Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1901-11-15
NAYY'S COAL BILL
SHOWS ITS GROWTH
Admiral Bradford Presents Some Inter-
estiEg facts In His Report.
SUBMITS SOME RECOMMENDATIONS.
Coallng Stations Have Been Located at Fort
Isabella, Bassalin Island, and at Polioc,
Mindanao-A Complete Station Has been
Established at Yokohama, Japan, and 1t Is
Now Fully Stocked With Coal.

Washington, D. c. Especially. "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 $2,273,III last fiscal year for ga
IoS tons of coal at an average OF $7.oI
per ton.
The report says that this was nearly
o5,7I3 more tons of coal than were used
during the preceding fiscal year. len
years ago the coal consumption was 49,.
600 tons per annum The domestic coal
costs $500 per ton, and the foreign coal,
of which there were used Io5,oo6 tons,
cost $3.50 per ton.
Admiral Bradford has scattered Amer
lean coal all over the world wherever
suitable storage could be found. He has
placed $4,000 tons at Yokohama and
5000 tons at Pichilinque, Mexico, and
he has sent large quantities to Guam and
to the Philippines. He carried 5000 tons
by water from the Atlantic coast TO
Mare Island, California, where it came
into competition with English Cardiff
coal. They have averaged the same in
cost, viz, 5000 per ton, but at present,
owing to the scarcity of American
freight vessels, the best Cardiff coal is
considerably cheaper at Mare Island. 1t
is recommended that two large steam
Ioooo-ton golfers be built to keep de-
pots supplied in time of peace and to &C
company the fleets in time OF war. -,
Summarizing the work accomplished
during the year the report takes up "a
vite and says that the bureau is about to
open bids for a 45,ooo-ton coaling station
there. Efforts have been made to obtain
a site for a coaling station at Cebu, but
thus far without success. Coaling sta
tons have been located at Port Isabella
Bassalin Island, and at Polloc, Minda-
mao. A complete station has been estab-
lished at Yokohama, Japan, and it is now
fully stocked with coal. The same state
ment is true at Pichilinque, Mexico
where, through the courtesy OF the Mex
lean Government, coal and golfers OF the
United States have been admitted to the
station without port or customs OF any
kind
In the West Indies little work has
been done at San Juan on the coaling
scale, but Admiral Bradford expresses
regret that little progress has been made
in securing sites for other coal depots i'll
the West Indies. 1t is said to be essen.
tial that some of the deep water ports OF
Cuba should be made available tor this
purpose, as the entire waters surround
ing Cuba are most important in STRAIT
egic sense and supplies of coal should be
near at hand. Estimates are submitted
for Improvement of coaling stations at
most of the Atlantic ports, including a
complete modern plant at Norfolk. a.
miral Bradford specifically says: AS
the department is aware. efforts are
being made to establish other naval coal
depots at important localities, which 1t
is deemed unwise to discuss in port OF
public character"
During the year the navy paid for
pilotage $23,5II-a considerable decrease
over any previous year since 1896: Naval
officers are supposed to pilot their own
ships in all ports, but there are occa-
sions in tortuous channels and where
charts are not considered reliable where
prudence requires the employment OF a
pilot. The system, however, is gradual
ly disappearing from the navy with i'm
proved charts.