The Washington herald., 1910-05-22
Nv FRANCIS JOHN DYER.

1--WE been at sea in the service Of Uncle
Sam for thirty-fye years" sputtered a
hoary-headed retired officer Of Uncle
Sans navy in the rotunda Of a Wash
ington hotel the other day. "and we have
a blank fine navy, but damme sir II l
know what the department is about. Coal.
sir! Why we couldn't buy steaming coal
at 800 a ton IL we needed It for war
purposes on the Pacific I ask you. sir.
where i'm blazes would we get il? Japan?
Wed be having trouble with her Eng
land. whore we buy a lot Of it now?
il she wanted to let us have It, she
couldn't, for coal Is munition Of war.
Twenty days after war broke out you
couldn't find pound of steaming coal
on the slope, and If we wanted 10 move
one of our 100000 kettles we'd have TO
rig canvas on the military mast until
we could get West Virginia coal around
the Horn. Pretty shape we'd be in,
wouldn't we?"
Here was a frank and startling state
ment. II IL Is true that the Pacific Coast
is to-day practically at the mercy OF an
attacking fleet. why is II allowed 10 re-
problem? And what. If any. is the rela-
ton Of the Alaska coal question TO this
much more formidable one?
To confirm officially the extraordinary
situation revealed by the well-informed
but indiscreet naval officer series Of
questions was put before the general
board of the navy. through official chan
nels. The original copy OF the reply,
signed by Admiral George Dewey, presi-
dent Of the board, is now in my posses
sion. II Is dated April s, 1910 Il will
be noticed that the replies are couched in
very guarded and official language. with
many provisos. but that if these IFS"
can be disposed OF the report is a most
complete and outspoIen statement Of a
remarkable condition Of affairs. Here is
the general boards report:
Remarkable Condition of Affairs.
Department Of the Navy. General Board.
Washington. Arril s. 1910.
Sir: In obedience 90 your memorandum ~ April 2
lsle the general board submits the following cate
gorical replies % the questions Of F. J. DYER IN
regard 20 Alaska coal:
Question l-Without discussing the possibility Of
war with japan would not this Alaska coal IL laid
down az the coast 40 the cost Of mining plus cost
Of transportation. be Of iuestmable advantage %
the Pacific feetg
Answer Should this Alaskan coal be Of the grade
required by the navy. the cost of mining and trans
purtati0n not greatly exceeding that for coal in
the Eastern States. and II b. laid down in an ac-
cesshle and safe Alaskan harb0r with Proper facfi-
ties and IN the quantities necessary for the feet Il
would he Of advantage 10 the government.
Question 2-What IS the present source Of coal
supply In the Paci6c9
Auswcr-For the navy the main supply comes from
the West Virginia coal 6elds.
Question What coaling stations have we az pres
ent In those waters?
Answer-The naval coaIug stations in the Pa~ifc
are at Sitka, Puget Sound. san Francisco Pichi-
lrque Bay Honolulu. Tutuila. Manila and Yoko-
hama.
Question What is the cost Of Transporting coal
90 those stationsl
Ansver-To the Pacific Coast and Honolulu about
$50 Ter ton; 20 Manila and Yokohama about S275
rcr ton.
Question 5-Woud So not represent great saving
% the government II ths navys own coIllers could
load with Coa! equal to Welsh coal AZ Cordo,a
Bay Alaska. a safe harb0r. open throughout the
year?
AusWT-Should the navy colcrs he able to load
with coal equal 20 Welsh coal ar a safe and ouen
harh"r provided with proper facilities. in Alaskan
waters and the price Of the c1al comrare favor
ably with the price of coal in the Eastern States
there should be a saving 20 the government
Question 6-In the event q war would not this
coal supply Of Alaska represent 10 a large degree
The element Of the VICCess OF failure Of our naval
operations on the Pacifcs
Answcr-ln the event of war the coal supply n
Alaska would he Of value 70 the navy. provided il
proved % be god steamirg ccal accessible 70 our
coilers and warship,. and capable Of protection
from the enemy.
Question Upon the completion Of the Panama
Canal. would 10 not even he possible % coal the
entire feet from the Alaskan coal fields az an .x-
Icnsc less than that incurred IN carving coaIg
Ansvcr-It is imprscticabIe % compare the cx-
Tense Of providing the feet. AZ an unknown poiut
with coal from its present sources and from mines
rot yet dev~lorcd and whore no facilities for han.
ding II exist at present IN Alaska
NeTy respectfully