The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-19
AFTER AMERICAN COAL
Agent Of the French Government
Gives a Large Order.
Seventy Thousand Tons Wanted for
Immediate Delivery. and Arrange
ments Perfected for the Shipment
of Two Hundred ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Navy Not TO Depend Upon England.


PHILADELPHIA. Jan. 19.-Although
many of the recent reports of great sales
of American coal to foreign purchasers
turned out to have very little founda-
ton in fact, it is nevertheless true that
some orders of magnitude are places, in
dicating a possibility OF q future develop
ment. F. K. McIwaiEe. a member of
the American Chamber of Commerce in
Paris. is now in the city closing ar
rangements for an order In behalf of the
French Government, which may reach as
high as GOO tons. the immediate ne
cessities, covering railroad requirements,
being 10000 tons. Mr. McIlwaiue says
that in his belief the time is not far dis
tant when subsubstautial trade in coal
between France and the United States
viii be built up
The situation is just this" Mr.. Nell
waine said France does cot produce
By more than 100000 tons OF coal as
much as she consumes. Hitherto this
deficiency has been made up almost en-
tirely by England The great Industrial
establishments are now becoming alarm
ed at the possibility of their supply be-
ing cut off from this source, or prices be
ing Increased to such al extent as to ma
terially reduce their profits. For this
reason they are looking about for other
sources of supply, and are giving atten-
ton TO the American markets.
The Government is in a more precari-
Gus condition. Dependent as it is upon
English coal. il will readily be seen that
the French navy would be at a serious
disadvantage in time of war. had a talk
with the French Minister OF the Navy and
also with the Minister CT the Interior, be-
fore leaving Paris. and found their al X
iety upon the subject acute. 3 particular
example of the danger was gwen Ia ely
in the sailing Of a transport i1r China
with French troops The transport ex-
peC+ed TO finish coaiing-at a French sta
tioE in the Mediterranean but found the
stock was SO depleted by reason of Iner-
camille Gema nds. that 1t was Obliged to
apply to a nearby English coaling STATEN
and purchase coal al the market price,
not having sufficient in its bunkers to re-
turn to the port Of departure Had the
English yard cared 90 refuse the sale, as
it certainly would have done in time of
war between France and England. the en-
barrassment can readily be imagined.
The attitude Or the French Govern
m2nt toward American coal is distinctly
favorable if American coal can be proven
| to answer the necessary requirement, of
which | have no doubt That, in fact. IS
the reason why I am here Representing
a French syndicate, I am here for the pur-
pose OF seeing whether American compa-
MES could. within the next six months, de-
liver. upon order Of the French Govern
meHt. at a satisfactory price at least eco.
600 tons. These arran zemsRts have been
completed to my satisfaction and as the
question OF transporte ton viii be taken
care of on the other side Il only remains
for the quality OF American coal to be
satisfactory in 0rier1 u inaugurate the
business
When asked what coal he anticipated
placing in France. AIr- MeIIwaine said:
II IS partially Pennsylvania and partially
Wet Virginia. to he delivered T. o. b. az
Baltimore While I am personally salts
fed that this coal wilI meet all require
ments, I am taking over with me. when
sail next Wednesday, several tons Of sam
PIES from different mines. upon which final
Judgment VIII be passed by the French Of
fciaIs. and which. Favorable. will be fol-
lowed in All human probability by a sub
stanIial order"
AS to the probability of orders from
Industrial establishments following the
agent said: The great trouble is of
course the freight While a few months
ago there was possible margin. at pres
ent freights have increased so rapidly
that it would be impossible to lay Amer
lean coal down in France for commercial
purposes for price sufficiently low to
underseH the English The only soIu-
ton OF that question would be a line of
golfers operated BY the coal exporters,
and so constructed as 10 be able to bring
back a return cargo. which would help &c
pay expenses"
oil ob5o
tons expressed against the American
coal 'On account of methods in mininq
or from natural causes he stated
American coal seems to be very friable,
ard arrives on the other side half dust,
the percentage of lump coal rarely ex-
ceeding 90 per cent Consumers on the
other side have been accustomed to the
fine lump coal furnished by England. and
consequently consider that the standard
The American coal. when even in the
condition of dust has just as much
steaIning capacity as has the slower
burning English coal but it is very diff
cult TO make people believe this fact
especially as IL IS necessary fer them to
change their CRATE bars in order to use
it, This will have TO be the case upon
the railroads, il the coal am now ar
ranging for IS ordered. There is one pos
sibiIity. however. which has not been Civ
en- Sulhcient attention IN AMERICA, and
that is the possibility of exporting the
culm which accumulates IN such quanti-
ties around every American coal mine. or
of making, as they do in France bri-
Quettes from it and exporting them
The time is coming when American
coal will be shipped regularly to the Con-
tinent. particularly through MeGiterra-
mean ports; but 1t can OILY be done by
a thorough organization. With great cap
ital controlling both coal and GOLFERS
thus enabling English competition TO be
met successfully When Americans once
demonstrate that they can underseu the
English product then any existing pre-
JUDGES against American coal viii soon
disappear"
SAW JACKsoN,s GREAT BATTLE.
j. VI. =. BarOusse Dies at New Or