Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-11-18
BIDDERS FOR
BATTLESHIPS
RAISE LIMIT
Private Concerns Go Outside
Stipulated $500, 600 and At
tempt May Be Made for Re-
duction
LIKELY TO BUILD
AT GOVT YARDS

Washington. Nov. 1I-Bacause of
the apparent failure Of private bidders
to keep their proposals within the ST.
100000 limit Of cost set by Congress
for the huus and machinery Of battle
ships Nos. 43 and ~, bids for which
We're opened today at the Navy de-
partInent, construction Of both vessels
may be undertaken al Government
navy yards. The New York and Phila-
delphia Government plants submitted
estimates Of less than s. 900 900 each
for ships propelled by the combination
steam and electric drive 10 be used
by the super -dreadnought now build
ing al the New York yard These were.
the lowest BIDS and the same yards
also submitted the lowest figures for
ships equipped with Parsons steam
turbines. the bases Of all but one OF
the private BIDS.
Lowest Private Bid
The lowest private bid was that Of
The Fore River Shipbuildlne Co. which
submitted four alternate proposals.
Each was made under stipulated MOD
ltlcAtions 10 the Department. speci-
locations, which apparently would
bring the total cost far above the :. :
500 coo maximum The bids Of the 9th
er TWO private bidders. tht New York
Ship Building Go. and the Newpor,
News Shipbuilding Co.. also proposed
notifications
Pending tht result of that study.
Secretary Daniels was unwilling 10 say
tonight what course ne would follow
should tne private bids be outside the
limits SCI 10y Congress- Il is under
STOOD, however, thai an attempt will
be made 10 induce the ship companies
10 reduce their figures tef,re n Is de-
1ermlned to give the work TO she navy
yards. The secretary made II clear
that ne believed IL necessary to equip
TWO more government YARDS for bat
| tleship building regardless Of the final
decision as to the pending bids. The
New York ward is the only one SO
equipped now but the Philadelphia
and Mare Island wards can ne made
ready for big lobs at relatively small
expense.
The Figures
/ New York yard figures were For tur-
bine engines, s-.o69. 500 for steam anl
electric drive tsinilar to The plant de.
signed for the r. S California; 81 9S6, So
Philadelphia ward Turt inc, s6916, -
electric, S6.774 l44.
Mare Island yard Turbine. s741a.156
Private BIDS were as follows. each ne
/ ing accompanied by letters modifying the
specifications and eliminating II terra
and machinery II he supplied by the con.
. tractor
New York Shir1uilding Co. Turbine
drive, s-,7G0 0Oo time 81 months
Newport News Shipbuildins Co: "a
Turbine (as specihed), s7,77,5ooo: time. q
months (Bl turbine alternative type
s-.T65, 900. time AZ months.
Fore River Shipbuilding Co: Turbine
s.. 63S. noc time. 81 months Alternative
BIDS with increasing el limitations il
equipment, grade Of steel etc: (A) ST..
6S4, 900. (8) s-.75O0oo: Co s7.oo2s. SEQ Time
81 months in each case.
The navy Yards estimates al were
based or a 3c-rnonth construction period
1T looks on Its face" said Secretary
Daniels when reading OF the bids had
been concluded "as though none Of the
private bids were within the limit Of COS,
authorized by Congress. but they will al
be carefully examined
Bids also were opened FOR the armor
for two dreadnoughts