The Washington herald., 1908-01-19

Acting under the assumption that none
OF the proposals for the construction of
dirigible balloons submitted by bidders IN
answer TO the recent advertisement Of the
board of the Signal Corps. L. S. A. hav-
ing the matter IN charge was suitable.
that board yesterday rejected all bids.
There were seven bids submitted in all,
and the amounts mentioned ranged from
5000 TO $4,000 Although the specifca-
tions called for a speed of twenty miles
an hour. according to some Of the plans
submitted, some Of the balloons should
have been capable of making forty miles
an hour
Notwithstanding the fact that. all seven
OF the bids were rejected, it is understood
the board viii readvertise in the near fu-
ture FOR new bids. as it is the intention to
procure a practical dlrigihle balloon,
which will meet the requirements Of the
Signal Corps.
Congress Might Refuse.
II is understood another reason for post
pouing the award of a contract for the
construction Of a dirgible balloon was
that If the contract had been made in ac-
Cordauce with the recent advertisements
Congress might have refused TO appro-
pirate money for such balloons, or might
have cut down the usual appropriation
for the Signal Corps, on the ground that
such balloons are experimental
BY postp0ning the date of award for
such balloons, il is believed the dirigibIe
balloons presented TO the Signal Corps
for consideration, will have passed the
experimental stage. the stage for which
Congress. It is said. does not desire to
pay.
Notwithstanding these facts. the bids Of
the seven competitors were rejected, IL Is
stated on other grounds. In several in
stances the bidders failed to send certi-
fed checks for the required 10 per cent
OF the total amount specified in the pro-
p0sals In spite of this failure on the
part Of several bidders. the board Of the
Signal Corps considered all bids.
The grounds for the rejection, it is said,
We're that none of the plans for dirigible
balloons, submitted were esteemed suita-
BILE for the uses Of the department 1t is
hoped the readvertisement for bids and
the notice Of rejection Of the first bids
VIII entice balloon experts throughout
the country 20 get busy" on plans for
a dirigible balloon which will meet ap-
proval Of the board.
Country Is Far Behfnd.
The members of the board realize that
this country is far behind the other coun-
tries Of the world in the matter Of diri-
gible balloons, and for this reason they
desire the balloon adopted shall be the
best obtainable for the money.
II is not known just when the board
will readvertise for bids for balloons. bur
81 is probable II viii wait for some time.
IN order to obtain the desired effect in
stimulating invention in this line. The
board will open on February ] the bids
Of various persons for the construction of
aeropanes. The aeroplane has already
been perfected in foreign countries. nota-
bly, in France but in the United States IL
has seemingly been subOrdinated. for
some time at least, 10 the dirigible bal
loon.
One purpose, il Is understood. Of the
Signal Corps in asking bids for the aero
plane and for the dirigible balloon, is
that by this method the interest Of the
Inventive geniuses throughout the coun-
try will be quickenej into action and the
war corps Will be enabled to get the best
or such that can be made in the United
States.
1t is for this latter reason, II is said,
that the Signal Corps does not itself go
into the business of making these dirigi-
bic balloons or areOplanes.
Bests Results Obtained.
It IS believed that by fostering competi-
tion the best results viii be obtained, and
much larger number of men who have
bent for such inventions viii be called
into action than would be possible II the
corps were to make their construction a
matter for government action alone.
Coming with the recent tests OF the war