The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-07
COAL AND WATER PROBLEMS.
nfetiiIing Plants for steam Boilers
Failed to Work an All Vessels
Except OreEon-Keport of Hu-
reau Of Naval Equipment

WASHINGTON. Dec. s.-AS account o.
sox he navy was equipped 70 meet the
.ryesgeney s-yea red by war IL contained ia
- anns,al report OF Capt r. u. Bradford.
xhis- OF toe bureau or equipment. navy de-
n.r,ueni Capt Bradford says the de-
,uands upog tlae bureau and Ks subordinate
h~an~hes--the nayal observatory. tse hy-
srograusic office. compass division, nautl-
"a, and electrical appliances disSs!on-~oc-
sa.soaea bs the var vas very great. This
~as especially 80 with reference TO the
Gal supply OF tbs feet.
When war threatened the bureau made
svsry possible effort 10 procure coaliag
stations near the scene Of its probable To-
rasion. directing special efforts. without
ssccess however. to the Passages a5o'a.
.he Antilles There was only one coal shed
ri Key West and one lighter. but event
uslly all the available space there was eov-
sysd with sheds, with a storage capacity
Of u. 0I tons.
Az 4 preparation for war, the bureau
had asked for and obtained many tenders
for the transportation and supply OF coal.
When the critical moment came. with the
exception OF a single Baltimore firm, ali
declined To adhere 70 their offers on ac-
counv Of war risks. The department was
In desperate straits and the alternative
xas 10 purchase ships and arm and man
them as transports. Five GOLFERS were
purchased, ranging in price from sisoooo
fq the Sterling To $1,000 for the Merri-
mac
The FIRST great emergency having PASSED
and the squadron beiag relieved, adai-
t.onai Golfers. mostly foreign vessels. were
purchased az fair prices and eventually
the bureau possessed an efficient armed
collier feet with carrying capacity of
Is 40 tons for use In the Atlantic
Uils lesson of the war, the report con-
tiues was demonstration that In future
fresh water for boilers must be supplied
10 the feet in transports just as coal is
carried. With the exception OF the Ore
gon, the Gistilliag plants aboard our war
ships proved inadequate. owing chiefly 20
ieaky steam pipes. IL was more difficult
80 supply fresh water 10 ships at Key West
than 10 supply coal. The boilers OF the
ships on blockade before Santiago were
mnch injured FOR The want of fresh water
aad gave the commander in-chier much
concern.
The bureau hats heretofore bought fresh
water for s.eaming purposes. but that was
TOO expensive. To remedy this evil the
bureau II procuring water barge for
each naval station and Is erecting dis,iu-
ing plants where necessary. II has also
procured tankship to carry water In
bulk
The equipment bureau bought nearly half
million tons of coal during the year AT
The rate Of N.ss per ton. The year before
only 1885 tons were bought al a cost of
AIs per ton, The coal bought abroad "a;
III tons. cost ssi2 per ton The Increased
cost Of coal abroad was due to serious and
prolonged strikes OF coal miners and threat
ened war between foreign nations. Nv
Watching the markets and making close
contracts the bureau was able TO keen
The cost down 10 a minimum and al !.
price believed 10 be remarkable In view of
the conditions
Capt Bradford regards with much con-
oefn the constantly increasing demands