Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-11-30
AFTER BATTlESHIP AND
TWO NAVAL GOLFERS
Estimates On All Three Contracts
Have Been Submitted by Local Com
psny--win BE Opened at Noon To-
morrow-"6ig Four" in Bidding.
Bright Prospects Ahead.

kinS an0 CuleI EsnSiutcf OhoiiSo
Bailey, OF the shipyard, left last night
for washington, ID. c., where at noon
tomorrow them are TO attend The open
ing OF the bids on the 27-O00-ton bat
tleship and two immense naval col
Tiers. president Calvin B. circuit. OF
New York, who has been Ill for
number of weeks. probably will not
be able to go to Washington and hes
will be represented by Mr.. Post.
Estimates on all three OF the vessels
have been submitted BY the Newport
News Shipbuildins & Dry Dock Com
pany and the officials are said &c be
confident OF landing the big battle
ship and at least one of the two col
liers. There probably is more gen.
erai interest In the outcome OF the bid
ding on these vessels than there has
been in the bidding on any other ships
fer the United States navy and the
bidding is the one general subject OF
conversation here.
Believe New Era Is Here.
There are many who believe that
the yard is upon the eve, OF the most
prosperous period In its history. The
fact that the yard. bid on only one OF
the six torpedo boat destroyers. con-
tracts for which were awarded re-
Gently, has produced tse general inn
preston here that the yard o6icials
are confident of landing at least two
of the ships on which the yards are
to bid tomorrow This yard submit
ted the lowest estimate on the de-
stroyers end could have landed three
as easily as 1t landed one, but. it Is
said, the officials did not care to tie
the plant up with the small vessels
and thus handicap it in handling the
larger contracts.
Besides, the expectation OF landing
contracts for warships tomorrow. 1t is
understood that the yard has consid-
cradle merchant work In sight and II
II is reasonably successful In It's bid
ding there will be plenty of work on
hand within a month. The employees
seem to be sanguine and many OF
them declare that the outlook at the
plant L. brighter than IL has been in
years.
Will Cost ss,ooo,oco.
The battleship on which bids are
to be opened tomorrow Is the iaI gest
ever designed for the United States
navy, being of 1000 greater tonnage
than the Delaware. which was COM
pletsd here this year. The hull and
machinery on the vessel are to cost
not more than $6,0O0,000. The craft
will carry ten If-inch rifles mounted
in ave turrets located along the CEN
ter line. In general design end appears
ance she will be very much ike the
Delaware, but will be a much larger
craft than that monster men-o.war-
The combined cost Of the two col
liers il not TO exceed $4,000. 900,
81, 900, coo each. These vessels ere 20
have carrying capacity OF 1850
tons of ccaI and are to be equipped
with the latest improved machinery
for handling coal. They will be pro-
PEELED by twin screws and viii have a
speed OF about seventeen knots an
hour. There will be much work on
the ships and the two combined so far
as actual work for the builders Is
concerned. will be equal almost to the
big bat6keships.
"eio Four in Bidding
While no official information T. to
be lad. IL Is understood that the big
Four Of the Atlantic Coast-Cramps.
New YORK Shipbuilding. Fore River
and Newport News-are 10 submit es-
Inmates Of all Of the craft. Some keen
competition Is anticipated by be OH
GERS Of the navy department on Iii OF
effect that the Maryland Steel Con-
psny. which heretofore always has
landed the collier contracts. will not
bid on the fleet coal carriers because
Of some differences with the navy de-
psr-ment In the construction Of col
hers IN the past. However. that Is
merely runner and Il would not be
surprising 20 see the Maryland Com
pany enter the bidding for the coal
carriers.