The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-09-07
COAL FOR OUR Ships
Twenty Seven Per Cent Greater
Than Any Preceding Year.
PRICE PAID REASONABLE
Navy Used 4s7,o36 Tons in 1eo3--In
1892 They Burned 73,467 Toms
Aver ees IS, and Is Largely the
Product Of American Mines.--New
Coaling Stations.

The amount of coal used by the
United States navy is or interest to
everyone; the fact that fuel forms so
important feature IN the movements
OF the fleets OF all countries is brought
home by the recent neavy purchases
OF coal In this country ana abroad by
the representatives of the nations in
the eastward. The use OF coal has
grown with the growth of our mod
ern navy from 73,467 tons in 1892 to
4S7036 tons in 1908. At the same
time it is agreeable to note that the
average cost Is less than at any other
time, with one xception--rhat OF 1898
and that this is due to the fact that
so large portion of the tonnage
used is the product OF American
mines and sent to our stations in.
stead OF being purchased abroad and
being the product OF other countries.
and that costing round price, for tae
average for 1892 shows s7.49 per ton,
while for the last year it IS but s5
per ton.
OF the total last year 3S5 B17 tons
transportation thereof, cost but $3.50
per ton; the amount of foreign being
102,010 tons, at an average cost OF
$500 per ton. The amount sf coal
used during the past year was 81 per
cent. greater than during the JTeced.
ing year, and the cost of the coal was
eighty-one cents, or 16 per cent. less
per ton than during the preceding
year, and this was due TO exarting
the filling of contracts by producers,
for Notwithstanding the great delaying
the departure of transatlantic mail
steamers and otherwise paralyzing
the business Of the country and tho
very great increase in cost, the Bur
eau Of Equipment was able to suppiy
all the coal required by the fleet with
out exceeding the regular appropcra-
ton for this purpose, and at an aver.
age price per ton less than that Of
any year since 1898.
At the same time. ii would not hare
been able to- achieve the above m sar
toned results had it not carried
large amount Of coal in stock. There
were $4,000 tons in stock at Manila
alone; this was reduced ope-half Se-
fore additional supplies could be sent
there. Other coal depots were largely
depleted, but are now, as a rule, we'll
supplied. During the year 226, ESQ
tons Of coal have been shipped to foy.
eign and domestic ports, the greater
amount to the Asiatic station. OF ttis
amount 130.017 tons were sent IN
chartered vessels mostly foreign, aud
96,643 tons in navy colliers.
There are many coaiIng stations in
the United States, and those on me
Atlantic are well known. On the Pa.
cific there Is at Sitka a storage plant
built for 5000 tons, at Puget Sound
20, 900 tons, at Mare Island 10000 tons.
and 1t Is said this should be increased
to 100000 tons capacity, and facili-
ties in accordance Herewith. Then
we have San Juan, Porto Rico, Caun-
tanamo, Bahia HONDA, Hawaii and
Samoa. Guam Is the latest prdposi-
ton for q coal depot in that part Of
the Pacific. The navai station at ca
vite. p. l.. is supplied with American
coal for the use of the Asiatic heet. A
coal depot with a capacity OF 10000
tons at Sangley Point, near the naval
station Cavite, has been recently conf
pleted.
The capacity Of the coaS storage
houses. however. should be doubled a.
soon as practicable. It is. necessary
to carry at least $4,000 tons IN stock
at this station. OF the seven insular
naval coal depots four are now pre-
vided with Indifferent facilities for
storing a very moderate amount OF
coal. The remaining three have NO
facilities whatever.
1t is stated in the report OF the
Bureau of Equipment, that while the
total amount OF coal purchased for
the navy during the fiscal year was
27 per cent. greater than during the
preceding year, the amount Of foreign
coal was 21 psr cent. as compared
with % per cent. the year before. and
the amount Of domestic coal corre-
spondingly increased.