The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-02-23
BUYS
COAL

\ The coal purchases OF the Unitec
J, States Government aggregate in valu,
nearly $o,3oN00o annually, and it be
4 came apparent some time ago that !
more uniform basis for buying Goa
was urgently needed.
4 Until after the establishment oi
the fuel-testing plant Of the United
1 States Geological Survey at St, Louis
in 1904, reliable information in regard
to the character OF the Goals Of the
United States was difficult to obtain
Coal has been purchased by the Gov
ernment, as well as by the general
| public, on the mere statement OF the
selling agent as to its quality or on
the reputation OF the mine or district
from which it was obtained; and if il
did not prove to be satisfactory there
was no standard for settlement or JUS
tification for canceling the contract.
II consumer thought he had cause
to find fault with the quality of the
| fuel he received he was in many cases
assured that it must be good because,
like all the other coal sent him, it
came from a mine with an established
reputation All the other products OF
mines--gold, silver, copper. and even
lead, zinc, and iron ores-are pur-
chased to a great extent on the basis
of their value as shown by chemical
analysis; OF coal this is now true only
in small degree, but the number Of
contracts made on this basis is in
creasing from year to year.
The United States Geological Sur
vey has been charged with the duty
of analyzing and testing the Goals
used by the Government, and sum
mary Of the information on this sub
ject obtained to date, including sam
Piles OF the specifications for coal con-
tracts that are now in use and analy-
ses of some Of the Goals purchased
during the winter Of 1867, prepared
by Mr.. D. T. Randall, has just been
published as Bulletin No 33o. This
bulletin is distributed free of charge
and may be obtained on application
to the Directors OF the Survey at
Washington. D. c. Samples of the
specifications used by many of the
large commercial consumers OF coal
are also given.
The work was taken up by the
technologic branch Of the Survey as
the result of letter written by Presi-
dent Roosevelt to the National Advi-
sorry Board on Fuels and Structural
Materials, body Of leading engineers
of the country appointed by the
President some time ago to deal with
just such questions. The Advisory
Board referred the Presidents request
to Government engineers familiar
with power-plant requirements, who
drew up specifications for the pur-
chase of coal on its actual heating
value, which were afterward revised
and recommended by the Board.
Contracts were let in number OF
the Departments on this basis, and
the chemists of the technologic branch
were set to work making analyses OF
the Goals received. The work is now
being carried forward continuously.
From time to time, as the dealers are
delivering coal, the custodians of the
Government buildings notify the Sur
vey, and samples of the coal are taken
to the laboratory and analyzed to de-
termine their heating value and their
content OF fixed carbon, volatile mat
ter, ash, and sulphur. If the coal falls
much below the standard set in the
contract penalty is imposed; if it
proves to be of higher grade the
dealer gets a premium. A number
OF premiums have been paid by the
Government, and an absolute econ
omy over the old haphazard methods
Of purchase has already been proved