The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-03
On the Coast Steamers.

Chief Eng. Str. North Pacif1c.
Approved: E. J. RATHBoNE.
Port Captain u. 2. Ry. Steamers"
On the Coast Steamers.
IS. 5. City Of Puehla, April II, 1899.
Oregon Improvement Company-Gen-
tlemen: In regard 10 Franklin coal (Mc-
Kay veinl. I win state that / have found
IL the best and cheapest for steam and
economy OF any coal 1 nave so far re-
celved on the Sound One OF the fastest
runs have made with this ship l made
with Franklin coal. Respectfully.
"A. II. KRESS. Chief Engineer"
The relative merits OF Franklin and
other Pacific coast Goals are discussed
more a. length in a letter written on
March Is. 1891. TO c. J. Smith, then general
manager, now receiver. Of the oregon I'M
provement Company. by Chief Engineer
Charles c. Lacey. of the steamer UNA
tina. He wrote:
The first consideration in the manipu-
lation OF fuels for efficiency and economy
is an intelligent understanding OF the
fuels 10 be used. Without this under
standing practical test can not be re-
lied upon II IL is TO test the efficiency. The
main facts should be understood and the
tests should be conducted by men that are
practically fitted for it, X would oe a
matter of impossibillty for n man that
had burned no other fuel than those Of
England 10 give a competent account OF
such Goals as are produced in many places
throughout the United States.
"A few years ago and during nay time
as an engineer on the Atlantic coast. il
was taken for granted that bstuminous
Goals mined from our own mines were not
II. for steam purposes. anthracite being
the commercial product. Before leaving
those parts l saw the beginning of ocean
steamers 10 use bituminous coal almost
10 rTs.sx-h .afs s4e
use our free burning Goals in preference
TO any other. Ii gives them better salts
fcction and they make better time with il
than any other. In four years and six
months of continual service, we had fifty
new crate bars. and they were used up
while us2ng other Goals. This is the rec
ord of the Umatilla.
Franklin coal has never heated the
b'eeching or stack from an excessive
force of expansion during the time that I
have used 1t. Engineers differ somewhat
in their calculations OF areas for the re-
lease OF unconsumed gases. l have ex-
perinented in many ways to get the best
results and l find that engineers pay but
little attention TO the bridge wall spaces
which is the main feature in coal burn
ing economically. Therefore. do not con-
slider furnace that remains the same
adapted to the use Of every kind OF fuel
that comes along. Franklin coal is very
easily controlled. II the occasion demands
a sudden stop, 1t takes but few min
utes to get IL subdued: and If ii IS re-
guided to start ahead suddenly, 1t will do
Its work better and quicker than any
other coal / ever used, and / have used
e. cry brand in the market, anthracite and
bituminous alike.
LAS a test l give results OF one sample
voyage on the Franklin. Speed, 1875 knots
Expansion, 30 and 90. Voyage from San
Francisco TO VIC, oria, B. c.:
Franklin coal-Pounds OF coal per
hour. 1866: pounds OF coal per 100 miles,
A.52s; pounds OF coal per one horse power
per hour, 2.5; waste OF ash, II per cent:
revolutions per minute, eSs; indicated
horse power. i,sl0; displacement. 1000
tons; free burning. easily handled;
fred light and often; requires close at
tention
For cruising purposes I should prefer
the Franklin coal 10 any Coast product
II can be made, If Iudiclously handled. 10
emit very little smoke. Franklin coal 10
far ahead in all-round work.
More Practical Tests.
in letter dated August /, 1894, Chief
Engineer George II. Crosby. OF the
steamer Walla waila. OF the same line,
wrote OF the results attained with Frank
lin coal
I'VE find by diagrams that there is an
indicated horse power for 2.3 pounds Of
coal which is good practice. It's evapor-
alton is about So pounds water at 2i2 de-
grees, its specific gravity LIS. will stow in
u cubic feet refuse 10 per cent, per
cent. OF which is clinker. Commenting on
the Goals salient features, / would call
attention TO It's fair evaporative power,
compact stowage and small per cent. OF
refuse. The clinker OF the latter. while
larger than ia some other Goals. has not
that liquid and tenacious quality which
many other Goals have and which destroys
bars and draft IN short order. which is a
commercial value in its favor Another
important feature is the equal efficiency
OF the fine and coarse run. while in near
ly all other varieties the efficiency recedes
rapidly as the coal becomes finer from the
mines.
There is another commendable feature
| wish 10 mention In closing this report.
which Is a commercial value favorable TO
IL. which is its uniform combustion, not
spontaneous, which is so destructive 10
your pant from local and radical expan-
sion and contraction. feature not TO be
overlooked
Tugboat Mems Testimony.
This testimony from ocean steamboat
engineers Is backed by equally strong
letters from owners and engineers OF tug
boats who have used Franklin coal, as
follows:
Seattle. Wash. May /. 1894
&C. J. Smith. Esq. Receiver Oregon I'M
provoment Company-Dear Sir; This is
10 certify that / have used Franklin coal
"a the tug BIZ most Of the time for the
past seven years and have found IL the
best and chea pest OF any coal used. The
CRATE bars have not been renewed during
this time and are now in good condition.
The boat has just been overhauled and
boilers are in first-class shape. To get
the best results. u Is necessary that the
fireman understand firing same. DO not
think that there g any coal on the Pacinc
coast that equals 70. Yours truly,
IL. MILLER, Owner
ONCE Of Puget Sound Tugboat Company,
Port Townsend. Wash. May u. 1884.
"Oregon Improvement Company. Seat
tie, Wash.--Sjentiemen During the past
ten years have used AL the different Goals
mined on the sound, but most OF the time
the Franklin Mckay coal. ard take pleas
ure in saying il IA superior 10 AL others
Il has not affected the boiler, and ths
present grate bars have been in use
seven years aud are st1li in good condi-
ton. Have used u with forced draft on