New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-18
Dreadnought Cannot Be
Built at That Price, Say
Contractors.
DANIELS THINKS
THEY ARE TOO BUSY
Estimates of Government Yards
for Two Battleships Lower
than Private Figures.
From The Tribune Bureau J

Washington. Nov. l7.-Bids open ID
at the Navy Department to-day FOR the
construction of two battleships may
have to be rejected. None Of the bid
ders, il is believed, comes within the
limit imposed by Congress Of $780,
coo. exclusive of armor and armament.
The bidders explain that, owing to
the increased cost of labor ard mo
terials, they are unable 10 construct
the vessels within the statutory Limit
and have been obliged 10 depart from
the specifications IN order 10 bring
their bids nominally within the limit
Some fail to include insurance, con-
tractors trials, metal furniture and
other portable equipment; others sub
stitute cheaper material than required
by the specifications.
New hull construction due TO plal,
20 lessen the danger from torpedo at
tack caused some of the increase.
Secretary Daniels has referred the
bids 10 the departments experts. He
believes that the bidders can build
the ships for s7,s0O,OO0 without los,
but that they have so many orders on
hand they are not anxious for govern
ment business AT this time
Wants Yards Equipped.
This condition. he believes. demon
strates the necessity OF equipping the
Philadelphia and Mare Island navy
yards for battleship, construction, as
he will recommend in his annual re-
port The New York yard IS the on y
one SO equipped at present All three
Yards submitted bids lower than the
private shipbuilding companies. but
The bids Of the Philadelphia and are
Island yards are contingent on their
getting appropriations for equipment.
Armor plate bids are the same as
last year, and Secretary Daniels b
iieves this is another argument for a
government owned armor plant. The
Carnegie Steel Company is low bidder
for all but the Class c armor. OF
which only 100 tons will be required
for both ships.
The navy yard estimates, based on
full specification for the ships without
modification. were:
New York Yard: For turbine en-
gines. S7,069,92S; for steam and cleo
trio drive similar 10 the plant de-
signed for the L. S. s. California;, &c.
9S6,667.
Philadelphia Yard: Turbine. $685.
s27; electric, S6,774.144.
Mare Island Yard: Turbine, Sab
l56 Including equipment expense of
Ss2,000).
Private bids. each accompanied by
letters modifying the specifications and
eliminating material and machinery to
be supplied by the contractor, follow:
New York ShipbEildinR Company:
Turbine drive, S7.700,000 time, thirty
four months.
Newport News Shipbuilding Company:
(A). turbine las specifed), s1,775,O00;
time. forty months. OBJ, turbine cal
formative type), S7.765, 900; time, forty
months.
Fore River Shipbuildng Company:
Turbine, 81 ,63S,000: time. thirty-four
months. Alternative bids with in
creasing eliminations in equipment,
grade Of steel, etc. "a, s1,G84, 600;
tB). S7.750.000; Co. S7.229,5O0; time,
lnlrtN-lOur mouths III tACll SAoN.
The navy yards estimates all were
based on construction period of
thirtv-six months.
Four Bids For Armor.
Four companies submitted proposals
for the armor for two dreadnoughts.
Kids on armor Of the hrst class ranged
down from S7l6 a ton, by the Midvale
steel Company, 70 S427 By the Carne-
cie steel Company. The Bethlehem
Steel Company's bid was S435.
On the second grade the Carnegie
Company also was low bidder az S4S6
= ton. while on the third grade the
Midvale bid was low at 1910. The Pitts
burgh Screw and Bolt Company was
the only bidder for the lowest grade,
which comprises the steel bolts and
fittings with which armor IS attached
to battleships, its proposal being SAGA
a ton.