Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-06
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED
Difficulty in Sending the Fuel to the
Coast.
CONTRACTS FOR 10000 TONS
Arrangements With Dealers in South
American Ports-Where-
abouts of Golfers.

The question of keeping on hand an ade-
Quate supply of coal to meet the needs OF
the battleships of the Atlantic fleet that are
to be sent to the Pacific coast is one that
the bureau of equipment will have to set
Gle. Under ordinary conditions the bureau
as no difficulty in meeting all demands
made upon it by the ships of the regular
Pacific fleet, but to supply sixteen large
batteships in addition presents new fea-'
lures that have to be met. The supply of
coal at San Francisco was lessened con-
siderably during the past winter by the
demands upon it incident to the coal famine
on the coast. the bureau of equipment part
ing with considerable 1t had on hand at
cost price to public institutions and to YES
sells carrying the United States mails across
the Pacific. There also was some demand
for coal at the Puget sound station which
the government supplied.
Contracts for 10000 Tons.
When the present season opened con-
tracts were let for furnishing and trans
porting to the coast 10000 tons of COAL
half of which will go to Puget sound and
half to the Mare Island navy yard at San
Francisco. But very little of this coal is
on Its way to the coast.
The Navy Department has been much
handicapped by the provision of law which
required the shipment of this coal in Amer
1can bottoms. There We're not enough
American vessels to be had, however, and,
taking advantage of provision of the
Revised Statutes. Secretary Metcalf was
compelled to resort to the use of foreign
bottoms in tie shipment of the coal. Ac-
roTdingly, contracts were let and small
portion of the coal is now under way for
the coast-about 6,0O0 tons. The ship
nlents are made by way of the straits of
Magellan, and five or SIX months are re-
.s,,fN. fsr.l to haG
Sination. The few Golfers propelled by
steam make the trip. however in quicker
time. 1t will be considerable time, there
fore. before the department has any ma
terial supply of coal on hand on the Pacific
coast If the shipment by water is relied on.
But in an emergency the railroads Will be
called on and the fuel can be landed on
the coast in about two weeks time.
Coal at Seaports.
For the purpose of having coal available
for the vessels going around Cape Horn
the bureau of equipment has contracts with
various persons at ports en- route The
prices are frequently very high, running
up to $40 per ton; but there is the satisfac
ton that with contract in existence there
is some assurance that the fuel will be on
hand when called for
There are about fifteen Golfers now in
the service of the navy, number of which
on the Atlantic coast: a number Suffi-
Gent with the ports at which the ships can
stop en- route to coal the fleet until it
reaches Mare Island. The greatest diff
Guilty, however, is the delay in getting the
coal contracted for around to the California
and Washington coast; but the battle
ships may not remain in that vicinity for
a long time the bureau of equipment Off
Gals think there will be ample supply on
hand for them.
Supply at Manila.
At Manila the Navy Department has on
hand about $4,000 tons of coal and 10000
tons additional are Under contract for de-
livery there. The latter goes by way of
Cape Horn so that the expense incidental
to passing through the SueZ Canal may be
saved. 1t will be some time yet, however,
before this extra amount reaches Manila.