass. by the firm of which eX-
CHIEF Naval Constructor Francis T. Bowles is
head 1t Is stin open question whether one or
both OF the ships will be fitted with turbines In
the variety OF bids presented to-day there were op-
portunt!es TO make Il number of selections. There
Is difference OF export opinion concerning the
turbine. and there those who thought that the
ships necessarily possess turbines instead
OF the ordinary reciprocating engines Inc arEu-
ments offered o., each side Of the question are
about equal In the points for and against the tur-
blne installation. Naval experts who attended the
opening of bids in the tho Secretary Of the
Navy recalled tho bids which fifteen years ago
were opened for the first American battleships,
Oregon. the Indiana ana tho Massachusetts. II
observed that the latest type OF ship. about
twice as big the Oregon, VIII not cost much
moro than the oregon type. This Is remarkable
IS considered that the price of material has
greatly increased and the result is attributed TO
tho keen competition among the bidders and the
experience which been gained in the last twelve
or fifteen years by them. With to-day's bids from
the shipbuiIders received special bids from
tho naval constructors at tho New York and Mare
ar,Is red bV Ot P-
partment, as n check the private shipbuilders
The figures OF these bids have not been mado pub
lic hut II Is known that they are considerably IN
excess Of the bids submitted by private builders.
The bidding brought together the largest
pany of shipbuildcrs and other persons Interested
in naval construction that has been seen in the
Navy Department for many months. The bidding
itself was sarily COMPLEX. the builders freely
eNailing themselves or the hepar tlet permission
10 submit all of combination and alternative
plans These included straight bids on the battle
shin OF the standard type, with reCprocating
ernes designed by the Navy Department. original
bidders designs and combinations Of the depart
1nents hull plans with turbine engines. some with
and some without separate cruising turbines. Tho
Newport News company alone submitted no less
than seven sets of plans and II may be noted that
they were generally the lowest at all points and
With all combinations But as the law proVldes
that no company shall receive the contract for
more than one ship, -he second lowest bidder also
will obtain award, In this case tho company be
ing the Fore River ShipbUilding Company, of
Quincy, Mass. The bids in substance were as fol-
Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy.
Mass.-One ship, the departments plans TO be
delivered In thirty-sx months StfSooH Hun and
eouipment on the departments plans, bidders
Curtis turbine engines, AS770OO Cruising turbines
not required in this typo.
Cramp &c Sons, Philadelphia-The departments
plans: time thirty-six months: $4,000. depart
ment's hull and equipment: bidders Parsons tur-
bine engines. S,05NOoo Cruising turbines 5000
additional. Another design with departments nun
and equipment and bidders Parsons turbine en-
gnes IS 0eOOOO cruising turbines $4,000 additional.
Nauynort News Shipbuilding Company Newport
r4T11 ant
ment's hull and equipment bidders Parsons tur-
bine engines; Thorneycroft Schultz boilers, A1Oo-
COO including cruising turbines. Another design.
departments hull and equipment bidders Parsons
turbines same boilers above, A.000OOO Design
includes separate cruising turbines. Another de-
sign same hull and turbines. N1OOO, including
cruising turbine. Another design. same hull and
turbines 81 090OOo including cruising turbines An
otbar design same hull and turbines s. i12500o in
oludina cruising turbines Another design same
huu and turbines. $4O50000. including cruising tur-
bines.
N J-Department's design. s4.54.OO0 Departments
hull and equipment bidders machinery. recipro-
eating engines. A6OoO" Departments nun and
equipment bidders Parsons turbines with sepa-
rate cruising turbines. S,bSOOOo.
Tho bids have been referred for examination to
the board OF naval CONSTRUCTION which VIII reoorl-
Bids also were opened for supplying the armor
needed for the two ships. For the armor, which
s divided into four classes the basis Of the diff
hculty OF the shapes required the Midvale Steel
COMPANY appeared be the lowest bidder for the
largest claRs that Is, say 1000 tons OF CLASS a at
$40 "A ton. For this class the Carnegie and Beth
lehem companies each bid s420 For s62 tons of
aI1nor in Glass b. the Carnegie and Bethlehem
companies each bid 800 ton while the Midvale
bid was $40 For 892 tons OF Glass arnor the
Carnegie and Bethlehem companies each bid 800
and the Midvale $40 For 1876 tons OF Glass
armor the Bethlehem bid 500 and Midvale $40.
Carnegie submitted no bid
ORDERS IssUED.-The following orders have
been issued:
ARMY
Lieutenant Colonel EDWARD T. BROWN. LIST Field Ar
tillery, Fort Sill
Lieutenant colonel CHARLES w FOSTER. % Field Ar
tilIery, Fort d. \. Russell
Captain FRANK T. HOPKINS. LIST Field Artillery. from
artillery district OF Narragansett 10 Fort Sill.
Captain HARRY II BANDHOLTZ. I'd Infantry, de-
rallied as chief Philippine constabulary.
Major JOHN c. GRESHAM 9Th Cavalry, detailed to At