Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-11-18
PRIVATE BIDS FOR
NAVY ARE TOO HIGH
Government Yards May Build Ships
as Result of Offers Re-
ceived.
WAR INCREASES THE COST

WASHINGTON. Nov. II. - Be
cause Of the apparent failure OF pri-
vate bidders to keep their proposals
within the $7,SOO,O00 limit OF cost
set by congress for the bulls and
machinery Of battleships Nos. 40 and
a.. bids for which were opened to-
day at the Navy department. con-
struction of both vessels may be I'M
dertaken at government navy
yards.
The New York and Philadelphia
government plants submitted esti-
mates OF less than 100000 each
for ships propelled with the com
bination steam and electric drive to
be used in the new superdread-
naught now building at the New
York yard. These were the lowest
bids. and the same yards also sub
mitted the lowest figures for ships
equipped with steam turbines. the
basis OF all but one Of the private
bids. The Mare Island navy yard
with an estimate Of s7.413.156 for
the tubine ship was next lowest.
The Lowest BID.
The lowest private bid was that of the
Fore River shipbudlng company, which
submitted four alternate proposals Each
was made under stipulated notifications
TO the departments specifications. which
apparently would bring the total cost far
above the S.sO0OOO maximum. The bids
Of tho other two private bidders. the New
York Shipbuilding company and the New
port News shipbuilding company, also
proposed notifications. and a careful
study will DO necessary before the exact
cost OF the ships can DO determined under
each bid.
The result OF the European wars de-
mands on American markets is shown by
the fact that the hulls and machinery OF
the new battleships Mississippi and Idaho
we're contracted for at $7,1l5.OOO and 1885,
900 respectively, year ago. while today'a
private bids for virtually Identical ships
ranged from H229.OOo TO S7,775.OOO. with va
rious qualifications, such as stipulations
that the government must assume all In
surance charges, pay for test trials and
supply much portable material required
TO be furnished by the contractors In the
advertised specifications, and providing
for the substitution OF cheaper grades Of
steel and timber than specified.
New hull construction, due to plans to
lessen the danger from torpedo attack,
occasioned some of the increase.
severaI Reject stipulation.
Several bida however. rejected the
stipulation that changes in this bulkhead
construction could be made by the gov
eminent at any time within three months
after the contract award. should new In
formation on the subject be obtained
While the departments specifications
called for bids on turbine driven ships,
navy officials indicated tonight that
there was no disposition to await trial
OF the california's electric machinery
before installing this radical departure
In propelling plants In other new ships.
Recent additional tests of the electric
drive on the collier Jupiter has convinced
the departments experts that Il IL not
only cheaper 20 install, but cheaper IN
operation. No private bidder ever has
presented figures on this type of ship.
Bids for the armor for the new ships.
also opened today, showed little Increase
In price since the last armor contracts
were awarded. The Carnegie company
was low bidder for the first-class armor
for both ships at $425 per ton.