The Washington herald., 1907-09-25

Navy Department yesterday Dy Rear Ad-
miral William S. CowIes. chief of the Blu
Teau OF Equipment.
The offers 10 furnish the enormous sup
ply Of fuel required 10 enable the feet to
make its projected demonstration and for
carrying the coal to points at which the
fleet will stop on its 14O0)-miIe voyage
varied greatly. and 1t win take several
days for the Navy Department to analyze
them. Naturally the bidders who pro-
pose 20 use foreign golfers 10 transport
the coal were able TO make lower fig
ures than those who have only American
ships TO offer.
Compared with the number of foreign
vessels, there were few American ships
in the competition, and on the face Of
the bids there would not be enough
American vessels 70 carry the total
amount of coal required if every mer-
chant ship offered which floats the stars
and Stripes were granted a contract.
Foreign Bids Lowest.
Owners and Iessees OF foreign ships
We're alive TO the advantage presented to
get the contract on equal terms with
American ships. Their bids were much
lower both as 10 price per ton and the
charter rates proposed by them. The eX-
animation made of the bids indicates that
It viii be cheaper to employ foreign yes
sells, and unless the legal and other OBJ
jections that have been raised to that
purpose are needed by the administra-
zion, foreign ship owners will get the ben
eft of the great amount OF Uncle Sans
gold that viii be expended in supplying
coal for the Occan-tO-ocean expedition.
Oscar 5. Straus. Secretary of Com
merce and Labor, declined TO make any
statement whatever in regard to the un-
Outstanding that he had rendered an
opinion that the employment of vessels
of foreign register 10 carry coal for the
fleet between American ports was a VIC
lation Of the Federal coastwise naviga-
lion laws In fact, Mr.. StraUs refused
10 be seen after he had ascertained that
information on this subject was desired
from him. The opinion in question is
said 10 have been rendered with refer
ence 10 the employment of foreign YES
sels now on their way or about 20 start
from Atlantic ports with naval coal sup
plies TO be delivered al Pacific ports of
the United States.
Proposals in Three Forms.
The proposals asked for by the de-
partment and opened yesterday were in
three forms. One called for the de-
livery of $4,000 tons Of American coal
in specified quantities al Trinidad Rio
de JaneiTO. PUnta Arenas, which is al
the western. or Pacific Coast, entrance
10 the Straits of Magellan; CallaO Peru
MagdaIeua Bay. Mexico. and san Fran
cisco, or Mare Island, in vessels Of
American register. The second form
called for the delivery Of American coal
at these places in vessels Of foreign
register The third called for supplying
and delivering 10000 tons Of Welsh ad-
miralty coal in various quantities, on
specified dates, at all the places named
except Trinidad and Rio de Janeiro. Il
was. or IS, the purpose of the depart
ment 10 have American coal exclusively
delivered al Trinidad and Rio, 6.000 tons
at the frst-named port, and 1900 tons al
the last named. For deliveries at al
the other stations the competition was
open 10 American and foreign coal
After making a hurried examination OF
the bids department officials expressed
the opinion that il would be cheaper e
employ foreign vessels to carry American
coal than 10 purchase Welsh coal ont
right and have 1t delivered IN foreign
bottoms.
Alaskan Coal May be Used.
1t is possible that the Pacific Coal and
Transportation Company may be allowed
10 furnish the entire amount to be de
ivered at San Francisco. It's propose
was at a price materially less than Tn,
department can acquire Welsh coal cI
have West Virginia coal delivered in SaT
Francisco. The company offered L fur.
nish and deliver 10000 tons Of Alaskan
coal at the rate OF $50 for the In 81
20000 tons, and $500 for the second 10000
The principal question In TegarI 10 thi.
bid IS whether or not the Chignik coal {,
desirable for use on the battle ships
It is understood that the Buffalo. nov
in Alaskan waters, has been ordered L,
go TO Valdez, and that officers aboard bel
may be sent TO make an investigation O
Chignik coal.
summary of the Bids.
The summary Of the bids is as follows
United States shipping Company. Of New York
transport $4,000 tons Of American coal in foreiu
bottoms as follows. Zoo tons to Trinidad az 81 g
per ton; ZOO tons 20 Rio az So Per ton; o q.
tons % Punta Arenas at S5f per ton. 5000 tons q
CalldO 40 S6-l6: 5000 tons % AlaEialena BAY al
$685. Der ton 1000 tons 70 M8sdaleua Bay a
$ $50 per ton and 1000 tons at san Francisco q
Mare Island at $3.50 pr ton Alternative bid en-
tire contract for delivery S7s5Ol0
Howard Holder and partner, New York; for trans
porting $500 tons American coal according 10 III,
terms Of the Specifications at $40 per ton vessels
q foreign registry. delivered at any q the ports men
toned Ia the specifications except Trinidad
+. B. Nichols, Of New YORK transport of foreic7
vessels 2)to0 tons American coal 20 Punta Arenas a
s per ton; 10000 tons % San Francisco OF Mar
Island al $500
American Transportation COMPANY Of Baltimore
offered 10 transport $4,000 tons American coal fl
foreign vessels: 7.c3 tons to Trinidad at S75; 500
20 Rio az $50; 23ol0 20 Pnta Arenas az $50
5000 tons 20 Callao al 500; 5000 % Nlagdalan,
Bay at SS5i 1900 tons 10 San Francisco OF Mar
Island at Siai and 1900 tons additional % either O.
same places at $3.50
Edward Luckcnbach Of New York-Two Amer
can steamers on time charter az 800 per day, anl
one steamer. American register ~ 500 per day car
wing 200. 5000 and 6.30 tons. respectively.
West India Steamship Company II New York
Two foreign steamers. totllmg 600 tons for trans
porting coal 10 Trinidad at SL74 a ton
ITocdie Trading Company, Of New York agent
for Abbott Of London. offered TO transport 1000
tons n American coal in foreign vessels al $50 pe
Ton 20 Punta Arenas, Callao NlagdaIgna Bay an
San Francisco OF Mare Island.
One Washington Bidder.
Frank J. Hogan, Washington. D. c.. offered q
transport $4,000 tons American coal IN foreign shin
at prices as follows: At Rio al S-43 per con; a
Funta Arenas, &,57 at CallaO N35; az Magdaen
BAY, and San Francisco OF Mare Island s. Os
Also bid TO furnish seven foreign steamers on tin
charter 5000 20 coo tons &C Slli Der ton per month
Mccall Dining & Co, Baltimore. offered q
transport 6.Zo tons American coal in foreign bottom
10 Flnta Arenas az $50 Per ton also . 600 tons il
various quantities 10 Punta Arenas. CaIao an
MHgdalena Bay at prices ranging from $50 10 $50
also lid O. furnish foreign steamers rangin
IN capacity from 500 90 so tons at SLls Der t0
rer month. also offered 10 transport II $50 ton
American coal in foreign bottoms as follows: 800
tons % Rio al $50; GO tons 20 Pmta Arenas a
so; . 900 tons 20 CaIlao az S. 90 and 1900 ton