The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-20


Rssoved That the Secretary OF the Navy be- and he rs
hereby, directed communicates the Senate the report
OF the engineer inchei Of the navy of the result of
quality Of the various kinds Of coal now ia In the navy
OF The uniled States together with information in
session OF the department. on the subject not communicated
In answer TO the late call OF tho Senate.
Mr. COOPER. Mr. President before putting the
resolution to votes beg leave 10 communicate, Tor
the benefit OF the administration and the country,
tain information which, am sure, will be useful 10
both; A lew years ago American coal one OF the
articles calling most loudly for the protection OF the
government; but BY q concurrence OF fortunate crcum-
stances. the coal trade has reached point that puts it
comparatively beyond the reach OF destructive compe-
uonhat 49, II the government would extend TO it such
incidental encouragement as il has in its power to do.
understand that offers have been made TO the Navy
department TO supply the squadron lately ordered 10 the
Chinese seas, with American anthracite COAL at the rate
$lo per ton These offers propose TO deliver il, al this
price, at any port IN those which the government
may designate The superiority OF American COAL espe
caly Of anthracite English and every other species
is well known to those who have given attention to the
subject have before me an extract from the log OF the
Princeton during cruise in the Mediterranean, in the
years lS4S49, which exhibits the result of made
with Scotch bilumlnous Cumberland bilumnous, and
superior to Scotch, twenty per cent anthracite
Cumberland, sixteen and seyen-tenhs per cent. More
recently still, have been informed that test has taken
place in New York, under the direction Q the engineer
inchie OF the navy, officer OF great Scientific attain
ments and intelligence, the result of which he has
municated to the Navy Department in the shape Of
over bituminous of sxly-sx per cent The test
era times repeated with the result One of the ex
pcrimen!s was made on board the Fulton. and was emf
nently successful another made board one oil
the government ships.
The superiority Of anthracite over bumnous coal in
producing seam independent of these most satisfactory
tests, has become abundanily manifest Every vessel
gagged in internal trade north and east OF Philade
pha, has used anthracite coal alone for several years
past and ii is well known that the people engaged in
that trade are keeny alive 10 their own interests and
would el nQt hat in.
eresis promoted by doing it. But it is not only
producing greater quantity OF steam that the superiority
OF the anthracite coal is manifest II is not like the btu
minous, either English American, liable TO spontane
GUS combustion In long voyages, the btumnous coal is
always liable 10 this danger During the year 1850, the
Nomanum, Fancbou, and Waldron laden with bitum-
nous COAL cleared from Baltimore destined for the Pacific
all took fire and were consumedthe two first wholly,
and the last was only partially saved by running her
aground During the present year, the English steam
packet Amazon, only two days out, took fire from the
spontaneous combustion OF the coal in her bunkers
hulks and consumed together with large portion
OF her Were there no other superiority than that
OF security, II would be great and decisive one.
There are however, other advantages in lis use, TO
which have not adveried. On foreign stations and in
distant are without places TO store il. The
anthracite may be thrown out anywhere, and is liable TO
no damage from exposure 10 the weather. The btu.
mnous must be housed in order TO be preserved and
several occasions the government has been charged
for demurage or storage than for freight from the port
from whence ii was shipped 10 the place OF destination
and use tits necessary TO retain the ships which trans
The cheapness Of the anthracite is also an inducement
10 its Lately anthracite offered 10 the govern
meni TO be delivered at any port which II might indicate
in the Chinese seas, al S5 per ton English COAL al the
ports, is selling as am informed for $40 per
ton Taking into account the superiority OF the anihra
cite the English bumnous which Is al least sixty
per cent, makes the cost OF the English in comparison
with the anthracite, S32 per ton or over double the price
of the former.
throw out these suggestions for the benefit Of The
government in purchasing It's supplies being assured that
only needs information the subject TO induce il 10
that which Will be most economical There is one
other advantsge-to which desire 10 refer--,hat the
anthracite possesses over the biumlnous. Insurance
upon the anthracite be procured al one and three
quarters per cent TO ports IN The most distant seasa,
any rate all the ports which vessels have been in
the habit OF frequentng in the Chinese Insurance
upon the bituminous cannot be effected al all This is
another and decisive testimony in favor OF the superior
character OF anthracite coal and 10 II invite the aen
tion OF the government and The country.
The resolution was adopted.
THE DEFICIENCY BILL.
The Senate resumed, as in committee oil the whole,
the consideration OF the bill from The House OF Represent
alves entitled An act TO supply deficiencies in the
appropriations for the service OF the fiscal year ending
the 3Oh OF June, 1882 the pending question being upon
the amendment Of Mr.. BELL, as amended 10 insert the
following:
Fo payment 10 The citizen, OF Alabama and Georgia for
ery other properly taken by the troops OF the uni
ted States and friendly Creeks In the 1886 and 1887
1856 1877"
Mr. BERRIEN Mr. President, il is not my purpose
detan the Senate by any elaborate discussion OF the
amendment now under consideration. II y had been
agreeable 10 the Senate at Its last sitting TO have heard
the brief remarks which had TO make. 1t would have
been perfectly acceptable 10 have made them then,
as 1t 10 acquiesce IN what appeared TO be the wish
of the majority OF the Senate, and postpone its considera
ton al that time by an adjournment Indeed, sir, II was
my purpose originally enter into this discussion at
ALL fe that the claim OF these memorialsts en-.
rely safe in the hands OF the honorable senators from
Tennessee Alabama and Texas, aided by the eucdaon
OF il which bad been given by my colleague, who was
part and parcel OF this ransacon and therefore perfectly
familiar with the occurrences upon which this claim was
founded But have been induced Ia change that pur-
pose from apprehension that the accidental discussion
which occurred between the honorable senator from Ten
nessee [r BELLl and the honorable senator from Mch
gam Mr. CAss,l originating as believe, in misappre
hension the part o the honorable senator from Mch
gan OF the position taken by the senator from Tennes-
scciro apprehension thai this incidental discussion,
involving a subject OF much more interest," IL not much
more exciting, than the consideration OF the claim of
these very humble memoalss might result IN diveng
the attention of the Senate from The merits OF the claim
fer under the diversion occasoned by discussion OF the
policy Of a bygone administration under which their
claims have arisen, and in which they had comparatively
little interest.
Mr. President my simple purpose Is 10 endeavor TO
call the attention Of the Senate TO the merits Of the CLAIM
the preceding action of Congress on this subject and TO
The obligation which they imposed upon us az Their sue
to redeem in good faith the pledge winch tney
have given desire first 10 say that consider totally
alien to the present question the inquiry how far the rule
which resrains the liability Of government to indemnify
s citizens for property destroyed by public enemy as
that rule Is understood among civilized nations, can be
applied TO the predatory and muderous ncusons OF saw