is diminishing with the increase of charts and books issued by the Hydrographic Office.

(b) About 4,000 copper engraved charts are needed to cover the globe; about 1,800 have been, so far, finished. The estimate provides for increasing the number of these by contract engraving.

The apportionment of a similar amount to be spent on similar items during this year is roughly outlined in the following:

It is only with utmost economy and care that the current appropriation can be made to cover the items given. The whole of the estimate for each item is essential to carry on without detriment the work already advanced.

The CHAIRMAN. Where are you making surveys this year?

Admiral CowLES. We are making surveys wherever we can with naval ships, particularly on the south coast of Cuba. There are two parties going all the time except a little while in the summer when the weather is bad, and their work is important.

Mr. THOMAS. How much is done on the Lakes?

Admiral CowLES. We do not do anything on the Lakes.

Mr. THOMAS. It says "Ocean and lake surveys."

Admiral CowLES. That is the old verbiage.

The CHAIRMAN. The next item is "Depots for coal," $450,000. That is the same as last year?

Admiral CoWLES. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. Where do you expect to spend that money?

Admiral CowLES. At California City Point, San Diego, and at the different coaling stations on this coast, wherever it is necessary to make repairs. I do not think that we can get along with any less

money.

The CHAIRMAN. How much money is to be spent at California City Point?

Admiral CowLES. Two hundred thousand dollars.

Mr. BUTLER. How much have we spent on all coaling stations? Admiral CoWLES. There has been expended for the construction of coaling stations since the beginning $4,000,000. The money asked for, $450,000, is to be spent principally at California City Point and San Diego.

The CHAIRMAN. You have spent some money at San Diego?

Admiral CoWLES. Yes, sir; in the construction of the wharf and on the grounds; $200,000 of the proposed appropriation is to be spent in the erection of the plant proper. The remainder, or a portion of it, is to be used in making necessary repairs and alterations to the coaling plant at Sitka, Alaska.

Mr. LOUDENSLAGER. How many coaling stations have we on the Pacific coast?

Admiral CowLES. One at Sitka, one at Honolulu, one at California City Point, and one at San Diego, besides the navy-yards at Mare Island and Bremerton.

Mr. HOBSON. Do you know whether any investigation has been made of the Aleutian Islands with a view to establishing a station

there?

Admiral CowLES. Yes, sir. There was a careful examination made and we selected an island up there for a coaling station, but it has been given up.

Mr. HOBSON. Is Sitka well adapted for a coaling station?

Admiral CowLES. It was the most desirable place when established, before the country was developed. It is probable that other locations, such as Cordova or Resurrection Bay, where the Government has reserved tracts and which are nearer the channels of trade and closer to the coal fields would now be considered more desirable.

Mr. HOBSON. In developing a coaling station for the northern Pacific, are you in a position to say what point would be the most desirable, whether in the Aleutian Islands or in Alaska?

Admiral CowLES. Well, I should say, in Alaska, but it might be desirable to establish a station on one of the islands.

Mr. HOBSON. Kiska or Dutch Harbor?

Admiral CoWLES. Yes, sir; probably the first one, but that has all been given up for the moment. Of course, if we are going to find good coal in Alaska, why there would be the principal point for the depot, where the coal comes out at tidewater.

Mr. HOBSON. With one depot could you cover the northern Pacific? Admiral CowLES. Probably, if we had a large station in Alaska located near a good source of supply. If we ever find good coal there it will be a great thing.

Mr. BUTLER. What efforts have they made to find it?

Admiral CowLES. They are at work on it now, and have submitted some samples, which show up well.

Mr. BUTLER. Have you analyzed any of the coal?

Admiral CowLES. Yes, sir; and it gave good results. We also tested a small quantity and it seemed very promising. It is not possible to get it in any quantity yet. We have preempted some land in Resurrection Bay and at Cordova for coaling stations in case we might wish to establish them.

Mr. ROBERTS. Do you know whether the department has in contemplation the establishment of any more coaling stations than those under way?

Admiral CowLES. No, sir.

Mr. ROBERTS. There is no scheme in the department for starting. new stations?

Admiral CowLES. No, sir; none.

Mr. LOUD. Do the gunboats in the Philippines use American coal? Admiral CowLES. Yes, sir; they get it from our station at Cavite. They never use any other kind of coal.

The CHAIRMAN. Have you anything further that you desire to say to the members of the committee about your bureau?

Admiral CowLES. I would like to make a short statement with regard to this matter of coal and colliers.

Mr. HOBSON. May I ask in making that statement that you will take account of the experience with the cost of transportation without having adequate colliers with this fleet, and if you have not the complete data at hand, whether you will file the data on the total cost of transportation involved on this fleet movement, and the part which was in American bottoms, and the part which was in foreign bottoms? Admiral CowLES. I will, sir. The statement will be found following the hearing. [Marked B.]

Mr. LOUDENSLAGER. That is in every report you make?

Admiral COWLES. Yes, sir; you will find it pretty well given in the report.

Mr. HOBSON. This year's report?

Admiral CoWLES. Yes, sir.

Mr. LOUDENSLAGER. Has there been any protest made to the department in regard to transporting coal from the Atlantic ports to the Pacific coast in foreign bottoms?

Admiral CowLES. None of any moment. American shipowners on this side have had no cause for protest, because we have chartered every suitable American vessel that offered at prices from 50 to 75 per cent higher than the prevailing rates for foreign bottoms. Foreign tonnage was thus virtually not in competition with American vessels. No American vessels were chartered for the fleet because none were to be had. There was a protest from a shipping company on the Pacific coast, which complained that foreign vessels which carried coal to the Pacific by offering lower rates took away from them the Pacific coast export trade. This was no doubt true, and the bureau sympathized with them, but there was nothing to be done. Some time ago in making a shipment of coal to Guantanamo the bureau accepted the lowest rate obtainable and a contract was closed. When the steamer to transport the coal was nominated it was discovered that the contractors had submitted their offer on the basis of using foreign tonnage. It is believed that they were fully justified in assuming that foreign tonnage would be acceptable, for the reason that in times past when American tonnage was absolutely not available and could not be had at any price they had obtained contracts to ship coal to Guantanamo in foreign bottoms. However, the bureau objected to the use of this ship, and on their giving the bureau satisfactory assurance that they had acted in good faith the bureau felt compelled to stand by its part of the agreement and let the shipment be made. There was some slight protest against this action.

Later an American shipping house, amongst those who protested against the use of this foreign ship, offered to deliver at the naval station, Guantanamo, a cargo of coal at a very low rate in the steamer Eva. This steamer, though sailing under a British flag, is to all intents and purposes an American boat, being owned by the American shipping company referred to. The owners assured the bureau of this fact, and further, that they held a power of attorney for the full value of the ship, to dispose of her in such a manner as they might desire.

This action on the part of the bureau was the cause of considerable objection on the part of owners of American vessels on the Atlantic coast, principally owners of American schooners. They have been

informed of the bureau's attitude in the matter, however, and assured that unless absolutely compelled to do so, no foreign tonnage would be engaged for delivering coal to naval stations on the Atlantic

coast.

Mr. LOUDENSLAGER. Has there been any shipment of coal in foreign bottoms from the Atlantic coast either to the Pacific coast, the Hawaiian Islands, or the Philippines?

Admiral CowLES. Yes, sir; largely in foreign ships. At the same time we took all the American ships that offered.

Mr. LOUDENSLAGER. How much coal was shipped to the Pacific coast in foreign bottoms?

Admiral CowLES. Practically all of the coal used by the Atlantic Fleet.

Mr. LOUDENSLAGER. And no protests have been made?

Admiral CoWLES. None except what I have stated before. It was proposed that we pay the foreign bottoms double the freight on condition that they would take no freight from the Pacific, but of course we could not do that.

Mr LOUDENSLAGER. Better pay it to the American bottoms.

Admiral CowLES. Yes, sir; which are out there doing nothing; if it should come to that.

Mr. LOUDENSLAGER. But it does allow the foreign bottoms out there to take cargoes at a smaller rate of freight to some foreign port without any contravention of our laws, does it not?

. Admiral CoWLES. Yes, sir.

Mr. LOUDENSLAGER. It is a contravention of the law practically for a foreign vessel to load up on the Atlantic and discharge on the Pacific coast?

Admiral CowLES. I will have to leave that to those who construe the laws.

Mr. LOUD. I notice on page 40 this clause: "Specifications for purchase thereof shall be so prepared as shall give fair and free competition." Are the specifications for the purchase of the anchor chains the same as they were?

Admiral CowLES. There has been a little change. The amount of sulphur has been increased from 0.01 to 0.015 in order to have free competition, but it is not deemed advisable to go beyond this limit, as there would be danger of burning the iron in bringing it to the welding heat.

Mr. LOUD. Can you furnish the committee with a copy of the specifications?

Admiral CoWLES. Yes, sir. Attached hereto is a copy, marked "A."

A.

SPECIFICATIONS FOR IRON USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHAIN

BY THE NAVY DEPARTMENT, NOVEMBER 20, 1908.

CABLES-ISSUED

Reprint of Specifications No 48, issued by the Bureau of Equipment, January 10, 1905, and Specifications 21-I-2, issued October 3, 1905.]

1. The bars must be of homogeneous iron and must not contain more than ten onehundredths nor less than three one-hundredths of 1 per cent of carbon nor more than ten one-hundredths nor less than four one-hundredths of 1 per cent of phosphorus. Nor shall the sum of the carbon and phosphorus be more than fifteen one-hundredths

of 1 per cent. The iron must not contain more than one one-hundredth of 1 per cent of sulphur nor more than ten one-hundredths of 1 per cent of either silicon or manganese.

2. The bars must be of such lengths that they may be cut into bolts, of which 24 shall make a pile weighing 300 pounds, and 1 inch shall be added to the length of each bar over and above the foregoing requirements.

3. The bars shall be in cross section, about 1 inches square, and shall be free from fag ends.

4. This iron, as received, must have a tensile strength of not less than 49,000 pounds per square inch, nor more than 53,000 pounds per square inch, an elastic limit of about 60 per cent of the breaking strain, an elongation of at least 30 per cent in a length of 8 inches, and a contraction of area of at least 40 per cent.

5. Bolts cut from 1 per cent of the bars rolled from this iron to 24-inch round iron for cable making must stand bending cold until the sides are brought parallel, and separated from each other not more than one-half inch without showing signs of rupture. Such bolts must also have a tensile strength of not less than 48,000 pounds when rolled direct from 18-inch square bar into a 24-inch round bar. Bolts similarly rolled must also stand bending at red heat until the sides are close together without any signs of fracture. Such bolts as may be nicked and broken cold by slow bending must show fibrous.

6. One per cent of the bolts rolled from this iron to chain sizes will be made into test specimens of three links and this "triplet" must stand a pull of at least 37,500 pounds to the square inch of the sectional area of the link in a 24-inch chain, and 41,000 pounds to the square inch of sectional area of the link in a 14-inch chain; in other sizes the breaking strain to be proportioned between these limits. 7. No bars showing evidence of cold rolling will be accepted.

8. Physical tests to be made at the Navy Yard, Boston, Mass., and all material before acceptance to be subject to inspection and the right to reject any or all of the same that does not, in the opinion of the inspector, fulfill all the requirements.

Copies of the above specifications can be obtained upon application to the various navy pay offices or to the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, Navy Department, Washington, D. C.

References: S. and A. 73975; E. O., Boston, No. 357; Sept. 12, 1904, and Equipment No. 98614, 1904, Bu. Equipment, 184, 505, Oct. 28, 1908.

In this connection I desire to state that during the past year the cost of making anchor chains and wrought-iron anchors has been reduced, due to the installation of new machines and improvements in the shop methods. Following is a tabulated statement showing the cost of chain at the Boston yard during the past four years (all sizes of chain):