The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-22
COAL FOR NAVAL VESSELS.
Would Like an Investigation Into
some Recent Contracss-OppO&i-
ton Develops to the Proposition

Special Dispatch to the Pos.-Inteliigencer
WASHINGTON. June 2I.-The mine
owners Of the state Of WASHINGTON ar.
greatly exercised over the fact that the
Monadnock some time ago stocked I'D with
toinox coal instead OF getting it of an
American firm. An Investigation By the
states representatives here developed tho
fact that the captain OF the Monadnoek
was ordered TO take this coal BY the chief
o. Ire bureau OF equipment. who declared
openly that 1t was the best coal obtain
aoie on the Pacific coast. This IS in the
face OF the fact that public reports by the
bureau on the efficiency OF various Goals
used hy United States ships show decided
iy that CoTnox coal takes only a secondary
place to the best Goals mined on the Amer
lean side. According 10 tests made BY
Capt. William Folger on the Yorktown
the Blue Canyon coal was superior TO the
Comox Al the time when the Monadnock
eoaled the owners OF the Blue Canyon
mines offered 10 furnish coal 10 the cap
tain. delivered on board. at from 81 to
si.5o per ton. and that Comox coal was Of
fered at $50, Nevertheless. the captain
took the higher price. About the same
time the navy department purchased 5000
tons more of CoInox coal for delivery at
Pert Orchard dry dock and to various
naval vessels on the Sound. This was
done without even giving an opportunity
for American mine owners TO bid. The
price paid was $40 al Port Orchard, or
81 per ton on lighters. The duty on the
same, imported into the country, is 65
ceits and transportation at the highest
possible rate would not be over IS cents,
making a total cost for coal at Port Or
chard ss17 This would make an excellent
profit for 5000 tons for some one who os}-
tanned this contract from the navy depart
ment. a move is now foot in the in
terests of the mine owners of the state of
Washington TO have this matter thorough
~ investigated and find out why ii is that
| collier!es Ike Blue Canyon. Black
Diamond Roslyn and Wilkeson are not
| gwen a chance TO furnish American coal
| to American vessels when their product
| has been used on coast and ocean-going
steamships for twenty years and more and
| has given excellent satisfaction. II would
| be hard to make these people believe that
| coal which can be used in the transpacnc
| steamships is not suited to the fire boxes
| of American cruisers and men-of-war.
4 petition signed by nearly 100 of the
prominent citizens of Seattle has been
| filed with the secretary Of the interior ask
| ing for the appointment of /. Hill Case.
| formerly Of Seattle. but now of Wrangel.
AiaSh1. As trustee .NE the CITIZENS OF the
town of Wrangel who are urging the or
ganzat!on Of their town under the United
States statutes.
Numerous applications are being fled
for appointment commissioners and
deputy collectors n Alaska based on the
accepted theory that there will be quite
a number OF vacancies in that territory
soon. 1t is supposed here that the ex-
pected vacancies will be the result of re-
cent Investigations by the grand jury for
| the territory. If there has beer any Illegal
| actions by the order of the officials of the
government III Alaska it is not known
here. to the department They have no
further Information at the present tine
than what has come from the newspaper
reports and letters from those who desire
to have their names on file as applicants
| for any possibie vacancies that may occur.
The committee on mining affairs Of the
house of reprcse natives has had II atten-
ton called to statements made ty prom
| inent citizens Of Whatcom county whose
names for obvious reasons are withheld,
that il would be bad policy to set aside
that provision Of the United States statutes
| requiring assessment work to he done
| upon mining claims movement was on
| foot to suspend this work during the pres
| tHb Sf.7I. Hbt the STATEMENTS WD4Cn nave
heen made to the committee put a differ
| ent light upon the matter and no action
may be taken, II IS probable that such
legislation freeing those who are hold
ing mining claims from the necessity OF
| doing assessment work every year will re-
suit mainly 10 the advantage Of specuiat-
ors who have tied up all Of the principal
mining claims In each locality and com
| pei all those who actually wish to work
and igXrfon 4 n a frnry,
| tho spectators IT a high price. II is point
et cut that II - not difficult for the bona
| fiae miner, who has but one claim. 70 do
! his assessment work each year and that.
in fact. nearly all Of these do more than
the necessary amount Of assessment work
! every wear. on the other hand il is Oh
viously Impossible for spectators without
| the expenditure Of large sums of money
| IN IN the work upon the large number OF
claims which they are merely hold NJ, for
| the purpose OF sclirg At high prices to
| those who wish actually to engage in min
| ing II Is claimed. therefore that the
! law Is clearly a gnod one and should not
| IN suspended for the reason that Il COM
| 1eis these spectators to lei go the claims
| they are holding under fictitious names
and 'hus permit actual miners 10 file unon
| th"sl These ideas have appealed very
| strongly 10 many members OF the house.
AMI It Is not ~ all unlikely tina. the move
q SUSPEND the Ian requiring assessment
work ~ ~. done during the present year
| will he defeated
y movement is also on foot 20 reduce the
| p~eser, legal dimensions of a mining claim
ahout Cnc-half II IS asserted that II a
mining claim x COOL, whether II no o: gold
/ or silver. So ~ 30 feet - large enough
/ far any oue ind Vidual. r it is not good
| claim then y IL more than any miner
! wants The greatest zoe - mineral devel-
s~, Is ~..,N