The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-03
The Government Trss.


The following repor, accamr..,.
tests and deductions;
The Franklin Mckay ve.n) cr, :.
ceived on board this vessel AT ss.-s.
Wash. is free burning coal; the A.. !.
qure very Little working. tlrnx l.s"r
about every twelve or fifteen msa..s
fires required cleaning once IN lrss M.
There is very little c..aker Of ! ~.
character and Il does not adhers a q.
crate bars. In making the sh.r,, Il
forty revolution tests the Ares wer. ~.
ried about four inches thick, hankNa ! X.
tie at the front OF the furnace: in msl.s,
nifty revolutions. the fires wers srom ~
10 six Inches thick, banked at the Hs.,
When fresh coal is thrown on tA& ~
there is a dense smoke OF grayisA MAJ
color. The tubes did not reQare sEs,ns,
during the run IN either trial tes,. ~.
was very little SCOT to sweep on, !, ~
end of the test. About two-thlrds q ~
coal IS very fine: there are few lar,
Jumps. the remainder Is small iamp. -
Jumps are easily broken"
Coal a Munition Of War.
These tests proved the excellence a A.
Franklin Mckay vesnl coal for use a
vessels OF the navy and thus removed ia
last objection 10 It's use irrespective a IA
simple question of naval policy whssAsf
IS better 10 buy coal produced within .as
United States territory than to depeaA ii
a foreign country for IT,. On the ons bad
the assurance that the coal 10 be CO.
sumed By government vessels on sas r.
cific ocean Will be bought from mines
the Pacific states would stimulate the d.
velopment OF those mines, the search ~
new and better deposits OF coal ara ia
continued cheapening OF produesicn 81
consequently Of the market price On "
other hand the government migsls e1es
sight immediate saving By buying foftza
coal. but In time OF war night find ilas
without an adequate home supply "A
with It's foreign supply cut on. Sob0y
hopes for, and few expect war wtfa ussN
Britain, but such an event Is possible. "a
IN national affairs It behooves us 10 b rN
pared for even such remote vossh.ask
In such case, with the United H1tS
coal deposits undeveloped. or ROT ~
ciently developed 10 meet the sudden. "
gent demands OF war. American war ~
sells might ind themselves heip.tn ~
lack OF coal.
some Important PrecedestA
The inevitable conclusion Is that y
adoption OF steam as the motive poxsf
war vessels. sails being used orly N csss
OF disaster and TO steady the sH'h ss
caused coal~-the means Of making sfsH~
to become a mun.tion OF war. Inc Fr
eminent should therefore adopt TIE fass
poi.ey In procuring coal as It has aaol1s 4.
in the purchase Of armor plate ava -
building OF warships. Although Prss<A
Cieveland's first administration was ~
united 20 the policy OF free trade, y san'
ed large contracts for Rrntur PAN. y
tending over a term Of years for ~
press purpose of inducing the eresiim
armor plate mills in this country.
result. the great armor pate Hss
Bethlehem and Homestead. "a
erected and the United States = ~
pendent on any foreign country fof 80 a
for its warsh,ps. The same policy -
the same results has been pursuso =.
gard 10 the building OF warshlps -
policy ts not also pursued In regam =
coal.ng or ships. an American NEE ~
be left helpless In port for 'ack 81 ar
power and may be reduced 20 sns go
ton OF a mere floating battery. -.
dent that IN order 90 be In eo'ees
state Of preparation or war, fnis esss -,
must not only build and arm US 0Ea 80 80
but have within its own territory. q "
one Of its coasts. a readily avaslsaR y
abundant supply Of coal for use " 80. ~.
chose ships TO and from rae scehs " ="
atoms.