New-York tribune., 1921-12-31
$6,697,3O3 Bid
RS Low est on
The Leviatf,an
Newport News Company and
Wana maker Submit Best
Offers OH Complete Re-
fitting OF Huge Liner
Satisfactory, Powell Says
Greatest Ship Repair Task
in History Brings Keen
Competition by Yards

The Newport News SEipbuildlng and
Drydocl1 Corporation yesterday sub
mittcd the lowest bid, S6.llO,000, for
the reconditioning of the hull and ma =
chinery Of The Icgiathan, considered
the greatest ship repair job in history.
John Wanamakcr submitted an offer
of $5S7 1903 for furnishing the hotel
equipment of the cx-German liner.
These give Il combined total Of $6 ,697.
303 for the complete rchtting of the
vessel as . pas scngcr ship, making the
the Shipping BoarI Othcr bids ranged
up TO more than Sl2,000,0O0 for the
entire work
The bids were opened in the Offices
Of W +. Cibos, chief Of construction
for the international Mercantile Me-
rinc Company, carctakcrs for tho Levi =
athan The Importance of tho WORK at
tractcd number of tho most promi-
ncnt shipbuidcrs and steamship men
in the country who crowded the small
room to capacity. Joseph w Powell,
president OF the Emergency Fleet Cor
poration, was present when the sealed
envelopes were cut by Mr.. Gibbs.
Chairman Lasker was expected, but
was unable to be present. p A. s.
Franklin, president of the international
Mercantile Marine, was among those
who heard the reading OF the offers.
Satisfactory, Says Powell
The bids we're Very very satisfac
tory said Mr.. Powell afterward
"Thcy we're extremely low. The task
for us to face now is that OF getting
the money for the work"
Mr.. Powell said that the board had
not decided whether it had sufficient
funds to meet the expense, or whether
1T would be necessary to ask Congress
for ali appropriation. Announcement
OF the award is expected from WASH
ington next month.
There seemed to be little doubt yes
terday that thu contract would be given
to the Newport News Company. The
terms offered by all companies were
Identical, providing for award by Jan
uary Is, 1922, and completion of the
work by March IS, 1928 If there was
I; delay in signing the contract, all
companies provided that fourteen
months should be allowed for the Job
The lowest bid received last year for
reconditioning tho Lcviathan, which
involved smaller amount OF work
NdS an coIlfllate OF pS,9oJDUU from the
Boston Navy Yard. and bonded offer
Of approximately 100000 from tn.
Todd Shipyards Corporation.
The bids for the work on the Levia
than were divided into three parts
general rccond itioning of the hull Of
the ship, repairs TO the machinery and
furnishing OF the stewards equipment.
including linen, tableware, and other
supplies. Mr.. Gibbs said that in award
ing the contracts the board intended to
consider the first two offers together,
while the third contract would be de-
cided upon Independently.
Work Expected to Begin
The comment of Mr. Powell upon the
bids was regarded as an indication that
the board would proceed with the
work, which was dependent upon the
nature of the offers. This. will give
the United States in 1928 the second
largest liner in existence, surpassed
only by the Majestic, of $4,000 tons,
which will he placed in operation next
spring by the White Star Line. The
Leviathan is a ship of 50 900 tons. Both
vessels were constructed in German
shipyards.
The bids received yesterday for the
rcconditioning of the Leviathan, in
cluding the general reftting Of the
hull, and the repairs to machinery,
were as follows: