Show BIDS FOR WARSBIP Uncle Sam Will Get Better Vessels For Less tloney ff i GARRISON PORTO RICO Ifl TWELVE T OUSAND TROOPS 11 STAY ON THE ISLAND Uearly Five Thousand Will Sail FOr Ii New YorkGeneral Miles Sailed Yes daySt Paul Transport Arrived nt Manila andAI Well quito Fleet Useless l itt Washington Sept 1Theresult q the blddin for the construction of the three big battleships authorized by congress is eminently satisfactory to the navy department From the face of the bfds it is dear that the government govern-ment is going to secure much more in the matter of power and speed than vas expected that the cost is going to be less than was paid proportionatelY for the Illinois class and finally that I the department wlll be able to distribute distrib-ute the work among the three big building concerns a method of construction con-struction that always redounds to the advantage of the government The bids were opened shortly after nbon in the presence of a number tf representatives of shipbuilding concerns con-cerns of bureau chiefs and other men connected with the department Acting Act-ing Secretary Allen sat at the head of the table on which the bids were placed with Judge Advocate General Lemlle on his left Surrounding the table were the representatives of the shipblllding concerns The biBs were made in three classes the first being under the plans prepared pre-pared by the navy department calling for ships of about 11500 tons with a speed of 16 knots Other classes were under plans prepared by the builders themselves in some cases on additional plans prepared by the enginqering bureau bu-reau but not included in the original specifications sent out to bidders Th bids were opened in the follow g order r J H Dialogue Co Camden N J One ship in 33 months under class 1 for the sum of 2840000 Newport News Shipbuilding Com anyOne ship under class 1 in 31 1Tonths for the sum of 2580000 one ship under class 2 with a speed of 17 knots in 32 months 2680000 one ship of about 12850 tons with a speed of 18 knots in 32 months for the sum of 2850000 William Cramp Shipbuilding Company Com-pany of PhlladelphiaOne ship underclass under-class 1 in 29 months for 2650000 two i ships of the same class for 2625000 each one ship under class A with a speed of 17 knots in 32 months with a tonnage of 11500 for 2725000 or two of the same for 2700000 each one ship of 12150 tons and a speed of 18 knots in 32 months for 2885000 or two of the same for 2870000 each Union Iron Works of San Francisco One ship under class 1 for 2674000 in 31 months one ship under class 2 with a speed of 17 knots for 2725000 in 31 months one ship of 12200 tons 18 knots in 33 months for 2S99000 A careful examination of these bids shows that the prices asked for the vessels planned on the department designs de-signs average slightly less than the price to be paid for the Illinois class although the ships are improvements in some respects But it also appears that the bids are within the limit of cost fixed by congress even where the builders propose to make them of 18 knots speedmuch better ships than called for by the department it is expected tlmCthe only bids considered con-sidered therefore will be for the 18 knot shins In this case the New > ort I News ComDany is the owest bidder but bids for only one ship The highest it the Union Iron Yorks but the act I t ongrers makes an allowance of not exceed 4 per cent in favor of the Pa I cHic bidders so that brings their bid within line Cramps comes in between them and ccnsequentb the three ships are likely to be distributed geographically in that order In the case of the 18knot ships both Cramp and the Union Iron Works sutmitted similar plans The Newport News bId for the 18knot vessel is oriizinal wIth them If it should not be < satisfactory to the department then Cramp would probably get tO of the 5h3 The bids have been taken und un-d r advisement by Acting Secretary AlIEn |