Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 January 1914 — New Way to Buy Coal. [ARTICLE]

New Way to Buy Coal.

The United States Government Is making preparations for the extension of the new manner of purchasing coal which, was put Into partial operation a short time ago with great success to all the parties concerned. This Is the payment of the coal bill upon the basis of the actual heating value of the coal as determined by tests of samples made by the Geological Survey. This Government spends about seven million dollars annually for Coal supplies for its vessels, public works, bullding3 and works. At the present time about one-third of It is bought on the new baSfc, which seems to be as acceptable to the merchants supplying the coal as to the Government officials. These analyses and tests show the quality of the coal in terms of fixed carbon, volatile matter, sulphur, ash, and moisture, and especially its heating value In British thermal units, as determined by calorimetric tests. Until a few years ago it was the geaeral custom to buy coal solely*upon the reputation of the dealers and the district from which the fuel was secured. The new plan has not yet been applied to fuel purchased for the vessels of the United States nsvy, but does cover about 400,000 tons of coal bought for use on the Isthmus of Panama and about 140,000 tons used on steamers plying from New York to Colon.