The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1898-12-28
Plan FOR NAVAL COAL
CALF a Million Tons of Best Steam
ing Fuel TO BE Procured.
ABOUT IT'S DISTRIBUTION.
Places In which Thi. sinew of War VIII
He Piled Include All the Princi-
pal Ports of Atlantic and
Pacific

Washington, Dec. 26.-The navy de-
partment is going to be prepared for
any emergency that may hereafter
arise in the Atlantic and the Pacific
oceans by carrying on hand the enorm-
GUS stock of nearly 100000 tons of tbs.
best steaming coal for %arsnips that
can be procured.
This supply of the most important
of all sinews of modern war is to be
systematically distributed in American
ports most conveniently located for the
coaling of ships for any operations the
navy may conceivably be called Upon
to undertake. extending along the. At
lantic and Gulf coast line from French
mems bay, Me-, to San Juan de Porto
Rico, as well as the commanding posi-
lions along the lines of commerce
which have already been secured by
the United States in the Pacific ocean,
stretching from San Francisco and
Puget sound to Manila and southward
to Somoa.
In the naval sphere of activity in the
Atlantic about 100000 tons are to be
promptly and Systematically stored in
accordance with the recommendation
of the chief strategists OF the service,
and at least $4,000 tons will be sent
around Cape Horn to the Pacific ocean.
where American interests have sud-
denly become second to those of no
other nation, and where the influence
of the United States will not hereafter
be subordinated to that CT any Euro
pean power.
Coal For the PncfHc.
The distribution of immense piles of
American coal for naval purposes in
the Pacific indicates the unalterable. at
titude which has been adopted by the
administration regarding the future
policy of the United States in that di-
rection, as the initial expense involved
in transporting the proper quality of
fuel for use in the marine engiEesg as
..ell as the elaborate character of the
apparatus, which must be installed for
the expeditions coaIing Of war vessels,
for which time is most essential ele-
ment, demonstrates how gravely and
thoroughly the authorities have ma
tured their plans.
The number of tons which will be
held in reserve at the various ccaling
stations west of the American CONT
nent have been fixed for the present
as follows: Manila, $4,000; Guam.
10000; Honolulu, $4,000; Pago-Page.
10000; San Francisco, $4,000, and Bre55
merton. Puget sound, $4,000
On the Atlantic coast, in addition to
the fuel supplies already established
at the various navy yards and. naval
stations, the recommendations of Ad-
mIral Belknap's board. which made its
Investigations early in the Spanish
war. will probably be adopted without
modification. with the addition of sew
eral requisite ports in the West Indies
The location of these naval bases,
with their tonnage of coal supply, will
be as follows: Havana. $4,000; San
tiago, Cuba, 10000: San Juan, Porto
Rico, $4,000; Tortugas and Key West,
$4,000; Port Royal, S. c.. $4,000; Nor
folk, 5000; Washington, 1000; League
Island, 5000; New York, 5000; New
London, Conn.,. $4,000; Boston, $4,000;
Portsmouth, n. H., 10000; French
mans bay. Me-, $4,000.
In addition to these the naval au-
thorfties are satisfied that they can al
ways dend upon securing at a mo-
ment's notice, at Hampton Roads, as
well as at New York. at least $4,000
tons. such amounts being always avail
able at those ports for commercial
marine uses.