New-York tribune., 1901-11-11
COAL FOR THE NAVY.
CONSUMPTION HAS INCREASED NEARLY
FIvEFOLD IN TEN YEARS.

Washington Nov 10.-A striking Illustration OF
the growth of the American navy is presented IN
the single statement in the annual report OF Rear
Admiral r. B. Bradford, chief OF the Equipment
Bureau of the navy, that he spent S2,2l3n in the
last fiscal year 1OS COAL at average
cost Of s. Of ton The report says that this was
nearly 95 713 more tons of coal than was used IN
the preceding fiscal year. Ten years ago the coal
consumption 1900 tons year. The domestic
coal S. % ton. and the foreign coal. OF Wnlcn
there were used I05 O66 tons, cost IS 30 a ton.
Admiral Bradford has scattered American coal all
the world, wherever suitable storage cou!d De
found. He has placed 1900 tons at Yokohama and
5000 tons Pichilinque, Mexico. and he has sent
large quantities to Guam and 10 the Philippines.
He carried 1900 tons by water from the Atlantic
Coast to Mare Island. Cal. where 1t came into
competition with English Cardiff coal They nave
averaged the same IN cost, 50 q a ton. but at
resent, owing to the scarcity OF American freight
vessels the best CardiT coal is considerably cheap
er at Mare Island. II is recommended tnat TWO
large steam lO00O-ton coers be built 20 keep de-
pots supplied in time of peace. and to accompany
the fleets in time OF war.
Summarizing the work accomplished at various
coaling stations in the year the report taxes up
Cavite and says that the bureau is about TO open
bids for a 45 0oO-ton coalng station there Efforts
have been made 10 obtain a site for coalins sta
ton at Cebu but thus far without success. Coaling
stations have been established AT fort iSdoelId'
Bassalin Island ard AT Poil4Gii Yo,xahama
plete station has been esttol a. ~ TO-
Japan. and 1t is now fully stocked WIZ CO.. ,vher
through the courtesy of the Mexican GoVethhent
our coal and GOLFERS have been admitted TO the sta
rion without customs duties
In the West Indies a little work mas oeen uone
al san Juan CoalinS scale, but AdnlirdI
Bradford expresses regret that little progress mas
beer made securing sites lor otner codl uSPo,o
in the West Indies It IS said to be particularly
essential that some the deep water ports OF Cupa
should ne made available for this purpose, as the
entire waters surrounding Cuba are most lrnpoTIaht
in a strategic sense and supplies OF coal Snould De
near nj hand Estimates submitted lor I'M
nrovrrent of the Coaling stations AT most OF tnt
Atlantic ports including complete modern pIdnt
at Norfolk Admiral Bradford speclhcalLy says.
las the department Is aware efforts are beins
made to establish other naval coal depotS AT IN
rnrtant localities which is deemed unwise to dis
c,ss In a report of a public character.
Admiral Bradford says little ABOUT MS idNotiLe
proiect of a transpacfc submarine telegraph ca
containing himself with the statement that tile
.reai Is now in possession OF all data required so
far as surveys concerned. to lay this caoie IN
Tho same connection rene.vs his recommendation
nf the Ha waan Islands, to locate dangers to navl-
rafion He recommends that additional hEaro.
Graphic offices be established at Manila ana a'
The renort saws that the subject OF wireless tees
ranhy was followed carefully during the year put
docs appear advisable 10 adopt any partcu-
lar system at present acquire any more ap-
iior II is clear that no system yet has passed
beyond the experimental stage. Though most OF
80 rrincinaI naval have adopted some form
~ ,ireiess teleeraphy for their ships ii Is believed
fror, he renorts that none satisfactory
II was clearly shown during the tnternatlona Nacn5
rocas that difficulties Of interference couiu
rnt be overcome with the apparatus then used