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TAE MARINE. REVIEW 29 master mechanic; John Kelley, boat foreman 'and to Theo- dore Wehagan, joiner foreman, who inspired their various departments with their own zeal. The Stanton*is 524 ft. over all, 504 ft. keel, 54 ft. beam and 30 ft. deep. She is of arch construction with a straight hopper, having thirty hatches, spaced i2-ft. cen- ters. Her engines are 23%, 38 and 63 in. cylinder diam- eters by 42 in. stroke, supplied with steam from two Scotch boilers, 14 ft. 6 in. by 11 ft. 6 in., equipped with Ellis & Eaves draft and allowed a pressure of 180 Ibs. She is. designed to carry 9,000 tons of ore. PANAMA CANAL MACHINERY CONTRACTS. - Washington, Oct. 28.--The Panama Canal Commission has within the past few days, awarded contracts for machinery and equipment which aggregate in the neighborhood of $1,000,000. Perhaps the most important' single contract was that for nineteen 70-ton steam shovels which was awarded to the Bucyrus company, of South Milwaukee, Wis., on their bid of $10,240 each, or $194,560 for the entire con- tract. The bidders and their bids (per shovel) were as follows: Marion Steam Shovel Co., Marion, Ohio, $10,450; Atlan- tic Equipment Co., New York City, $11,750; Allis-Chalmers Co., Milwaukee, Wis., $9,400; Bucyrus Co., South Milwau- kee, Wis., $10,240. : ' In explanation of the failure of the lowest bidder to secure the contract in this instance it may be pointed out that the Allis-Chalmers Co.'s_ proposal did not contemplate the payment by the bidder of any freight charges whatever, any expense of erecting the shevels or any expense con- nected with the testing of same. On the other hand the Bucyrus company whose proposal was accepted merely asks the government to supply the unskilled labor needed for -the erection and test of the shovels, and offers to make a con- siderable reduction from the contract price if the govern- ment will furnish all labor for the erection of the machines. Another contract placed was for six 60-ton unloaders. This went to the Lidgerwood Manufacturing Co., of New York City, the only bidders and whose proposal calls for $7,949 each, or $47,604 for the lot. Contract for twelve unloading plows went to the Marion Steam Shovel Co., of Marion, Ohio, the only bidder in this class. The price accepted was $900 each,. or $10, 800 for the entire contract. The United States Steel Beata Export Co., of New York city, was awarded three contracts by the canal com- mission. at $1,040; an order for 200,000 lbs. of railroad track spikes at $3,910; and an order for 100,000 tie plates at $6,570. _ The Morden Frog & Crossing Works, of Chicago, secured two awards--one for 25,000 drop forged steel braces at $2,312.50, and the other for 150 switches for $5,250. R. C. Horton, of Chicago, secured three contracts. He agrees to furnish a steel water tank of 500,000 gallons cap- acity, for use at Mt. Hope, in the canal zone, for the sum of $9,950, for one steel water tower and tank for Colon, with a capacity of 400,000 gallons, his accepted bid was $22,700; and for one steel water tower and tank for Culebra, capa- city 50,000 gallons, his figure was $3,400. Other bidders on hese contracts were the Ritcr-Conley Manufacturing Cc., of Pittsburg, Pa. and Lippett & Wood, of Phillipsburg, N. Y. The Riter-Conley Co. asked $14,451 for the 500,000 gallon tank, $27,763 for the 400,000 gallon tank and tower; and $5,190 for the 50,000 gallon tank and tower. Tippett & Wood offered a proposal of $14,647 for the 500,000 gallon tank; $24,142 for the 400,000 gallon tank and tower, and $3,800 for the 50,000 gallon tank and tower if awarded in conjunction with one of the other contracts, or $4,900 if awarded singly. They took an order for 40,000 lbs. of track bolts. A contract for six earth spreaders of iron and, steel construction went to the Mann & McCann Co., of Chi- cago., Ill, on their bid of $23,382. The only competi- tive bid in this class, $36,000 in amount, was. offered by the 'O, F. Jordan Co., Chicago. / ' The engineer department of the Canal Commission has just asked for 100 steel sheets each, of Nos. 10, 12, 14,'-16,-and 18, all to be 36 x 472 in. in- Size, and bids will "be "invited 'in: the near future. ~ Bids for other items of considerable importance are also © to be advertised for at' no distant date. PRIVATE CONTRACT WORK ON PANAMA « CANAL Washington, Oct. 28--The authoritative announcement that United States Government will enter into contracts with corporations or individuals for the construction of the Panama canal or any part of it, for which bidder may submit satisfactory proposals is full of significance for ma- chinery manufacturers, iron and steel men and firms in equipment and supply lines in general. It is well known that the conditions governing the sale of supplies to the govern-. ment under strictly competitive conditions are not always the same as those prevailing when purchases are made by private contracting firms, some of which have more or less close relations with certain manufacturers or jobbers. _ Thus far all purchases made for the canal work--and they have embraced everything from steam shovels to small hardware--have been made outright by the Canal Commis- sion. This equipment has been obtained merely for what might be termed experimental work. It was necessary for the government - officials to personally direct. a_ certain amount of work in order that they might obtain at first hand definite knowledge as to the work to be performed and con- ditions in general which would enable them to pass intelli- gently upon bids submitted by prospective contractors, and to draw up contracts that would cover all points. Now that this practical experience has been obtained, or bids fair to be, in the near future, plans are being made looking to the issuance of calls for bids, and proposals will probably be invited soon after it is definitely determined what type of Snel shall be constructed. -A number of firms have already given assurances that as will offer bids, among the number being the Atlantic, Gulf & Pacific Co., which is carrying out extensive harbor improvements at Manila, and is building two large dredges for government work on the terminals of the canal. None of the prospective bidders have, however, stated that they will seek a contract for the entire project, and there is growing doubt in government circles whether any private firms will be anxious to undertake the excavation of the Culebra cut. It is not-that the work of excavation is so difficult, but the disposition of the excavated material presents problems which many contractors appear to regard as formidable. _ BIDS FOR NAVY YARD SUPPLIES | Washington, Oct. 28.--The proposals opened this week by the bureau of supplies and accounts, of the navy depart- ment, contained very few items of interest to iron and steel and kindred trades. In the class calling for one pipe-bending machine for the League Island navy yard, there was only one bidder. The Manhattan Supply Co., of New York, which submitted a proposal of $09.50. Likewise a single bidder, the Hyde Windlass Co., of Bath, Me., entered a proposal for three steam windlasses. The bid was $1,650. -- For one wood-turning lathe for the Norfolk navy yards the bids were: Oliver Machinery Co., Grand Rapids, Mich., $280; Smith-Courtney Co., Richmond, Va., $279. For 108,750 Ibs. of steel rods the proposals were: Cruci- ble Steel Co. of America, Pittsburg, Pa. $4,615.02; J. B. Kendall, Washington, D. C., $5,255.50.