The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-03-10
COAL FOR THE FLEET.
Herbert Makes Some Conces-
siOns to Senator's.
a TEST OF SEATTLE PRODUCT.
oessaos squire Led the Fight ana NAY
Carry IL fnto the se1ste-F"rmss
Tssts Not Fairly Made.

The following speciai from Washington
City shows that the decision OF secretary
Herbert TO have the Ber.ng sea Tee; take
Cornox instead OF Seattle coal 10 not 20 Be
allowed 10 pass without question: a. sena-
tor Squire and his colleagues propose
90 carry the matter into the senate.
Probably In consequence OF thear con-
tinued protests two vessels OF the
feet have been ordered TO coal here ard
make thorough tests OF the several kinds
Of steam coal produced in this district In
purchasing coal for such tests the govern
ment liz always careful TO see that 1t is
exactly what IL IL represented TO be, and
the local coal companies are prepared to
furnish it and comply with oil the condi-
tions imposed by the navy department.
The dispatch referred 70 reads:
1.-The fondne-s of the present admins
traitor for everything that is British Is
again exempIIf,ed in a letter written by
Hon. H.A. Herbert. secretary OF The navy.
90 Senator Squire refusing 10 issue orders
% the Boring sea fleet 20 coal at seattle
There seems 20 be no just ground for this
decis on. the secretary Of the navy oasing
his action almost entirely upon a report
81 the engineers OF the United states.
steamer Charleston in favor OF
the Eanaimo coal. This cold
water response was communicated
by Senator Squire 10 the Seattle Chamber
Of Commerce and to those interested in
mining and selling coal on Puget sound
A result be received telegraphed pro-
Test against the decision of the navy de-
parfmcnt from G. ]. Smith, manager OF
the Oregon Improvement Company. sev-
erai other senators have received urgent
dispatches on the subject from
weli-known and responsible persons
requesting them 10 unite with
Senator Squire In asking the navy
department 20 give further and more favor
able consideration to the question OF &C
cepting Puget sound coal, before deciding
formally ia favor OF throwing the business
of supplying coal To United States vessels
into the hands Of foreign competitors.
Manager Smiih's dispatch. which sets
forth the mattsr very torcibiy. Is as ios-
lows:
"Ali Coast steamers and government light
house tan iefn have ussdFrank lin AckHy coal for
several years with uniform xoo1 results. The tests
given II by the steamsr Ranger Last year show
Its superiority over every domestle aud lore gn
coal on this Coast, except EngIsa Cardiff and
Comox. This entities us TO recognition on re
lAsiye values. The report from the steamer
Cbarieston Is indefinite and Al worst only
Indicates lack of knowledge OF the best methods
OF FIRING. Many Coast Vessels use this coal
under forced draft and higa rate OF
speed without damage 10 boilers. refer you
- senator PERKINS, whose vessels nave USED
sbts coal for years. Our navy on thi, Coast can
mot AFFORD TO depsnd on foreign products, which
may fail in certain emergencies, when they can
use ana develop those 1t home. equally good
and always avs.lable
'Thia dispatch has been sent 20 the Sec
rotary OF the navy by Senator Squire with
the following Endorsement:
"Tho above statement seems to me To be
worthy OF consideration by this department.
havs shown IL 20 senator Perkins. and he has
aaaured me Of i,s correctness. lie stntca that
his company have ussd this coal with aniailing
ouccess In their feet, which consists OF more
than twenty stesfseTa Senator'S boiph
and Power are also well acquainted
with the officers and the operations
Of tbs Oregon Improvements Company
oil most earnestly concur in requesting the de-
pArtutcnt To reconsider its preseat unfayof able
decision aud give to the American coal mining
interests on the Pacific coast their iust aud dns
recognition Particular attention 10 invite.
TO the question OF 'gnowieage OF tho best
discriminstion against this coal by tho United
States navy would do great injury 60 the com
ufereiai interests OF Puget sound, aud il would
seam humiliattng to have our fieess on the Pa.
einc ccns. 30 constructed that they must ueces.
sAriy take their coal from foreign nation with
which We may In the future Be ~ war
Senators Dolph. Perkins and Power
have written TO the secretary that they
heartily concur in the above statements
il the matter cannot be settled otherwise
l. will be brought up in the senate and the
secretary will DO required TO show why
naval vessels are ordered TO use foreign
coal when just ~ good can be obtained In
this country"