The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-05-02
ADMIRAL MEADE'S DIFFICULTY
IN OBTAINING COAL ON
HIS RECENT CRUISE.
STATIONS WOULD BE IN THE IN
TEREST OF ECONOMY.
The Next Session of Congress Will be
Invoked on the Question-Ex-Con-
sui Walters Attorney Active
in His Behalf.

Washington, April 2S.-The recent ex
perience of Admiral Meade in his cruise
with a squadron through the waters OF
the Gulf of Mexico and the CarribeaI
sea has served to again attract the atten
ton of the officials Of the navy depart
ment to the necessity of either one OF
two coaling stations in these waters.
Although the cruise lasted only a few
weeks, the difficulty of procuring suiii-
cient supply of coal at different points
and at reasonable prices has strikingly
indicated the trouble that may be ex-
pected when it shall be necessary to main
tain for long periods of time or perhaps
permanently establish a crew of cruising
boats in those waters. Such contin-
geDcy is being prepared for by the con-
struction of number of boats calculated
for just such service. Owing to the
short supply in that section the price is
always high in some ports, but it is very
much higher in others, being as high as
$15 a ton at Colon. Now that the navy
has rid itself almost entirely Of sail power
and the ships are altogether on steam
the amount of money expended in coal is
assuming formidable proportions and the
naval officials are using all of their in
genuity to keep down this expense with
out injury to the service. Perhaps for
this reason number Of officers who have
regarded favorably the proposition to es-
tablish coaling stations outside of the
United States are now becoming con-
WINGED that the plan would be in the
interest of economy. The navy has
adopted the plan of contracting with an
American firm to deliver coal alongside
the vessels at some ports. This plan
worked well in certain limits and con-
siderable economy is effected. But there
were grave objections to the adoption of
such plan as n permanency. There is
reason to believe that while no objection
has yet been made TO this experiment,
the nations owning the port where the
coal is transferred to our cruisers will
not permit the practice to continue with
out the collection of heavy duties on the
coal and up to this time no thoroughly
satisfactory method has been found by
which the coal can be transferred on the
open sea. But aside from these purely
economical reasons for the establishment
of cOalng stations, much stronger one
is found in the fact that in time of war,
under the neutrality laws, our ships
would be excluded from the privilege of
coaling in foreign ports and would thus
be absolutely prevented from active OPP
erations, if they did not fall easy victims
to an enemy. Some of these officers who
have given much attention to the subject
are confident that the United States could
arrange for the acquisition of coaling
stations from almost any of the countries
in the Gulf of Mexico of the Caribbean
sea at n nominal price. Nothing in the
way of equipment is required save a
landing wharf and the services of one
man to watch the place would suffice.
In case of war, if the station was near
enough to the scene of action to be nee
essary, 1t could be protected by the very
ships that would be required to use the
coal. If it were distant from the scene
and not necessary to the service at the
time, it could be left to take chances |
for the enemy would scarcely find it |
profitable to send ships to capture coal |
station when it could readily be rcplcn- |
ished at any time.
1t is believed that Secretary Herbert |
is giving this question much attention |
and when congress meets again he will |
recommend to that body that this govern |
ment be clothed with the necessary power
to acquire suitable sites for coalng sta
tons.