The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-07-10
UNCLE SANS COAL
Dealers Sell II 70 Him 1t Cost for {
sake Of AdvertIGlng.

Sake OH Adverttolng.
There Is no money In supplying I'm
:le Sam with COAL said big dealer in
that article to Washington Post re-
porter. I'VE who contract to deliver
portions Of the vast quantity Of anthra-
cite and bituminous fuel used in the de-
partments figure on our bids 30 as to
come out without loss, and that Is al.
Not > cent, as rule, do we expect to
make. Why do we accept the Job, then?
Simply for glory. And yet, to be frank
with you, it is not for glory in an ordin-
ary sense. shall be putting 1t palmer
II say that the award Of Government
contracts for coal gives merchant pres
tige and advertises his regular business.
For that reason it Is that we are willing
to sell goods to Uncle Sam at cost
price,"
"3ut you don't put in the coal ut your
own expense, surely?" queried the re-
porter.
Hardly. We reckon that in as part
Of the cost Suppose . ton Of coal on
the track costs $4, we add 10 cents for
putting in and 90 cents for inspection,
making it $40 delivered. That 20
cents has to be paid on every ton Of coal
delivered 1t the departments. according
to law. Upon delivery the Government
inspectors see that il is Of good weight
and OF satisfactory quality. Or they
may inspect the coal At the yard, II It IL
more convenient We have to pay the
inspectors out Of our own pocket. You
can see that their work is not unprofita-
BILE when you consider the fact that the
Government uses 50 900 tons Of coal each
year This allows $4,000 for inspection.
In fact, the inspectors are the people
who make the money on the stuff"
(Which Of the departments uses most
coal?''
.The Department OF the Interior
10, 600 tons are burned up every twelve
month. Next comes the District Cow
ernment, which uses In its various build.
ings, including the public schools, 5000
TONS. The navy yard consumes 5000
tons. In the insane asylum 4, 600 tons
annually are burned. The building Of
the State, War and Navy uses 8. 500 tons,
and the Capitol 5000 for both wings.
| Twenty-Five hundred tons are consumed
by the Quartermaster's Department and
i EsVOV Uy VIC AEOoSuIys AnO DuAFOO ~
Engraving and Printing burns 2.00t
tons, the Government Printing Ofadl
1900. the Post-Onice 1000, the Freed
mems Hospital 800. the Botanic Garden
500, and the War Department bureaui
500. Odds and ends here and there viii
make up the total to 50, 900 tons easily
.'What is the average price paid By
the Government for its coal?'
For hard coal S., and for tho soft
which comes from Cumberland County
Maryland, 1926. Probably the Govern
ment pays $4,000 for coal annually.
Soft coal is used at the navy yard,
where it is preferable for running the
machinery In the shops; also. In the
Bureau Of Engraving and Printing and
the Government Printing Once for the
same reason. Three-fourths OF the coal
used in the Treasury building is soft,
the heating being done by steam. Hard
coal exclusively is consumed ut the
Capitol, both on the House and on the
Senate side. Some times we make oul
contracts with Uncle Sam on . sort oi
gambling basis That Is to say, w
make our bid at the current market
price; If coal goes up Ave cents ton VI
lose, while If it goes down Ave cents VI
earn something"