The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-07-07
COAL SUPPLY FOR
MAMMOTH FLEET
Question Causes Much Worry
to the Navy Department
is Grave Problem.

Washington, July 6.-The question of
keeping on hand an adequate supply of
coal to meet the needs of battleships
of the Atlantic fleet that are TO be sent
to the Pacific coast is one that the bu-
reau of equipment will have TO settle.
Under ordinary conditions the bureau
has no difficulty in meeting all de-
mands made upon il by the ships Of
the Pacific feet. but To supply sixteen
large battleships and several cruisers
in addition, presents a new problem.
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
upon the coast, the bureau of equip
ment parting with a large amount it
had on hand at cost price to public in
stitutions and TO vessels carryin &
United States mails across the Pacific
There also were some public de-
mands for coal at the Puget sound
station which the government sup
piled. When the present season opened
contracts were let for furnishing and
transporting to the coast $4,000 tons of
coal half of which was intended for
Puget sound and half for the Mare Isl
and navy yard at San Francisco. But
very little of this is on its way to the
coast
Handicapped by Law.
The department was badly handi-
capped by the requirement of law
which compels the shipment Of coal in
American bottoms when available.
There was not enough American YES
sells to be had, however, and taking
advantage of a provision of the re
vised statutes. Secretary Metcalf was
compelled to resort TO the use Of for
eign bottoms for its shipments, accord
ingly contracts were let and as a pOr-
ton of the coal is now on its way to
the 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.
There will be a considerable delay,
therefore before the department has
any more coal on hand from the Pa
cific coast. as shipment by water is
relied upon entirely The railroads will
be called On in an emergency and the
fuel can be landed upon the coast in
less than two weeks time. For the
purpose of having the coal available
for the vessels going around Cape
Horn. the bureau of equipment has
contracts with various firms en- route.
The prices are frequently high, running
up to SIG a ton, but there is the salts
faction of knowing that with a con-
tract in existence there is some as
surance that the fuel will be on hand
when called for,
There are about fifteen Golfers now
I'm the possession Of the navy, a num-
Der sufficient with the coal at ports at
which the ships can stop en- route to
coal them until they reach Mare Isl
and. At Manila the navy apartment
has on hand about 1000 tons of coal
and 10000 tons additional under con
tract 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 he saved.
It will be considerable time, therefore,
before this additional amount reaches
Manila.