Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-12-02
Bids Opened for
The Dreadnought.

Washington. Dec. 1.-Absence Of
competition marked the opening of bids
a: the navy department today for the
construction Of one of the greatest
Dreadnoughts of the United States
navy. a first-class battleship OF 27.0oo
tons REPRESENTATIVE fleet Golfers
and machinery for second new bat
tleship which will he built at a gov
eminent navy yard. ftH F.
The apathy of the shipbuilding inter-
ests is attributed by officials of the de-
pertinent to the action Of Congress at
its last session in stipulating that the
work must be done under the S-hour
law. The department Furthermore was
unwilling to interpret definitely the ex-
tent to which. within the meaning of
the naval bill, the S-hour law would
apply to the work. believing that many
of its phases were subjects for the de-
termination Of the courts. This, il Is
believed, also had deterrent effect up
on prospective bidders.
The great battleship, which will be
more powerful than anything afiOat
under the American flag. probably will
be built by the Newport News Ship
building and Drydock Co. of Newport.
News. Va. That company was the only
bidder for the vessel, presenting four
proposals, differing because of the ma
chinery to be installed. These ran from
S., 100000 to S5,S30O0O The maximum,
amount authorized by Congress for this
battleship was $6,0OO,0O
There probably was no successful
bidder for the two steel fleet GOLFERS,
tons. The maximum statutory amount
authorized for their construction was
s1,OOG.O00. The Union Iron Works Of
San Francisco. submitted proposal Of
81 ,5yS,500 for one vessel. but the bid
canrspt be considered because it exceeds
the Authorized amount A bid of $ss7,o0o
by the Moran Co. of Seattle. Wash,
was not accompanied by bond or cer-,
tilted check and it probably will be re-
jected.
The second battleship authorized at
the last session of Congress- sister
ship Of the one first mentioned-will be
constructed by the government at the
New York navy yard. but the machin- !
cry will be furnished by private con-
tractor. The General Electric Co. Of
Schenectady. n. Y, which was the on
ly bidder for this work, proposed to de-
liver the machinery OF the Turbo -elec-
trio type and to have speed of not
less than q knots for $352.5oo.
Bids also We're opened at the de-
partment today for armour for the two
new battleships. The S-hour law does
not apply to this equipment Propos-
ais were received from the Midvale
Steel Co, the Bethlehem Steel Co. O:
Bethlehem and the Carnegie Steel Co.
of Pittsburg, Pa. The bids We're almost
Identical in amount. the figure named
for armOr plate, with the exception Of
turret armor. being $500 per ton. while
the proposal for turret armor was $3.50
per ton.
The extent of the application Of the
S-hour law to the construction of nav
al vessels, it is said, was n subject OF
serious concern to the shipbuilders.
Not only is the S-hour stipulation be-
ing felt by the contractors but it is
said that the government half probably
will be unable to complete the Florida.
now building at the New York navy
yard, within the limit of the appropri.
alton authorized by Congress. II 1t Is
definitely found that the task is i'm
possible, Congress will be asked 10
make another appropriation. The same
request will be made Of Congress iesa
like condition threatens the completion
on time Of the newest battleship au-
thoriZed