The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-09-15
ROWING over
JUqE MILL COAL
San Quentin's Engineer and
J. G. Wilson Cannot
Agree.
Cannot Weigh a Foot Of Water
or a Ton of Coal in the
Same Way.
An Expert Will Be Called In to
Test the Prisons Supply of

There have beer some humorous devel-
opments in the com missary department OF
the San Quentin penitentiary, particularly
with reference to the coal used in the jute-
mill.
A com plaint was recently made by the
chief engineer that the steam coal fur
nished by ]. G. Wilson & Co. was not COM
ing up to the test provided in the ontract.
The contract specified that one pound OF
coal should evaporate S.66 pounds OF
water, bu: the engineer said that he found
the evaporation less than 7.66. The mat
ter was called to the attention of the
board some weeks ago and they asked the
firm to vindicate their claims. Mr.. Wilson
was incensed that his coal had been libeled,
for he was furnishing Incorporative Wall
send, which he said was the best. So he
got Engineer Burmese of The Palace Hotel.
together with two firemen, to make a test
yesterday in the presence of the Walden
and prison engineers.
In four hours and half they burned
9122 pounds of coal, according to Mr.. Will
SON S measurements. but according to the
engineer 800 pounds more were burned.
According TO Mr. Wilson the test showed
that his coal evaporated 8S3 pounds of
water for each pound OF coal but accord
ing to Engineer Young the evaporation
was only 766.
The coai-dealer and the engineer could
not agree on the weight at cubic foot of
water, the engineer claiming that it was
g. so pounds and the coal merchant thai
it was about 68.
AS the coal bills of the prison run to
about $40. 900 a year the discrepancy is an
item of considerable interest. The mat
ter cannot be settled until some outside
expert is called in TO decide what was the
weight of the water ana the coal. The
methods of weighin water at the prison
are crude in the extreme.
The engineer and fremen of the prison
think their measurements were correct
and the coal-dealer is just as confident
that he is right.
Speaking of the matter last night rep
resentatives OF the firm of J. G. Wilson 81
Co. said the tests were in their favor.
The trouble was all because the en-
gineer and fireman at the jutemill were
not experts at evaporating plain water
scientifically, according to James 3.
Smith of j. q. Wilson 81 Co., who gave
the firms account..oi the trouble after Mr..
Wilson's return.
THE contract for steam COAL" said Mr..
Smith, was awarded in June at So 80
ton after tests, in which our cooperative
Wallsend coal from Australia won.
After receiving about 700 tons it was
claimed that our coal was not up to the
required standard, and while they have
used our coal right along they have re-
fused to pay us any money, and about
$4,000 is due. Their objection was found
ed on the report of the chief engineer.
The requirement was the evaporation OF
about eight and half pounds OF water to
pound of coal, and when Mr.. Wilson
went over to-day with a competent en-
gineer and fireman to test the coal
from the pile, the result was S,67 pounds,
and the engineer was satisfied and blamed
his fireman for his own results.
THAT test strengthens the matter out
The consum ntion of steam coal amounts
to from $1,000 to $1,000 a month, but the
less ued the better We like It, as the
added 81 cents tariff and the higher
freight rates have advanced the price"