New-York tribune., 1900-05-03
COAL CONTRACTS FOR THE NAVY,
PROVIDING SUPPLIES IN EVERY FOREIGN
PORT LIKELY To BE VISITED BY
AMERICAN WARSHIPS

Washington. May 2 (SpeciaD-Rear-Aduira
Bradford executed contracts to-day to supply coal
10 warships in every foreign port likely 10 be visited
by American naval vessels for the next year These
ports include nearly all the important harbors on
the globe. except those in the actual uossesson Of
ihe United States where the Government main
ialils lis own coal piles. 1t has been the custom
OF the Navy Department make similar arrange
ments annually in November for the ensuing wear
but this was impossible last November and De-
cember on account of the unsettled condition of
the coal market. and not until the last few weeks
have the authorities found it advantageous to make
terms with the dealers. The contracts are made
with great firms that practically control the fuel
supplies OF various parts of the world and fix a
maximum price for the commodity each port for
United States National vessels. A clause gives the
United States the benefit of any fall in the market
but compels the dealers to the disadvan-
tage of any rise. The contracts stipulate wher-
ever possible. that American steaming coal shall
be furnished, as naval vessels have been specially
adapted 10 use domestic COAL but in many ports
OF the Wprid Welsh coal has to be taken
The competition which has now closed for this
years contracts brought proposals from the Amer
lean agents OF many companies. and. although the
prices secured are uniformly below the general
open market quotations. they from 80 20 40 per
cent higher than those of lSs9 which were fixed in
the fall OF 1898 before the effect the strikes
was felt They much lower. however, than
could have been obtained last December, when the
daily fluctuations prevented the coal from CIV
The precise terms of the contracts cannot be pub
lished on account Of their probable effect the
market In certain localities but it is understood
that the prices range from about "a shill-
ings In the West Indies, where American coal is
not so far from the mines. the maximum of
about 65 shiings at Zanzibar and the Indian Ocean
ports The west coast of South America has
cheaper coal than the east coast because that of
the former is American and the latter British.
Some American coal is furnished also the island
ports In the Eastern Atlantic. The American coal
Is distinctly superior to most OF the varieties in
addition to the economy of Its use.
The contracts stipulate prices of three kinds.
One is for coal free alongside. either wharf
the OF the ship. Another price is for the coal
board, In which II must be stored away
below by the The third and the gener-
ally adopted in the tropics. where native labor is
cheap that IL does not to the crew,
the price quoted Is for coal trimmed in the bunkers
Except In the Pacific, where naval vessels can take
coal without paying for IL from the Government
stations in Hawaii. Guam, the various ports O
the Philippines and at Tutuia, and in the Atlantic,
where there is pile at San Juan, Porto Rico re-
course must be had to purchases under to-days
contracts. From Manila to NewYork provision is
made to coal the ships at Singapore. Colombo,
seilles, Algiers. Gibraltar Funchal, Fayal and
Bermuda. Successful dealers in every port Fu-
rope have bound themselves TO keep a high quality
OF coal on hand for United States vessels at
ket prices, not exceeding certain maximum. and
Punta Arenas in the Straits of Magellan, all
around the continent of Africa and in Aus
traia, the arrangement is effective.