Queen Anne's Mansions. 18th November, 1891. To His Excellency The Director General.
Excsuizxcy,—In response to the invitations to tender dated the 16th of July, 1891, and signed by Mr. Claude W. Kinder, Engineer in Chief, Tientsin, offers have been received from the following firms No. 1.—The Union Bridge Ca., New York.
XN treal.
No. 3.—Société Anonyme de Construcllebroeck, Brussels,—Les Usines et Fondories de Baume et Marpent, Belgium, France and 5.—Société Anonyme des Ateliers Nicaise et Deleuve, Belgium, No, 6.—Messrs. W. Arrol&Co., Glasgow.
No. 7-—Messrs. Head, Wrightson and Ca., Stockton, No. 8.—Messrs. The Patent Shaft and Axletree Ca., Wednesbury. por 9: Bless, Handyside & Ca., Der-Ye No. 10.—Messrs. 0. Kees &Co., London.
Neurly the whole of the designs follow generally the outlines of the sketch accom panying the Chief Engineer's specification, but there are considerable variations in detail both as regards design and stress on the material as will be apparent from the following brief summary of the leading features of each design, No. 1, The Union Bridue Ca., New York.
This firm tender for the five 200 fect spans only, and they do not quote for delivery in China but f, 0. b. Liverpool, from which it may be inferred that they would sublet the work in this country with the exception of the eye-bars, which (as in the case of the Hawkesbury' Bridge, N.S, Wales) they would themselves manufac: tore at Buflalo, The Union Company's bridges are of the best modern American type, pin connected throughout with strong flour system and rigid Interal bracing and having moderate stresses on the material. Their price of £11,785 f.0.b. only admits of indirect comparison with the tenders of the other firms: who deliver in China, but it is not the lowest price.
No. 2 The Dominion Bridye Ca., Montreal.
This firm also tender only for the five 200 feet spans. The design 1s of the somme type as the Inst described, but the £20,010 for 790 tons of steel work delivered:
Tongku wharf, which on the score of cost alone would exclude the tender from favourable consideration, No. 3, Societe Anonyme de Construction de Willebroeck.
The 200 fect spans are pin connected, the bars however being parallel in width, and not "eye-bars" of American pattern, In general details the design follows the American practice of some years ago and has many defects, The floor system is much lighter than in most of the other igns submitted, and the stresses generally are also much higher, The total weight of steel work is 655 tons and the price la, 68,000 delivered in China, The 100 feet spans are riveted iron girders with T shaped top and bottom. members. The details of the design wre relatively much better than in the case of the 200 feet girders, but the stresses on the material are somewhat higher than they should be according to the best modern. pra The weight is 400 tons and the price 26,000 taels. he iron proposed to be used isnot up to the best specification. No. 4, Les Usines de Bawme et Starpent.
The 200 feet spans have rivetted to and bottom ers, eye-bar diagonals and pin connected struts. The 1 girders and rail girders are very light lattice girders, wholly unfit to carry the heavy rolling load. In every other designed submitted, these girders have plate webs. The weight of steelwork. is 815 tous and the price 73,350 taels.
Altervative tenders for, iron and steel girders have been submitted for the 100 feet spans, the respective weights and prices being 440'tons and 30,800 taels for iron, and 360 tons and 28,800 fuels for steel orders. The designs are well considered tthe atresses are somewhat. heavier than in other manufacturers' designs.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.