The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1907-07-11
QUESTION OF COAL
SUPPLY IS SERIOUS
ENORMOUS AMOUNT WILL BE
NEEDED FOR THE ATTAIN
TIC FLEET.
RAILROADS MAY BE
CALLED ON FOR HELP
Bureau of Equipment Has Made Ar
engagements for Fuel for the Yes
sells Going Around Cape Horn
Forty Thousand Tons at Manila.

Washington, July S.-The question
of keeping on hand an adequate sup
ply 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 settle. Under ordinary
conditions the bureau has no diff
Guilty in meeting all demands made
upon it by the ships Of the Pacific
feet, but to supply 16 large battle
ships and several cruisers in addition,
presents a new problem that will have
to be met Supplies Of coal at San
Francisco were lessened considerably
during the past winter by the demand
upon the navy department incident to
the coal famine an the coast, the bu-
reau of equipment parting with a
large amount it had on hand at cost
price to public institutions and to yes
sells carrying United States mails
across the Pacific. There also were
some public demands for coal at the
Puget sound station which the gov
eminent supplied.
Coal Is on Its Way.
When the present season opened
contracts were let for furnishing and
transporting to the coast 10000 tons
of coal, half of which was intended
for Puget sound and half for the Mare
Island navy yard at San Francisco.
But very little of this is on it's way
to the coast. The department was
badly handicapped by the require
ments of law which compels the ship
ment of coal in American bottoms
when available. There was not
enough American vessels to be had,
however, and taking advantage Of a
provision Of the revised statutes, Sec
rotary Metcalf was compelled to re-
sort to the use of foreign bottoms for
it's shipment. Accordingly, contracts
were let and a small portion of the
coal is on it's way to the coast.
The shipments are made by way of
the Straits of Magellan, and five or
six months are required to get the
fuel to its destination. The few ships
propelled by steam make the trip,
however, in much quicker time.
May Call on Railroads.
There will be a considerable delay,
therefore, before the department has
any material supply of coal OF hand
On the Pacific coast if shipment by
water is relied upon entirely. In an
emergency the railroads will be called
on and the fuel can be landed on the
coast in less than two weeks time.
For the purpose of having coal avail
able for the vessels going around
Cape Horn the bureau of equipment
has contracted with various firms at
ports en- route. The prices are fire.
quently very high, running up to
SIG a ton; but there is the satisfac-
tion of knowing that with a contract
in existence there is some assurance
that the fuel will be on hand when
called for.
Have Sufficient Golfers.
There are about Is Golfers now in
possession of the navy, a number suf-
ficient with the coal at ports at
which the ships can stop en- route to
coal them until they reach Mare is
land. At Manila the navy depart
ment has on hand about 10000 tons
of coal and 10000 IONS additional I'M
der contract for delivery there. The
latter is for shipment by way of Cape
Horn so that the expense incidental
to passing through the Suez canal
may be saved. It will be consider
able time, therefore, before this addi-
tional amount reaches Manila.