Bulletin No. 339 
 
 Series Q, Fuels, 10 
 
 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 
 
 UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 
 
 GEORGE OTIS SMITH, Director 
 
 THE PURCHASE OF COAL UNDER GOVERNMENT 
 AND COMMERCIAL SPECIFICATIONS ON THE 
 BASIS OF ITS HEATING VALUE 
 
 WITH ANALYSES OF COAL DELIVERED UNDER 
 GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS 
 
 BY 
 
 D. T. RANDALL 
 
 WASHINGTON 
 
 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
 
 1908 
 
'6o 
 
 
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 1 
 
 ft 15"3 p 
 
 
 ct 
 
 15 
 
 
 
 
 
 BOO* 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Introduction- f _ 
 
 t Advantages of definite specifications in the purchase of coal_ 6 
 
 j Value of coal as a fuel_ 7 
 
 ■ Specifications in use_ 10 
 
 Methods of sampling and testing_ 21 
 
 c~ Analyses of coals delivered to the Government_ 24 
 
 ° Some publications on coal_ 27 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 r 
 
 t 
 
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Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2017 with funding from 
 
 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Alternates 
 
 * 
 
 https://archive.org/details/purchaseofcoalunOOrand 
 
THE PURCHASE OF COAL UNDER GOVERNMENT AND 
 COMMERCIAL SPECIFICATIONS ON THE BASIS 
 OF ITS HEATING VALUE. 
 
 By D. T. Randall. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The people of this country have been purchasing coal for years 
 on the statement of the selling agent as to its quality, or on the repu¬ 
 tation of the mine or district from which it was obtained. The 
 farmers of the country show more business judgment in the purchase 
 of fertilizer than do many manufacturers in buying coal, for the 
 farmer demands a chemical analysis of the fertilizer before he ac¬ 
 cepts it. 
 
 Until recently there has oeen but little reliable information regard¬ 
 ing the character of the coal supply of the United States. This fact 
 was recognized in the establishment of the fuel-testing plant of the 
 United States Geological Survey at St. Louis in 1904. Extended 
 general investigations have been conducted at this plant and its suc¬ 
 cessors and in the field, and in addition the technologic branch of 
 the Survey has been charged with the duty of analyzing and testing 
 the coals used by the Government. 
 
 The Government is a large purchaser of coal, reports from the vari¬ 
 ous Departments indicating that nearly $6,300,000 is expended each 
 year for fuel. Some time ago the necessity for a more uniform 
 standard in the purchase of coal became apparent and the plan of 
 buying it on the basis of its heating value was introduced in a few. 
 Departments. Many of the large commercial consumers in the United 
 States have been purchasing their coal on contracts of this nature for 
 some time. 
 
 The present paper summarizes the information on this subject ob¬ 
 tained by the Survey, including examples of specifications that are 
 now in use and analyses of some of the coal purchased by the Govern¬ 
 ment during the winter of 1906-7. 
 
 5 
 
6 
 
 THE PURCHASE OF COAL UNDER SPECIFICATIONS. 
 
 ADVANTAGES OF DEFINITE SPECIFICATIONS IN THE 
 PURCHASE OF COAE. 
 
 Under the old plan of purchasing coal, when the consumer had 
 cause or 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. Such a state of affairs made it difficult to 
 take advantage of the competition which usually results when a con¬ 
 siderable number of bidders are asked to submit prices. The pur¬ 
 chaser was afraid to buy from any but such dealers as he knew and 
 trusted, because, although each dealer claimed that his coal was equal 
 in quality to that of the others, yet if it did not prove to be satisfac¬ 
 tory there was no standard for settlement or for cancellation of the 
 contract. Many thousands of dollars’ worth of coal are bought each 
 year in this manner, but the purchasers would consider it ridiculous 
 if they were asked to contract for a building with no specifications 
 and simply on the agreement that it should be of a certain size and 
 well constructed. Neither would they buy gold, silver, or even cop¬ 
 per and iron ores on the mere information that they were mined at 
 certain localities. All products of mines are now purchased to a 
 great extent on the basis of their value as shown by chemical analysis. 
 This is true of coal in only a small degree, but the number of con¬ 
 tracts made on this basis is increasing every year. 
 
 The purchase of coal on a specification is as advantageous as a 
 definite understanding regarding the quality and other features of 
 any other product, or of a building operation or engineering project. 
 The man who buys under a specification gets what he pays for and 
 pays for what he gets. 
 
 When the bidder is allowed to specify the quality of the coal he 
 proposes to furnish as determined by a chemical analysis, he is placed 
 on a strictly competitive basis with other bidders. Such a procedure 
 broadens the field for both the bidder and the purchaser. It makes 
 the bidder’s proposal, when accepted, a contract that specifies an 
 established standard of quality. This furnishes a basis for settling 
 disputes regarding the quality of the coal delivered and the price to 
 be paid if the fuel is either better or poorer than has been guaran¬ 
 teed. If other coal must be substituted, as often happens, there is a 
 standard for settlement. If the coal is uniformly poorer than the 
 standard as specified there is a basis for cancellation of the contract. 
 
 The quality of coal from a given mine may vary from time to time 
 through the failure of the miners to reject impurities. Sometimes 
 different beds of coal are mined at the same time and the output is 
 mixed. When there is need of further preparation, such as picking 
 
VALUE OF COAL AS A FUEL. 
 
 7 
 
 slate and other impurities, or jigging or washing, a great deal de¬ 
 pends on the care used in these processes. The mining companies are 
 responsible in a large measure for variations in the grade of pre¬ 
 pared coal. The purchase of coal under a contract on the basis of 
 quality stimulates the operator to make a better preparation of the 
 coal before it is shipped to market. An example of fluctuations in 
 quality is furnished by the tables on pages 24-26, which show varia¬ 
 tions in the ash and British thermal units in coal delivered to some 
 of the Government Departments at Washington. 
 
 It evidently will not be satisfactory to either the buyer or the seller 
 to establish a standard for the coal unless this liability to variation 
 is recognized and provision made for settlement when the coal is bet¬ 
 ter or poorer than the standard. Experience with any method of 
 buying coal shows that it will seldom be rejected when of poor qual¬ 
 ity, because of the difficulty, delay, and cost of removing it from the 
 bins. The buyer is often confronted with the alternative of burn¬ 
 ing the coal delivered or going without fuel until more can be pro¬ 
 cured. Uuless the coal is very bad it is usually expedient to use it 
 and pay a smaller price. This is also more favorable to the contrac¬ 
 tor, as to remove the coal would be costly and it would not be satis¬ 
 factory as fuel to any other customer. 
 
 VALUE OF COAL AS A FUEL. 
 
 The purpose of burning coal under boilers is to abstract the heat 
 for use in developing power, in drying various materials, or in 
 warming buildings. The most valuable coal, therefore, is that which 
 gives up the most heat to the boiler for a given weight burned. 
 
 Coal is now burned for power purposes in gas producers and boiler 
 furnaces. For coals and lignites high in moisture or high in ash, the 
 gas producer, used in connection with a gas engine, is best adapted 
 to develop power. But for the generation of steam, which can be 
 used for heating as well as for power purposes, a more convenient 
 method is to burn the coal in a specially constructed furnace under 
 a boiler. 
 
 The aim in the purchase of coal for any power plant should be 
 to obtain a fuel which will produce a horsepower for the least cost, 
 all things being considered, such as the equipment, the price of coal, 
 and the cost of labor and repairs. Experiments have been made 
 which seem to indicate that almost any fuel may be burned with 
 reasonable efficiency in a properly designed apparatus. The recog¬ 
 nized requirements are as follows: 
 
 A supply of fuel fed to the furnace as uniformly and continuously 
 as possible. 
 
8 
 
 THE PURCHASE OE COAL UNDER SPECIFICATIONS. 
 
 An air supply slightly in excess of the theoretical amount required 
 for complete combustion. 
 
 A sufficiently high temperature to ignite the gases which are driven 
 off from the fuel. 
 
 A complete mixture of these gases with the air supplied before 
 they reach a cooling surface, such as the shell or tubes of a boiler. 
 
 Some of the factors which may influence the commercial results 
 obtained in a boiler are the cost of the coal, as determined by price 
 and heating value; care in firing; design of the furnace and boiler 
 setting, size of grate, etc.; formation of excessive amounts of clinker 
 and ash; draft available; size of the coal (uniformity of size is 
 desirable). 
 
 The value of a coal is indicated by the number of heat units it 
 contains. This heating value is expressed in terms of British thermal 
 units a (abbreviated B. t. u.) per pound of coal, and is determined by 
 means of a special apparatus called a calorimeter. 
 
 When coal is mined it contains moisture to a greater or less extent. 
 It is exposed to the air in shipment and may either dry out or be 
 drenched by rain. The moisture in the coal delivered is worthless to 
 the purchaser, and really costs him a considerable amount in freight 
 and cartage, and in the loss of the heat* absorbed during its evapora¬ 
 tion in the furnace. If all coal had the same proportion of moisture, 
 or if the moisture in coal delivered by a given dealer was constant in 
 amount, the purchaser’s problem, so far as this factor is concerned, 
 would be simplified. Under present conditions the moisture is an 
 important element in the valuation of a ton of coal. It is evidently 
 necessary to consider the coal just as it is received in order to 
 determine its value to the consumer, but chemical reports should be 
 made on the basis of both the “ dry coal ” and the “ coal as received.” 
 The dry-coal basis is convenient for comparing several coals in regard 
 to the relation of each element to the others; this is important because 
 the moisture in the same coal varies from day to day. The dry-coal ‘ 
 basis is also convenient for comparing the performance of boilers 
 when burning the same or similar coals. Of several coals having a 
 similar composition, the one which has the least moisture and the 
 least ash will generate the most steam when burned under a boiler. 
 
 Ash is made up of earthy matter and other impurities which will 
 not burn. In commercial coals its proportion may range from 4 to 
 25 per cent. Coals containing small percentages of ash are most 
 valuable, not only because of their correspondingly higher heating ca¬ 
 pacity, but because there is less resistance to the free and uniform 
 distribution of air through the bed of coal. The labor and cost of 
 managing the fires and of handling the ashes are also correspondingly 
 
 “ The British thermal unit is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 
 1 pound of water 1° Fahrenheit. 
 
VALUE OF COAL AS A FUEL. 
 
 9 
 
 less and are items to be considered in the choice of a coal. With the 
 ordinary furnace equipment there may be a considerable loss of effi¬ 
 ciency and capacity through a large percentage of ash. It has been 
 found that with some kinds of equipment, as the ash increases there is 
 a decided drop in both efficiency and capacity. In some experiments 
 made to determine the influence of excessive amounts of ash, coal 
 containing as high as 40 per cent would generate no steam when fired 
 on a chain grate, and therefore the efficiency and capacity of the plant 
 would be zero.® Such coal would not only be worthless, but involve 
 a direct expense, due to the cost of handling it. Whether the result 
 would be similar with equipment other than a chain grate has not 
 yet been determined. However, coals so high in ash that they are 
 unsuited to boiler furnaces can be utilized in gas producers. 
 
 The volatile part of coal as shown by the analysis may in some 
 coals be all combustible, but it generally contains some inert matter. 
 This varies in different coal deposits and makes it impossible to deter¬ 
 mine the heating value of the coal from the proximate analysis alone. 
 Moreover, not all coals having the same proportion of volatile matter 
 behave alike in the furnace. It is important to know both the chem¬ 
 ical composition and the British thermal units in order to determine 
 the value of one coal as compared with another for the same purpose. 
 
 Of two coals of different character, the one which contains the 
 higher proportion of fixed carbon is most easily burned so as to 
 give the maximum efficiency. However, if the coal containing the 
 higher volatile matter is properly burned in a suitably designed 
 furnace, it may be made equally efficient. 
 
 Sulphur may be present in the free state, or, as is more commonly the 
 case, in combination with iron or other elements. Other impurities 
 with sulphur often form a clinker which shuts out the air and in¬ 
 creases the labor of handling the furnaces. It is possible, however, 
 to burn coals containing up to 5 per cent of sulphur without partic¬ 
 ular difficulty from clinkers. A little steam introduced under the 
 grate will relieve much of the trouble. Clinker may be due to other 
 causes than sulphur, as any constituents of the ash which are easily 
 fusible may produce it. There is need of further investigation to 
 determine the influence of sulphur and the elements which com¬ 
 prise the ash on furnace fires and combustion. 
 
 The size of the coal influences the capacity of any given equip¬ 
 ment, owing to its effect on the draft. With a poor draft fine coal 
 can not be burned in sufficient quantities to maintain the rated capac¬ 
 ity. If thin fires are resorted to, the efficiency is usually lowered as a 
 result of an excessive supply of air through holes in the fire. As a 
 
 “Abbott, W. L., Some characteristics of coal as affecting performance with steam 
 boilers, a paper read before the Western Society of Engineers, Chicago, Ill. 
 
 24673—Bull. 339—08-2 
 
10 
 
 THE PURCHASE OF COAL UNDER SPECIFICATIONS. 
 
 rule, when dust and very fine coal are fed into the furnace they 
 either check the flow of air or are taken up by the draft and after 
 being only partly burned are deposited back of the bridge wall or 
 pass up the stack, to the annoyance of the people in the vicinity of 
 the plant. If this dust is completely burned in passing through the 
 furnace there is of course no loss of fuel. It has been found that coal 
 of a uniform size is most satisfactory, as it does not pack so closely 
 as a mixture of sizes. 
 
 In general it may be said that in any market the coal obtainable at 
 the lowest price is the most economical, provided the furnace equip¬ 
 ment is suitable. If the furnace is not so designed as to permit the use 
 of the cheaper coal, it should be changed. 
 
 The results of tests tend to show that, other conditions being equal, 
 coals of similar composition are of value in proportion to the British 
 thermal units in. the coal as received—a basis on which, indeed, all 
 coals may be valued approximately. It should be remembered, how¬ 
 ever, that the value of a coal for any particular plant is influenced by 
 the fact that all furnaces are not equally suitable for burning the many 
 grades of coal. Aside from this factor, coals may be compared in 
 terms of the British thermal units obtained for 1 cent, or on the cost 
 per million heat units. 
 
 In the purchase of coal, then, attention should be given to the 
 character of the furnace equipment and the load; the character 
 of coal best suited to the plant conditions; the number of heat units 
 obtainable for a unit price; the cost of handling the coal and ash; 
 and the possibility of burning the coal without smoke or other objec¬ 
 tionable features. 
 
 SPECIFICATIONS IN USE. 
 
 As the result of a letter from President Roosevelt to the national 
 advisory board on fuels and structural materials, calling attention to 
 the need of a uniform and efficient basis for the purchase of the Gov¬ 
 ernment fuel supply, the following specification was drafted by engi¬ 
 neers in the employ of the Government and approved by this board in 
 March, 1907: 
 
 Specifications and Proposals for Supplying Coal. 
 
 United States 
 
 PROPOSAL. 
 
 190_ 
 
 Sealed proposals will be received at this office until 2 o’clock p. m.,-, 
 
 190_, for supplying coal to the United States_building 
 
 at__as follows: 
 
SPECIFICATIONS IN USE. 
 
 11 
 
 The quantity of coal stated above is based upon the previous annual con¬ 
 sumption, and proposals must be made upon the basis of a delivery of 10 per 
 cent more or less than this amount, subject to the actual requirements of the 
 service. 
 
 Proposals must be made on this form, and include all expenses incident to 
 the delivery and stowage of the coal, which must be delivered in such quantities 
 and at such times within the fiscal year ending June 30, 190__, as may be 
 required. 
 
 Proposals must be accompanied by a deposit (certified check, when practi¬ 
 cable, in favor of_) amounting to 10 per cent of the aggre¬ 
 
 gate amount of the bid submitted, as a guaranty that it is bona fide. Deposits 
 will be returned to unsuccessful bidders immediately after award has been 
 made, but the deposit of the successful bidder will be retained until after the 
 coal shall have been delivered and final settlement made therefor, as security 
 for the faithful performance of the terms of the contract, with the understand¬ 
 ing that the whole or a part thereof may be used to liquidate the value of any 
 deficiencies in quality or delivery that may arise under the terms of the con¬ 
 tract. 
 
 When the amount of the contract exceeds $10,000, a bond may be executed in 
 the sum of 25 per cent of the contract amount, and in this case the deposit or 
 certified check submitted with the proposal will be returned after approval of 
 the bond. 
 
 The bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders, their representatives, 
 or such of them as may attend, at the time and place above specified. 
 
 In determining the award of the contract, consideration will be given to the 
 quality of the coal offered by the bidder, as well as the price per ton, and 
 should it appear to be to the best interests of the Government to award the 
 contract for supplying coal at a price higher than that named in lower bid or 
 bids received, the award will be so made. 
 
 The right to reject any or all bids and to waive defects is expressly reserved 
 by the Government. 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF COAL DESIRED.® 
 
 Bids are desired on coal described as follows: 
 
 Coals containing more than the following percentages, based upon dry coal, 
 
 will not be considered: 
 
 Ash_ per cent 
 
 Volatile matter_ per cent. 
 
 Sulphur _ per cent. 
 
 Dust and fine coal as delivered at point of consump¬ 
 tion h _ per cent. 
 
 DELIVERY. 
 
 The coal shall be delivered in such quantities and at such times as the Govern¬ 
 ment may direct. 
 
 a This information will he given by the Government as may he determined by boiler 
 and furnace equipment, operating conditions, and the local market. 
 
 6 All coal which will pass through a |-inch round-hole screen. 
 
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12 
 
 THE PURCHASE OF COAL UNDER SPECIFICATIONS. 
 
 In this connection it may be stated that all the available storage capacity of 
 the coal bunkers will be placed at the disposal of the contractor to facilitate 
 delivery of coal under favorable conditions. 
 
 After verbal or written notice has been given to deliver coal under this con¬ 
 tract, a further notice may be served in writing upon the contractor to make 
 delivery of the coal so ordered within twenty-four hours after receipt of said 
 second notice. 
 
 Should the contractor, for any reason, fail to comply with the second request, 
 the Government will be at liberty to buy coal in the open market, and to charge 
 against the contractor any excess in price of coal so purchased over the contract 
 price. 
 
 SAMPLING. 
 
 Samples of the coal delivered will be taken by a representative of the Govern¬ 
 ment. 
 
 In all cases where it is practicable, the coal will be ..sampled-at the time it is 
 being delivered to the building. In case of small deliveries, it may be necessary 
 to take these samples from the yards or bins. The sample taken will in no case 
 be less than the total of 100 pounds, to be selected proportionally from the 
 lumps and fine coal, in order that it will in every respect truly represent the 
 quantity of coal under consideration. 
 
 In order to minimize the loss in the original moisture content the gross sam¬ 
 ple will be pulverized as rapidly as possible until none of the fragments exceed 
 one-half inch in diameter. The fine coal will then be mixed thoroughly and 
 divided into four equal parts. Opposite quarters will be thrown out, and the 
 remaining portions thoroughly mixed and again quartered, throwing out op¬ 
 posite quarters as before. This process will be continued as rapidly as possible 
 until the final sample is reduced to such amount that all of the final sample 
 thus obtained will be contained in the shipping can or jar and sealed air-tight. 
 
 The sample will then be forwarded to_:___ 
 
 If desired by the coal contractor, permission will be given to him, or his rep¬ 
 resentative, to be present and witness the quartering and preparation of the 
 final sample to be forwarded to the Government laboratories. 
 
 Immediately on receipt of the sample, it will be analyzed and tested by the 
 Government, following the method adopted by the American Chemical Society, 
 and using a bomb calorimeter. A copy of the result will be mailed to the con¬ 
 tractor upon the completion thereof. 
 
 CAUSES FOR REJECTION. 
 
 A contract entered into under the terms of this specification shall not be 
 binding if, as the result of a practical service test of reasonable duration, the 
 coal fails to give satisfactory results owing to excessive clinkering or to a pro¬ 
 hibitive amount of smoke. 
 
 It is understood that the coal delivered during the year will be of the same 
 character as that specified by the contractor. It should, therefore, be supplied, 
 as nearly as possible, from the same mine or group of mines. 
 
 Coal containing percentages of volatile matter, sulphur, and dust higher than 
 the limits indicated on page 2 and coal containing a percentage of ash in excess 
 of the maximum limits indicated in the following table will be subject to rejec¬ 
 tion. 
 
 In the case of coal which has been delivered and used for trial, or which has 
 been consumed or remains on the premises at the time of the determination of 
 
SPECIFICATIONS IN USE. 
 
 13 
 
 its quality, payment will be made therefor at a reduced price, computed under 
 the terms of this specification. 
 
 Occasional deliveries containing ash up to the percentage indicated in the 
 column of “ Maximum limits for ash,” on page 4, may be accepted. Frequept 
 or continued failure to maintain the standard established by the contractor, 
 however, will be considered sufficient cause for cancellation of the contract. ' 
 
 PRICE AND PAYMENT . 0 
 
 Payment will be made on the basis of the price named in the proposal for 
 the coal specified therein, corrected for A^ariations in heating value and ash, 
 as shown by analysis, above and beloAA 7- the standard established by contractor 
 in this proposal. For example, if the coal contains 2 per cent, more or less, 
 British thermal units than the established standard, the price Avill be increased 
 or decreased 2 per cent accordingly. 
 
 The price Avill also be further corrected for the percentages of ash. For all 
 coal which by analysis contains less ash than that established in this proposal 
 a premium of 1 cent per ton for each whole per cent less ash Avill be paid. 
 An increase in the ash content of 2 per cent over the standard established by 
 contractor Avill be tolerated without exacting a penalty for the excess of ash. 
 When such excess exceeds 2 per cent above the standard established, deduc¬ 
 tions will be made from price paid per ton in accordance Avith following table: 
 
 Ash as established in 
 proposal (per cent). 
 
 No de¬ 
 duction 
 for lim¬ 
 its be¬ 
 low. 
 
 Cents per ton to be deducted. 
 
 Maxi¬ 
 
 mum 
 
 limits 
 
 for 
 
 ash. 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 7 
 
 12 
 
 18 
 
 25 
 
 35 
 
 Percentages of ash in dry coal. 
 
 5_ 
 
 . * 7 
 
 7- 8 
 
 8 - 9 
 
 ’ 9-10 
 
 10-11 
 
 11-12 
 
 12.13 
 
 13-14 
 
 12 
 
 6_ _ — 
 
 a- 
 
 8- 9 
 
 9-10 
 
 10-11 
 
 11-12 
 
 12-13 
 
 13-14 
 
 14—15 
 
 13 
 
 7___ 
 
 9 
 
 9-10 
 
 10-11 
 
 11-12 
 
 12-13 
 
 13-14 
 
 14-15 
 
 15-16 
 
 14 
 
 8 _—._ 
 
 10 
 
 10-11 
 
 11-12 
 
 12-13 
 
 13-14 
 
 14-15 
 
 15-16 
 
 16-17 
 
 14 
 
 9_ _ 
 
 11 
 
 11-12 
 
 12-13 
 
 13-14 
 
 14-15 
 
 15-16 
 
 16-17 
 
 17-18 
 
 15 
 
 10 __ _ ___ 
 
 12 
 
 12-13 
 
 13-14 
 
 14rT5 
 
 15-16 
 
 16-17 
 
 17-18 
 
 
 16 
 
 '11 
 
 13 
 
 13-14 
 
 14-15 
 
 15-16 
 
 16-17 
 
 17-18 
 
 18-19 
 
 
 16 
 
 19 
 
 14 
 
 14 7 15 
 
 15-16 
 
 16-17 
 
 17-18 
 
 18-19 
 
 19-20 
 
 
 17 
 
 1.1 
 
 15 
 
 15-16 
 
 16-17 
 
 17-18 
 
 18-19 
 
 19-20 
 
 20-21 
 
 
 18 
 
 14— _ _ _ __ 
 
 16 
 
 16-17 
 
 17-18 
 
 18-19 
 
 19-20 
 
 20-21 
 
 21-22 
 
 
 19 
 
 15-_ _ __ __ 
 
 17 
 
 17-18 
 
 18-19 
 
 19-20 
 
 20-21 
 
 21-22 
 
 
 
 19 
 
 16_ _ 
 
 18 
 
 18-19 
 
 19-20 
 
 20-21 
 
 21-22 
 
 22-23 
 
 
 
 20 
 
 17 
 
 19 
 
 19-20 
 
 20-21 
 
 21-22 
 
 22-23 
 
 
 
 
 21 
 
 18 __ _ 
 
 20 
 
 20-21 
 
 21-22 
 
 22-23 
 
 
 
 
 
 22 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 l 
 
 
 
 Proposals to receive consideration must be submitted upon this form and 
 contain all of the information requested. 
 
 ., 190 __ 
 
 The undersigned hereby agree to furnish to the U. S_ 
 
 building at_, the coal described, in tons of 2,240 pounds 
 
 “ The economic value of a, fuel is affected by the actual amount of combustible matter it con¬ 
 tains, as determined by its heating value shown in Eritish thermal units per pound of fuel, and 
 also by other factors, among which is its ash content. The ash content not only lowers the 
 heating value and decreases the capacity of the furnace, but also materially increases the cost of 
 handling the coal, the labor of firing, and the cost of the removal of ashes, etc. 
 
14 
 
 THE PURCHASE OF COAL UNDER SPECIFICATIONS. 
 
 each and in quantity 10 per cent more or less than that stated on page 1, as 
 may be required during the fiscal year ending June 30, 190_, in strict accord¬ 
 
 ance with this specification; the coal to be delivered in such quantities and at 
 such times as the Government may direct. 
 
 
 Item No_ 
 
 Item No_ 
 
 Item No_ 
 
 Description. 
 
 Commercial name 
 
 
 
 
 Name of mine 
 
 
 
 
 “Location of mine 
 
 
 
 
 Name of coal bed _ __ _ _ . 
 
 
 
 
 Size of coal (if coal is screened): 
 
 Coal to pass through openings- 
 
 Coal to pass over openings_ 
 
 Data to establish a basis for payment. 
 
 Per cent of ash in dry coal (method of 
 American Chemical Society). 
 
 British thermal units in coal as delivered- 
 
 -_ inches 1 round. 
 
 [square. 
 —inches jbar. 
 
 _inches) round. 
 
 [•square. 
 
 _—inches Jbar. 
 
 .—inches] round. 
 
 [■square. 
 —inchesjbar. 
 
 
 
 
 Price per ton (2,240 pounds)- _ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 It is important that the above information does not establish a higher standard than 
 can be actually maintained under the terms of the contract; and in this connection it 
 should be noted that the small samples taken from the mine are invariably of higher 
 quality than the coal actually delivered therefrom. It is evident, therefore, that it will 
 be to the best interests of the contractor to furnish a correct description with average 
 values of the coal offered, as a failure to maintain the standard established by contractor 
 will result in deductions from the contract price, and may cause a cancellation of the con¬ 
 tract, while deliveries of a coal of higher grade than quoted will be paid for at an in¬ 
 creased price. 
 
 Signature_ 
 
 Address. 
 
 Name of corporation- 
 
 Name of president_ 
 
 Name of secretary_ 
 
 Under wbat law (State) corporation is organized. 
 
 As will be seen from the foregoing specification, the bidder is not 
 required to submit a sample of his coal, but is expected to name a 
 standard of British thermal units in the coal as it is to be delivered. 
 This value is made the basis for purchase, because a correction is thus 
 made for the amount of moisture in the coal. It should be noted that 
 this value will in all cases be lower than the British thermal units in 
 the dry coal, which is usually given in connection with the coal anal¬ 
 ysis. The percentage of ash is also specified, as it is a factor in the 
 successful burning of the coal on the grate and as it involves an ex¬ 
 pense for removal from the premises. 
 
 If the dealer is not fairly familiar with the value of his coal, it 
 may then be arranged to have him submit a properly selected sample 
 with his bid, this sample to be analyzed by the Government and the 
 results used as a standard in the contract. It is preferred, however, 
 that the bidder use his own values. 
 
 The following circular letter was issued by the Treasury Depart¬ 
 ment in connection with the Government specification, for the infor¬ 
 mation of dealers desiring to bid on coals for public buildings, such 
 
SPECIFICATIONS IN USE. 
 
 15 
 
 as mints, custom-houses, and post-offices located in all parts of the 
 United States: 
 
 Treasury Department, Office of the Secretary, 
 
 Washington, March 27, 1907. 
 
 Sir : The accompanying specifications for coal are intended to give a clear 
 description of the coal desired by the Government, and to secure a definite state¬ 
 ment of the quality of coal offered by the bidder, with a view to using such 
 statement as a basis for payment in connection with the stated price per ton. 
 The plan is not new in its essential features, as it is an extension of a system 
 already in force in the larger United States public buildings, and is similar to 
 that employed by a number of private consumers. 
 
 What is desired is not necessarily the cheapest or the highest grade of coal 
 per se, but the coal which will insure the greatest net economy in plant opera¬ 
 tion. In view of these facts the description of the coal inserted by the Govern¬ 
 ment on page 2 of the accompanying specifications will receive careful consid¬ 
 eration as the boiler and furnace conditions require. It is not expected that all 
 deliveries will be absolutely uniform or agree exactly with the standard estab¬ 
 lished by the contractor, but it is necessary that all deliveries shall be within 
 the limits set by the Government. 
 
 The limits are wide enough to permit the use of the output of any mine or 
 group of mines proyided proper care is exercised in mining and picking out 
 slate, bone, etc. With these points in mind it is only necessary for the bidder to 
 select coal for each proposal which will meet the description given and permit 
 deliveries within the limits set. The standard established by the contractor 
 should be' such as to require the least correction applying to deliveries for 
 variation in heat units and ash from values established. 
 
 It is believed that the enforcement of the provisions of the specifications will 
 operate equitably both with respect to the Government and to the contractor, 
 ancl will guarantee adequate protection to each. Many coal dealers have already 
 signified their willingness to furnish coal on this basis, and have commended as 
 well as indorsed the method. 
 
 The application of this system will not only enable the award of a contract to 
 be made in an equitable manner, but will also remove many of the usual causes 
 for dispute as to the character and quality of the coal subsequently delivered, 
 and provide a satisfactory basis for the correction of payments for differences 
 in quality in favor of the party in whose interest it is due. 
 
 The system of sampling, analyzing, and testing coal delivered under the 
 Government contracts will be under the supervision of the fuel-testing division 
 of the Geological Survey, in order to insure reliability and impartiality. 
 
 The heating value expressed in British thermal units of coal containing 
 approximately the same percentage of ash is essentially a direct measure of the 
 actual value to the purchaser, and for this reason the specifications provide for 
 an adjustment of payment in direct proportion to the variation in heat units 
 in the coal as received. As the coal is weighed when delivered and the pay¬ 
 ments are based also upon the price per ton, it is necessary to determine the 
 heating value of the coal in the condition in which it is received, containing 
 whatever moisture may be present at the time. 
 
 A further correction in payment will be made for variation of the ash in dry 
 coal in order to take account of the cost of handling additional fuel and ash and 
 its effect on the capacity of the boiler and furnace. 
 
 Respectfully, A. F. Statter, 
 
 Assistant Secretary. 
 
16 
 
 THE PURCHASE OF COAL UNDER SPECIFICATIONS. 
 
 On account of lack of information among the dealers in anthracite 
 coal as to the heating value of the several sizes and kinds used by the 
 Government, a number of contracts were let on the basis of the ash 
 in dry coal. For the city of Washington these were worded in the 
 same way as the regular specification, except the section relating to 
 price and payment, which was as follows: 
 
 PRICE AND PAYMENT. 
 
 Payment will be made on the basis of the price named in the proposal for the 
 coal specified, corrected for variations in ash as shown by analysis, above and 
 below the standard established by the contractor. 
 
 For an increase or decrease up to 2 per cent in the ash content above or be¬ 
 low the standard no correction will be made in the price. When the variation 
 exceeds this allowance above or below the standard, corrections will be made in 
 the price as follows: 
 
 For furnace, egg, stove, and chestnut sizes of coal, variations from the stand¬ 
 ard percentage of ash exceeding 2 and less than 2.5 above and below will result 
 in the deduction or addition of 15 cents per ton. For each additional one-half of 
 1 per cent, or fraction thereof, 3 cents more per ton will be deducted or added. 
 
 For pea coal, variations from the standard percentage of ash exceeding 2 and 
 less than 2.5 above and below will result in the deduction or addition of 10 
 cents per ton. For each additional one-half of 1 per cent, or fraction thereof, 2i 
 cents more per ton will be deducted or added. 
 
 For buckwheat and screenings, variations from the standard percentage of 
 ash exceeding 2 and less than 2.5 above and below will result in the deduction 
 or addition of 8 cents per ton. For each additional one-half of 1 per cent, or 
 fraction thereof, 2 cents more per ton will be deducted or added. 
 
 The following specification is used by a few firms in Baltimore, 
 Mel.: 
 
 Specifications and Information concerning Supply of Coal for_ 
 
 Caution. —Bidders are directed to familiarize themselves with the storage 
 facilities and local conditions, affecting the deliveries of coal, existing at the 
 power house. 
 
 Method of determining quantity and quality. —Weights are subject to check 
 either by measurement or by company scales. Any deficiency will be deducted 
 from and any excess added to the bill. 
 
 Sampling will be done by a representative of the company and contractor 
 may have a representative present. 
 
 Sample will be taken from each delivery and kept in hermetically sealed jars. 
 
 Detail of specifications. —Coal will be setnibituminous and run-of-mine. It 
 shall be dry, well picked, and free from excessive amounts of slate, pyrites, and 
 dirt of any kind and shall have the following composition: Moisture, not over 1 
 per cent; volatile carbon, not over 20 per cent; ash, not over 7 per cent; sulphur, 
 not over 1 per cent. 
 
 ADJUSTMENTS. 
 
 Additions. —If the coal has less than 1 per cent moisture, the deficit per cent 
 less than 1 per cent will be added to the bill. If the coal has less than 20 per 
 cent volatile carbon, the deficit per cent less than 20 per cent will be multi¬ 
 plied by 2 and added to the bill. If the coal has less than 7 per cent ash, the 
 deficit per cent less than 7 per cent will be multiplied by 3 and added to the bill. 
 
SPECIFICATIONS IN USE. 
 
 17 
 
 Deductions .—If the coal contains more than 1 per cent moisture, the excess 
 per cent above 1 per cent will be deducted from the bill. If the coal contains 
 more than 20 per cent volatile carbon, the excess per cent above 20 per cent 
 will be multiplied by 2 and deducted from the bill. If the coal contains more 
 than 7 per cent ash, the excess per cent above 7 per cent will be multiplied by 3 
 and deducted from the bill. 
 
 The following are the essential features of the contracts on which 
 a Chicago company is said to purchase and inspect nearly 1,000,000 
 tons of coal for its clients in Chicago, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, St. 
 Louis, and other cities: 
 
 I. The company agrees to furnish and deliver to the consumer_ 
 
 _at such times and in such quantities as ordered by the consumer for 
 
 consumption at said premises during the term hereof, at the consumer's option, 
 either or all of the kinds of coal described below; said coals to average the . 
 following assays: 
 
 Kind of coal _ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Of size passing through screen having circular perfora¬ 
 tions in diameter _. ___ 
 
 inches 
 
 _inches 
 
 _inches 
 
 -inches 
 
 _inches 
 
 Of size passing over a screen having circular perforations 
 in diameter _ __ _ __ _ _ 
 
 inches 
 
 Per cent of moisture in coal as delivered_ ___ 
 
 
 Per cent of ash in coal as delivered __ _ 
 
 
 
 
 British thermal units ner pound of dry coal 
 
 
 
 
 Prom following county 
 
 
 
 
 From following State _ _ _ _ _ __ __ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Coal of the above respective descriptions and specified assays (not average 
 assays) to be hereinafter known as the contract grade of the respective kinds. 
 
 II. The consumer agrees to purchase from the company all the coal re¬ 
 quired for consumption at said premises during the term of said contract, 
 except as set forth in Paragraph III below, and to pay the company for each 
 ton of 2,000 pounds avoirdupois of coal delivered and accepted in accordance 
 with all the terms of this contract at the following contract rate per ton for 
 coal of each respective contract grade, at which rates the company will deliver 
 the following respective numbers of British thermal units for 1 cent, the con¬ 
 tract guaranty: 
 
 Kind of coal. 
 
 Contract 
 rate per 
 ton. 
 
 Contract guaranty. 
 
 equal to_net B. t. u. for 1 cent. 
 
 equal to-net B. t. u. for 1 cent. 
 
 equal to-net B. t. u. for 1 cent. 
 
 Said net British thermal units for 1 cent being in each case determined as 
 follows: Multiply the number of British thermal units per pound of dry coal 
 by the per cent of moisture (expressed in decimals), subtract the product so 
 found from the number of British thermal units per pound of dry coal, mul¬ 
 tiply the remainder by 2,000, and divide this product by the contract rate per 
 ton (expressed in cents) plus one-half of the ash percentage (expressed as 
 cents). 
 
 III. It is provided that the consumer may purchase for consumption at said 
 premises coal other than, herein contracted for, for test purposes, it being un- 
 
18 
 
 THE PURCHASE OF COAL UNDER SPECIFICATIONS. 
 
 derstood that the total of such coal so purchased shall not exceed 5 per cent of 
 the total consumption during the term of this contract. 
 
 IV. It is understood that the company may deliver coal hereunder containing 
 as high as 3 per cent more ash and as high as 3 per cent more moisture and as 
 low as 500 fewer British thermal units per pound dry than specified above for 
 contract grades. 
 
 V. Should any coal delivered hereunder contain more than the per cent of 
 ash or moisture or fewer than the number of British thermal units per pound 
 dry allowed under Paragraph IV hereof, the consumer may, at its option, 
 either accept or reject same. 
 
 VI. All coal accepted hereunder shall be paid for monthly at a price per 
 ton determined by taking the average, of the delivered values obtained from the 
 analyses of all the samples taken during that month, said delivered value 
 in each case being obtained as follows: Multiply the number of British ther¬ 
 mal units delivered per pound of dry coal by the per cent of moisture delivered 
 (expressed in decimals), subtract the product so found from the number of 
 British thermal units delivered per pound of dry coal, multiply the remainder 
 by 2,000, divide this product by the contract guaranty, and from this quotient 
 (expressed as dollars and cents) subtract one-half of the ash percentage de¬ 
 livered (Expressed as cents). 
 
 In Cleveland, Ohio, coal is purchased for the waterworks on the 
 basis of its heating value. The standard agreed upon is 13,624 Brit¬ 
 ish thermal units and was established as the result of analysis and 
 tests made on a sample furnished by the dealer. 
 
 The following are the essential features of the specifications used 
 by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company of New York in pur¬ 
 chasing about 30,000 tons of coal each month for use in its plants, 
 which are among the largest in the United States: 
 
 Preliminary Specifications for Bituminous Coal for the Interborough 
 Rapid Transit Company. 
 
 Coal must be a good steam, caking, run-of-mine, bituminous coal free from 
 all dirt and excessive dust, a dry sample of which will approximate the com¬ 
 pany’s standard in heat value and analysis, as follows: Carbon, 71; volatile 
 matter, 20; ash, 9; British thermal units, 14,100; sulphur, 1.50. 
 
 A small quantity of coal will be taken from each weighing hopper just before 
 the hopper is dumped while the lighter is being unloaded. These quantities 
 will be thrown into a receptacle provided for the purpose, and when the lighter 
 is empty the contents of the receptacle will be thoroughly mixed, and a sam¬ 
 ple of this mixture will be taken for chemical analysis. This average sample 
 of coal will be labeled and held for one week after the unloading of the lighter. 
 The sample taken from the mixture for test will be analyzed as soon as possi¬ 
 ble after being taken. No other sample will be recognized. 
 
 Tests of sample taken from average sample will be made by the company’s 
 chemist under the supervision of the superintendent. Should the contractor 
 question the results of the company’s test (a copy of which will be mailed to 
 him), the company will, if requested by the contractor within three days after 
 copy of test has been mailed to him, forward sufficient quantity of the average 
 sample taken from each weighing hopper to any laboratory in the city of New 
 York which may be agreed upon by the superintendent and the contractor, and 
 have said sample analyzed by it, and the results obtained from this second test 
 will be considered as final and conclusive. In case the disputed values, as ob- 
 
SPECIFICATIONS IN USE. 
 
 19 
 
 tained in the company’s test, shall be found by the second test to be 2 per cent 
 or less in error, then the cost of said second test shall be borne by the con¬ 
 tractor; but if the disputed values shall be found to be more than 2 per cent 
 in error, then the cost of said second test shall be borne by the company. 
 
 Should there be no question raised by the contractor within the three days 
 specified, as to the values of the first analysis, the average sample of coal will 
 be destroyed at the end of seven days from date of discharge of coal from 
 lighter. Should a second test be made of coal taken from any lighter as herein 
 provided, then any penalties to be made as set forth in paragraph under 
 “ Penalties ” will be based on the results as obtained from the second test. 
 
 The price to be paid by the company per ton per lighter of coal will be based 
 on a table of heat values for excess or deficiency of its standard, but subject 
 to deductions as given in the section under “ Penalized coal,” including excess 
 of ash, volatile matter, sulphur, or dust, or less than the minimum amount re¬ 
 quired to be contained in any lighter, for coal which showfa results less than 
 the company’s standard. 
 
 Premiums or deductions are based on a rate of 1 cent per ton for a 
 variation of 50 British thermal units per pound of coal, as indicated 
 in a table a few items of which are given below: 
 
 Table for B. t. u. values. 
 
 For coal in any lighter which is found by test to contain, per pound of dry 
 
 coal, from— 
 
 15,501 and above-28 cents per ton above standard. 
 
 15.101 to 15,150, both inclusive-20 cents per ton above standard. 
 
 14.601 to 14,650, both inclusive-10 cents per ton above standard. 
 
 14.101 to 14,150, both inclusive_Standard. 
 
 13.601 to 13,650, both inclusive_10 cents per ton below standard. 
 
 13.101 to 13,150, both inclusive-20 cents per ton below standard. 
 
 12.101 to 12,150, both inclusive_40 cents per ton below standard. 
 
 No lighter of coal wiH be accepted which, by trial, in the judgment of the 
 
 superintendent, contains an excessive amount of dry coal dust. The decision of 
 the superintendent will be final in this respect. Coal taken from such lighter 
 for trial will be subject to the special deduction set forth under “ Penalized 
 coal,” but paid for in all other respects as herein provided. 
 
 Coal which is shown by analysis to contain less than 20 per cent of volatile 
 matter, 9 per cent of ash, or 1.50 per cent of sulphur, will be accepted without 
 a deduction from the bidder’s price, plus or minus an amount for excess of 
 deficiency of British thermal unit value, as herein provided. Where the 
 analysis gives amounts for any or all elements in excess of these quantities, 
 deductions will be made from the bidder’s price in accordance with the tables 
 of values of volatile matter, ash, and sulphur below given, plus or minus the 
 amount for excess or deficiency of the standard British thermal unit value, in 
 addition to any other deductions which may be made as herein provided. 
 
 Table of deductions for volatile matter. 
 
 For coal in any lighter which is found by test to contain, per pound of dry 
 
 coal— 
 
 Over 20 per cent and less than 21 per cent_2 cents per ton. 
 
 ******* 
 
 Over 22.5 per cent and less than 23 per cent_12 cents per ton. 
 
 * * * * * * * 
 
 24 per cent and over_18 cents per ton. 
 
20 
 
 THE PURCHASE OF COAL UNDER SPECIFICATIONS. 
 
 This table is made for a difference of each one-half of 1 per cent and the 
 deductions are at the rate of 4 cents for each 1 per cent of volatile matter. 
 
 Table of deductions for ash. 
 
 For coal in any lighter which is found by test to contain, per pound of dry 
 
 coal— 
 
 Over 9 per cent and less than 9.5 per cent_2 cents per ton. 
 
 ******* 
 
 Over 11.5 per cent and less than 12_12 cents per ton. 
 
 * * * * * * * 
 
 * 13.5 per cent and over_23 cents per ton. 
 
 This table is made for each difference of one-half of 1 per cent and at the 
 rate of 4 cents for each 1 per cent increase in the ash. 
 
 Table of deductions for sulphur. 
 
 For coal in any lighter which is found by test to contain, per pound of dry 
 
 coal— 
 
 Over 1.50 per cent and less than 1.75 per cent_6 cents per ton. 
 
 ******* 
 
 Over 2 per cent and less than 2.25 per cent_*_10 cents per ton. 
 
 $ * * * 
 
 2.50 and over_20 cents per ton. 
 
 This table is made out for each difference of one-fourth of 1 per cent and at 
 a diminishing rate. 
 
 Should any lighter of coal delivered at the company’s docks contain less than 
 700 tons, a deduction of 7 cents per ton will be made from the price as deter¬ 
 mined by the British thermal unit value and analysis, in addition to any other 
 penalty provided for herein. Should any lighter of coal delivered at the com¬ 
 pany’s docks be rejected by the superintendent on account of excessive amount 
 of coal dust, then a deduction of 25 cents per ton will be made from the price 
 as determined by the British thermal unit value and analysis, for the coal 
 taken from said lighter, in addition to any other penalty which may be made 
 as herein provided. Should any lighter of coal be delivered in other than self¬ 
 trimming lighters as herein provided, a deduction of 7 cents per ton will be 
 made from the price as determined by the British thermal unit value and analy¬ 
 sis, exclusive of any other penalty which may be made as herein provided. 
 
 The contractor’s bill of lading will be checked by the company’s scales. 
 Should there be a deficiency of 1 per cent or more between the bill of lading 
 and the company’s weights, then the company’s weights will be taken as 
 correct. 
 
 When the contractor has been notified by the company to deliver coal under 
 this contract, a further notice may be given requiring the contractor to make 
 delivery of the coal so ordered within tw 7 elve hours after the receipt of said 
 second notice. Should the contractor, for any reason, fail to deliver the coal 
 so ordered within twelve hours after the receipt of said second notice and in 
 accordance with the requirements therein as to place of delivery, the company 
 shall be at liberty to buy coal in the open market, and the contractor will make 
 good to the company any difference there may be between the price paid by 
 the company for said coal in open market and the price the company would 
 have paid to the contractor had the coal been delivered by it in accordance with 
 
METHODS OF SAMPLING AND TESTING. 
 
 21 
 
 the requirements of said notices from the company, or said difference may be 
 deducted from any money then due or thereafter to become due to the con¬ 
 tractor under the contract to be entered into. 
 
 METHODS OF SAMPLING AND TESTING. 
 
 In connection with the Survey’s study of the coal deposits of the 
 country and the best methods to prevent waste in mining and utiliz¬ 
 ing the coal supply, trained inspectors have visited nearly 300 mines 
 in 23 States, taking two or more samples from each mine. A study 
 of the analyses of these samples and of samples taken from cars 
 shipped from 175 of the same mines shows that the mine sample 
 is in most instances better than the average of the coal as shipped in 
 cars. On the average the coal delivered contains about one-third 
 more ash than, the mine sample taken in accordance with the instruc¬ 
 tions to the miners regarding the rejection of slate and impurities. 
 This difference is due to the failure of the miners to follow these 
 instructions in getting out coal for shipment. The samples collected 
 by the Government inspectors from the mines almost invariably show 
 a higher moisture content than is usually obtained in commercial sam¬ 
 pling, because of the precaution taken to have the sample represent 
 the coal in the mine.® 
 
 Mine samples when properly taken indicate the general character 
 of the coal and enable one to judge of its probable value for any def¬ 
 inite purpose. 
 
 Samples taken from the cars should not be limited to a few shovel¬ 
 fuls of coal from the top of the car, because the heavier pieces gradu¬ 
 ally work down toward the bottom. Some samples taken at the 
 bottom of a car have shown as much as 8 per cent more ash than 
 the coal at the top. The moisture also may vary from top to bot¬ 
 tom, depending on the weather. The only way to get a fair sample 
 is to take a number of shovelfuls of coal from various points in the 
 car, so as to procure a representative portion of the coal from top to 
 bottom and from end to end. 
 
 Bituminous coal when exposed to the air gradually depreciates in 
 heating value, owing to losses of volatile matter, but aside from this 
 loss there should be the same total number of heat units in a car of 
 coal when it reaches its destination as when it started. If rain falls 
 on the coal it will become heavier and a greater number of pounds 
 will be delivered, but each pound will have a correspondingly lower 
 heat value. On the other hand, if the weather is fair and the coal 
 dries out on the way, it will weigh less and the heating value of 
 each pound will be correspondingly higher. In other words, under 
 a specification such as is used by the Government, neither the dealer 
 
 a A description of the method of mine sampling is given in Bull. U. S. Geol. Survey 
 No. 290, 1906, pp. 17-18. See also Bull. No. 316, 1907, pp. 486-517. 
 
22 
 
 THE PURCHASE OF COAL UNDER SPECIFICATIONS. 
 
 nor the purchaser will gain or lose by change in the moisture con¬ 
 tent of the coal between the time it is weighed at the mine and the 
 time it is weighed on delivery. The price per ton will be correspond¬ 
 ingly lower if the coal is wet and higher if the coal is dry. 
 
 In order to determine the maximum variation in moisture in sev¬ 
 eral sizes of anthracite coal the following experiments were made: 
 The coal was soaked in water to allow it to absorb as much moisture 
 as possible, the result representing the extreme conditions due to 
 rains or other causes. Each sample was then weighed and allowed 
 to dry in a room exposed to the air. When this sample ceased to lose 
 moisture it was assumed to be air dried, which represents the condi¬ 
 tion of least moisture to be expected in a delivery of coal. The re¬ 
 sults are summarized in the following table: 
 
 Experiments to determine possible variations of moisture in anthracite coal 
 
 during shipment. 
 
 
 Furnace. 
 
 Pea. 
 
 Buck¬ 
 
 wheat. 
 
 "Number of samples used in e-x-periment 
 
 13 
 
 0.5 to 24 
 5.12 
 3.58 
 .73 to 1.54 
 
 30 
 
 10 
 24 
 5.74 
 1.84 
 3.1 to3.9 
 
 68 
 
 12 
 
 24 
 
 8.44 
 
 2.24 
 
 4.5to6.2 
 
 74 
 
 Number of hours dried in air at ordinary room temperature,_ 
 
 Total moisture in thoroughly wet coal_percent,. 
 
 Moisture in air-dried samples_ _do __ 
 
 boss of moisture . do 
 
 Percentage of maximum variation in moisture from wet to air- 
 dried coal, _ 
 
 
 The air-dried anthracite still contains from 1.8 to 3.6 per cent of 
 moisture. Moisture in air-dried coal varies with the weather, just as 
 it does in wood. 
 
 The moisture in air-dried bituminous coals depends on the character 
 of the coal. It is about 1 per cent in West Virginia coal and about 7 
 per cent in Illinois coal. The moisture in the same Illinois coal 
 delivered may range from 7 to 17 per cent. 
 
 Owing to these variations some method should be used to correct 
 for the difference in moisture in coals of different character. 
 
 The following suggestions are presented for the guidance of those 
 who wish to send samples to a laboratory for analysis: 
 
 If samples are taken at the buildings as the coal is delivered, it will 
 usually be satisfactory to take one shovelful of coal from each third 
 or fifth wagonload, the load being selected without the knowledge of 
 the driver. It must be kept in mind that the main object is to obtain 
 a portion of coal which represents as nearly as possible the entire 
 delivery. The sample should contain about the same proportion of 
 lump and fine coal as exists in the shipment as a whole. The practice 
 of taking a shovelful near the bottom of the pile should be avoided, 
 as the larger lumps of coal roll down and collect near the bottom and 
 such a sample will not truly represent the coal. 
 
METHODS OF SAMPLING AND TESTING. 
 
 23 
 
 These samples should be immediately deposited in a metal recep¬ 
 tacle having a tight-fitting cover and provided with a first-class lock. 
 Except when samples are being deposited or when the contents are 
 being quartered down, this receptacle should be securely locked and 
 Ihe key held by a responsible employee. The receptacle should be 
 placed in a comparatively cool location to avoid loss of moisture in 
 the coal. When it becomes filled, or at the end of the sampling 
 period, the contents should be emptied on a clean, dry floor, in a cone- 
 shaped pile. The larger lumps should be broken down by a coal maul 
 or sledge, and the pile re-formed and quartered into four equal parts, 
 a shovel or board being used to separate the four sections. Two 
 opposite sections should then be rejected and the remaining two again 
 mixed, broken down, and re-formed into a pile to be quartered as 
 before. This process should be continued until the lumps are no 
 larger than pea size, and a quart sample is finally procured. The 
 samples should then immediately be placed in suitable receptacles for 
 shipping and sealed air-tight. The Geological Survey inspectors use 
 a metal can 3 inches in diameter and 9 inches high, with a screw cap 
 2 inches in diameter, for making shipments to the chemical laboratory. 
 These cans are sealed air-tight by winding adhesive electrical tape 
 around the joint of the screw cap. Each can holds about a quart, or 
 2 pounds of coal. 
 
 The process of quartering down and preparing samples for ship¬ 
 ment to the chemical laboratory for analysis should be carried on as 
 rapidly as possible to,avoid loss of moisture. The samples should 
 be forwarded promptly and notice of shipment sent under separate 
 cover. Receptacles should be marked plainly on the outside, and a 
 corresponding number or description should be placed inside. A 
 complete record of all deliveries should be kept, showing dates, 
 names of contractor, kind of coal, total weight delivered, condition 
 of coal (wet or dry), and any other particulars of importance. 
 
 The procedure at the chemical laboratory of the Geological Survey 
 testing plant is described in Survey Bulletin No. 261. The samples 
 are crushed and ground to a fine powder, and then analyzed and 
 tested. 
 
 Persons not experienced in taking samples have a tendency to 
 select a sample better than the average. In many cases a lump of 
 coal is broken and shipped in a cloth sack to the laboratory. This 
 allows the moisture to dry out; moreover, the lump selected is usually 
 free from layers of slate and impurities and of course then represents 
 the best coal in the lot, and shows a higher value than can be expected 
 to hold throughout the coal delivered. 
 
 The preceding statements show that the purchaser should usually 
 have the quality determined on the basis of coal “ as received,” in 
 order to correct any excess or deficiency in the moisture content. 
 
24 
 
 THE PURCHASE OF COAL UNDER SPECIFICATIONS. 
 
 ANALYSES OF COALS DELIVERED TO THE GOVERNMENT. 
 
 The following tables, giving the results of tests made by the 
 Geological Survey on coal delivered to the Government Departments, 
 are submitted in response to numerous recent requests for informa¬ 
 tion regarding the quality of coal which may be expected, and the 
 variations in quality which may be found from month to month in 
 coal delivered by the same dealer and presumably from the same 
 mine or group of mines: 
 
 Average analyses of anthracite coal delivered to all Government buildings in 
 Washington, D. G., from December 15, 1906, to April 26, 1907. a 
 
 
 Furnace. 
 
 Egg. 
 
 Pea. 
 
 Buck¬ 
 
 wheat. 
 
 Dry coal: 
 
 
 
 
 
 Volatile matter _ _ — _ _ ___ . 
 
 2.42 
 
 3.10 
 
 3.02 
 
 2.42 
 
 Fixed carbon.. -- - 
 
 87.14 
 
 86.33 
 
 80.94 
 
 79.53 
 
 Ash _ _ _ 
 
 10.44 
 
 10.57 
 
 16.04 
 
 18.05 
 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 Sulphur b _ _ 
 
 .79 
 
 .98 
 
 .80 
 
 .68 
 
 B. t. u_ _ ... _ 
 
 13,408 
 
 13,523 
 
 12,487 
 
 12,107 
 
 Coal as received: 
 
 Moisture-- - — -- 
 
 4.08 
 
 4.16 
 
 4.81 
 
 5.09 
 
 B. t. u_ 
 
 12,861 
 
 12,961 
 
 11,886 
 
 11,485 
 
 a Payment not based on chemical analysis. 
 6 Separately determined. 
 
 Analyses of anthracite furnace coal delivered during 1907 to a Government 
 building in Washington, D. C. a 
 
 
 Jan. 29. 
 
 Feb. 2. 
 
 Feb. 4. 
 
 Feb. 9. 
 
 Feb. 11. 
 
 Feb. 12. 
 
 Feb. 14. Feb. 15. 
 
 Dry coal: 
 
 Volatile matter— 
 
 Fixed carbon_ 
 
 Ash- _ 
 
 Sulphur 6 _ 
 
 B. t. u_ 
 
 Coal as received: 
 
 Moisture_ . 
 
 B. t. u_ 
 
 2.66 
 
 86.38 
 
 10.96 
 
 2.85 
 
 86.34 
 
 10.81 
 
 3.32 
 
 87.66 
 
 9.02 
 
 2.53 
 
 86.65 
 
 10.82 
 
 3.06 
 
 85.45 
 
 11.49 
 
 2.56 
 
 86.69 
 
 10.75 
 
 2.99 
 
 86.63 
 
 10.38 
 
 2.09 
 
 86.15 
 
 11.76 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00’ 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 .78 
 
 13,297 
 
 4.13 
 
 12,749 
 
 .78 
 
 13,435 
 
 4.19 
 
 12,874 
 
 .78 
 
 13,764 
 
 4.67 
 
 13,121 
 
 .78 
 
 13,418 
 
 4.41 
 
 12,826 
 
 .69 
 
 13,282 
 
 3.83 
 
 12,773 
 
 .84 
 
 13,360 
 
 5.83 
 
 12,582 
 
 .83 
 
 13,427 
 
 4.99 
 
 12,757 
 
 .95 
 
 13,168 
 
 4.33 
 
 12,595 
 
 • 
 
 Feb. 23. 
 
 Feb. 25. 
 
 Feb. 26. 
 
 Feb. 27. 
 
 Feb. 28. 
 
 Mar. 13. \ Average. 
 
 Dry coal: 
 
 Volatile matter__ 
 
 Fixed carbon. _ _ 
 
 Ash_ . 
 
 1.56 
 
 87.96 
 
 10.48 
 
 1.62 
 
 87.77 
 
 10.61 
 
 2.00 
 
 88.61 
 
 9.39 
 
 3.34 
 
 86.12 
 
 10.54 
 
 2.84 
 
 85.37 
 
 11.79 
 
 2.13 
 
 87.22 
 
 10.65 
 
 2.51 
 
 86.74 
 
 10.75 
 
 Sulphur 6 - 
 
 B. t. u_ 
 
 Coal as received: 
 
 Moisture_ 
 
 B. t. u_ 
 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 
 .93 
 
 13,094 
 
 3.06 
 
 12,694 
 
 ' .78 
 13,346 
 
 3.50 
 
 12,879 
 
 .74 
 
 13,655 
 
 3.93 
 
 13,118 
 
 .87 
 
 13,390 
 
 4.50 
 
 12,787 
 
 .86 
 
 13,166 
 
 5.60 
 
 12,429 
 
 .79 
 
 13,421 
 
 2.12 
 
 13,136 
 
 .81 
 
 13,363 
 
 4.24 
 
 12,796 
 
 a Contract for 4,500 tons. Payment not based on chemical analysis. 
 b Separately determined. 
 
COALS DELIVERED TO THE GOVERNMENT, 
 
 25 
 
 Analyses of anthracite egg coal delivered during 1907 to a Government building 
 in Washington, D. G. a 
 
 
 Jan. 29. 
 
 Jan. 31. 
 
 Feb. 5. 
 
 Feb. 9. Feb. 11. 
 
 Feb. 13. 
 
 Feb. 14. 
 
 Feb. 15. 
 
 Feb. 21. 
 
 Dry coal: 
 
 Volatile matter. 
 Fixed carbon.__ 
 Ash_ 
 
 2.96 
 
 86.29 
 
 10.75 
 
 2.83 
 
 85.58 
 
 11.59 
 
 2.57 
 
 86.27 
 
 11.16 
 
 3.90 
 
 85.39 
 
 10.71 
 
 3.17 
 
 86.76 
 
 10.07 
 
 3.53 
 
 86.04 
 
 10.43 
 
 3.05 
 
 86.90 
 
 10.05 
 
 3.69 
 
 86.36 
 
 9.95 
 
 2.86 
 
 85.72 
 
 11.42 
 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00' 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 Sulphur b _ 
 
 B. t. u__ _ 
 
 Coal as received: 
 
 Moisture_ 
 
 B. t. u_ 
 
 .98 
 
 13,423 
 
 4.18 
 
 12,863 
 
 .92 
 
 13,279 
 
 4.34 
 
 12,703 
 
 .86 
 
 13,336 
 
 3.38 
 
 12,886 
 
 1.15 
 
 13,495 
 
 4.01 
 
 12,953 
 
 1.06 
 
 13,588 
 
 4.11 
 
 13,030 
 
 .93 
 
 13,614 
 
 4.17 
 
 13,045 
 
 1.04 
 
 13,738 
 
 4.73 
 
 13,688 
 
 1.12 
 
 13,649 
 
 4.51 
 
 13,034 
 
 .97 
 
 13,328 
 
 4.23 
 
 12,764 
 
 
 Feb. 23. 
 
 Feb. 25. 
 
 Feb. 26. 
 
 Feb. 28. 
 
 Mar. 3. 
 
 Apr. 2. 
 
 Apr. 19. 
 
 Apr. 24. 
 
 Aver¬ 
 
 age. 
 
 Dry coal: 
 
 Volatile matter. _ 
 
 Fixed carbon_ 
 
 Ash_ 
 
 Sulphur b - 
 
 B. t. u_ ... 
 
 Coal as received: 
 
 Moisture_ 
 
 B. t. u_ 
 
 3.60 
 
 87.99 
 
 9.40 
 
 3.62 
 
 86.00' 
 
 10.38 
 
 3.15 
 
 86.58 
 
 10.27 
 
 3.22 
 
 86.46 
 
 10.32 
 
 2.86 
 
 85.53 
 
 11.61 
 
 3.01 
 
 87.59 
 
 9.40 
 
 2.89 
 
 86.93 
 
 10.18 
 
 3.19 
 
 86.36 
 
 10.45 
 
 3.41 
 
 86.99 
 
 9.60 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 .94 
 
 13,798 
 
 4.15 
 
 13,174 
 
 .98 
 
 13,643 
 
 3.64 
 
 13,291 
 
 .99 
 
 13,608 
 
 4.07 
 
 13,054 
 
 1.13 
 13,617 
 
 4.13 
 13,055 
 
 1.02 
 
 13,293 
 
 3.15 
 
 12,874 
 
 .99 
 
 13,657 
 
 4.08 
 
 13,100 
 
 1.08 
 
 13,672 
 
 3.92 
 
 13,136 
 
 1.01 
 
 13,558 
 
 4.07 
 
 13,006 
 
 .99 
 
 13,744 
 
 4.15 
 
 13,174 
 
 a Contract for 9,000 tons. Payment not based on chemical analysis. 
 b Separately determined. 
 
 Analyses of anthracite pea coal delivered during 1906-7 to a Government 
 building in Washington, D.. G. a 
 
 
 Dec. 22. 
 
 Jan. 9. 
 
 Jan. 24. 
 
 Jan. 28. 
 
 Jan. 31. 
 
 Feb. 5. 
 
 Feb. 6. 
 
 Feb. 7. 
 
 Feb. 11. 
 
 Feb. 12. 
 
 Dry coal: 
 
 Volatile matter__ 
 
 Fixed carbon_ 
 
 Ash_ 
 
 Sulphur 6 _ 
 
 B. t. u _ - 
 
 Coal as received: 
 
 Moisture_ 
 
 B. t. u_ . 
 
 3.38 
 
 80.51 
 
 16.11 
 
 100.00 
 
 2.58 
 
 84.17 
 
 13.25 
 
 100.00 
 
 3.73 
 
 81.34 
 
 14.93 
 
 3.07 
 
 82.16 
 
 14.77 
 
 3.33 
 
 80.22 
 
 16.45 
 
 3.39 
 
 80.80 
 
 15.81 
 
 4.06 
 
 79.37 
 
 16.57 
 
 3.30 
 
 80.57 
 
 16.13 
 
 3.77 
 
 79.95 
 
 16.28 
 
 3.23 
 
 80.09 
 
 16.68 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100,. 00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 .60 
 
 12,460 
 
 4.35 
 
 11,919 
 
 .67 
 
 12,883 
 
 4.62 
 
 12,286 
 
 .99 
 
 12,877 
 
 5.24 
 
 12,203 
 
 1.01 
 
 12,835 
 
 3.40 
 
 12,399 
 
 .87 
 
 12,583 
 
 5.62 
 
 11,876 
 
 .78 
 
 12,623 
 
 5.86 
 
 11,883 
 
 .76 
 
 12,555 
 
 4.27 
 
 12,019 
 
 .77 
 
 12,552 
 
 5.50 
 
 11,862 
 
 .71 
 
 12,418 
 
 6.04 
 
 11,668 
 
 .68 
 
 12,384 
 
 5.78 
 
 11,668 
 
 
 I 
 
 Feb. 13. Feb. 14. 
 
 Feb. 18. 
 
 Feb. 19. 
 
 Feb. 25. 
 
 Mar.18. 
 
 Apr. 1. 
 
 Apr. 8. 
 
 Apr. 12. 
 
 Aver¬ 
 
 age. 
 
 Dry coal: 
 
 Volatile matter.- 
 
 Fixed carbon_ 
 
 Ash_ 
 
 Sulphur 6 _ 
 
 B. t. u _ 
 
 Coal as received: 
 
 Moisture_ 
 
 B. t. u__ 
 
 2.27 
 
 82.45 
 
 15.28 
 
 2.32 
 
 80.45 
 
 17.23 
 
 3.50 
 
 78.75 
 
 17.75 
 
 3.06 
 
 81.35 
 
 15.59 
 
 2.13 
 
 83.24 
 
 14.63 
 
 2.50 
 
 80.83 
 
 16.67 
 
 2.49 
 
 79.45 
 
 18.06 
 
 2.51 
 
 81.00 
 
 16.49 
 
 2.74 
 
 81.24 
 
 16.02 
 
 3.02 
 
 80:94 
 
 16.04 
 
 100.00' 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 .80 
 
 12,487 
 
 4.81 
 
 11,886 
 
 .92 
 
 12,300 
 
 5.20 
 
 11,660 
 
 .86 
 
 12,317 
 
 4.92 
 
 11,711 
 
 1.05 
 
 12,160 
 
 4.58 
 
 11,603 
 
 .89 
 
 12,464 
 
 5.23 
 
 11,812 
 
 .68 
 
 12,627 
 
 5.02 
 
 11,993 
 
 .80 
 
 12,410 
 
 3.85 
 
 11,932 
 
 .69 
 
 12,038 
 
 2.97 
 
 11,680 
 
 .64 
 
 12,284 
 
 5.18 
 
 11,649 
 
 .77 
 
 12,479 
 
 3.77 
 
 12,008 
 
 a Contract for 6,000 tons. Payment not based on chemical analysis. 
 b Separately determined. 
 
26 
 
 THE PURCHASE OF COAL UNDER SPECIFICATIONS, 
 
 Analyses of anthracite buckwheat coal delivered during 1906-7 to a Government 
 building in Washington, D. G. a 
 
 
 Dec. 18. 
 
 Jan. 15. 
 
 Jan. 16. 
 
 Jan. 22. 
 
 Jan. 23. 
 
 Jan. 28. 
 
 Jan. 31. 
 
 Feb. 4. 
 
 Dry coal: 
 
 Volatile matter. 
 Fixed carbon.— 
 Ash___ 
 
 Sulphur b _ 
 
 B. t. u _ 
 
 Coal as received: 
 
 Moisture- _ 
 
 B. t. u- 
 
 2.50 
 
 80.34 
 
 17.16 
 
 1.93 
 
 82.40 
 
 15.67 
 
 2.21 
 
 80.94 
 
 16.85 
 
 2.49 
 
 80.72 
 
 16.79 
 
 2.41 
 
 76.32 
 
 21.27 
 
 1.98 
 
 79.38 
 
 18.64 
 
 3.23 
 
 78.61 
 
 18.16 
 
 2.89 
 
 80.57 
 
 16.54 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 .63 
 
 12,245 
 
 4.79 
 
 11,659 
 
 .73 
 
 12,475 
 
 5.59 
 
 11,776 
 
 .68 
 
 12,314 
 
 4.47 
 
 11,763 
 
 .67 
 
 12,370 
 
 4.93 
 
 11,755 
 
 .67 
 
 11,574 
 
 5.32 
 
 10,959 
 
 .67 
 
 11,970 
 
 4.38 
 
 11,445 
 
 .67 
 
 11,843 
 
 5.13 
 
 11,236 
 
 .60 
 
 12,265 
 
 4.69 
 
 11,681 
 
 
 Feb. 7. 
 
 Feb. 12. 
 
 Feb. 15. 
 
 Mar. 2. 
 
 Mar. 20. 
 
 Apr. 3. 
 
 Apr. 13. 
 
 Average 
 
 Dry coal: 
 
 Volatile matter.— 
 
 Fixed carbon_ 
 
 Ash_ 
 
 Sulphur 6 _ 
 
 B. t. u_ _ - 
 
 Coal as received: 
 Moisture._ _ 
 
 B. t. u_ 
 
 1.78 
 
 76.91 
 
 21.31 
 
 2.66 
 
 80.03 
 
 17.31 
 
 2.59 
 
 79.34 
 
 18.07 
 
 2.07 
 
 76.90 
 
 21.03 
 
 2.87 
 
 81.56 
 
 15.57 
 
 2.11 
 
 79.52 
 
 18.37 
 
 2.62 
 
 79.36 
 
 18.02 
 
 2.42 
 
 79.53 
 
 18.05 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00' 
 
 100.00' 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 .67 
 
 11,635 
 
 5.51 
 
 10,993 
 
 .70 
 
 12,350 
 
 5.36 
 
 11,609 
 
 .77 
 
 12,098 
 
 5.57 
 
 11,016 
 
 .70 
 
 11,749 
 
 6.10 
 
 11,032 
 
 .62 
 
 12,545 
 
 4.60 
 
 11,968 
 
 .77 
 
 12,109 
 
 4.31 
 
 11,587 
 
 .69 
 
 12,071 
 
 5.64 
 
 11,390 
 
 .68 
 
 12,107 
 
 5.09 
 
 11,485 
 
 « Contract for 5,000 tons. Payment not based on chemical analysis. 
 b Separately determined. 
 
 Analyses of bituminous coal delivered during 1906-7 to a Government building 
 in Washington, D. C., as being run-of-mine from Georges Creek. 
 
 
 Dec. 27. 
 
 Jan. 3. 
 
 Jan. 22. 
 
 Jan. 23. 
 
 Jan. 30. 
 
 Feb. 6. 
 
 ry coal: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Volatile matter_ 
 
 16.84 
 
 16.24 
 
 17.26 
 
 17.08 
 
 16.43 
 
 16.66 
 
 Fixed carbon_ _ 
 
 73.01 
 
 75.07 
 
 75.27 
 
 76.23 
 
 75.11 
 
 75.57 
 
 Ash_--- 
 
 10.15 
 
 8.69 
 
 7.47 
 
 6.74 
 
 8.46 
 
 7.77 
 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 Sulphur®_ _ 
 
 1.02 
 
 .93 
 
 1.03 
 
 1.08 
 
 .80 
 
 .94 
 
 B. t. u_ 
 
 14,017 
 
 14,364 
 
 14,636 
 
 14,764 
 
 14,441 
 
 14,586 
 
 oal as received: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Moisture-__ _ __ 
 
 4.80 
 
 2.77 
 
 3.43 
 
 4.22 
 
 3.09 
 
 3.73 
 
 B. t. u_ __ - 
 
 13,343 
 
 13,966 
 
 14,134 
 
 14,141 
 
 13,995 
 
 14,040 
 
 
 Feb. 9. 
 
 Feb. 15. 
 
 Mar. 28. 
 
 Feb. 21. 
 
 Apr.-15. 
 
 Dry coal: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Volatile matter_ 
 
 16.21 
 
 15.77 
 
 16.29 
 
 16.42 
 
 15.76 
 
 Fixed carbon_ _ _ 
 
 74.99 
 
 75.12 
 
 74.55 
 
 74.79 
 
 76.89 
 
 Ash__ _ 
 
 8.80 
 
 9.11 
 
 9.16 
 
 8.79 
 
 7.35 
 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 100.00 
 
 Sulphur®_ _ 
 
 .95 
 
 .99 
 
 1.03 
 
 .95 
 
 .95 
 
 B. t. u_ 
 
 14,317 
 
 14,308 
 
 14,264 
 
 14,352 
 
 14,632 
 
 Coal as received: 
 
 Moisture_ _ 
 
 4.07 
 
 3.12 
 
 3.15 
 
 2.94 
 
 2.97 
 
 B. t. u- — _ . 
 
 13,734 
 
 13,862 
 
 13,815 
 
 13,930 
 
 14,197 
 
 Separately determined. 
 
THE PURCHASE OF COAL UNDER SPECIFICATIONS. 
 
 27 
 
 SOME PUBLICATIONS ON COAL. 
 
 The following are a few of the Survey publications on coal. A 
 more complete list is given in Bulletin No. 316, pages 518-532. The 
 reports here named are now available for distribution. Others are in 
 press and still others are in preparation. Applications for these 
 reports, except for Bulletin No. 261 and Professional Paper No. 48, 
 should be addressed to The Director, United States Geological 
 Survey, Washington, D. C. 
 
 Bulletin No. 261. Preliminary report on the operations of the coal-testing 
 plant of the United States Geological Survey at the Louisiana Purchase Exposi¬ 
 tion, St. Louis, Mo., 1904. E. W. Parker, J. A. Holmes, M. R. Campbell, com¬ 
 mittee in charge. 1905. 172 pp. Out of stock. Can be obtained by sending 10 
 
 cents in cash to the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C. 
 
 Professional Paper No. 48. Report on the operations of the coal-testing 
 plant of the United States Geological Survey at the Louisiana Purchase Exposi¬ 
 tion, St. Louis, Mo., 1904. E. W. Parker, J. A. Holmes, M. R. Campbell, com¬ 
 mittee in charge. 1906. In three parts. 1492 pp., 13 pis. Out of stock. Can 
 be obtained by sending $1.50 in cash to the Superintendent of Documents, 
 Washington, D. C. 
 
 Bulletin No. 290. Preliminary report on the operations of the fuel-testing 
 plant of the United States Geological Survey at St. Louis, Mo., 1905. By J. A. 
 Holmes. 1906. 240 pp. 
 
 Bulletin No. 323. Experimental work conducted in the chemical laboratory 
 of the fuel-testing plant, St. Louis, January 1, 1905, to July 31, 1906. By N. W. 
 Lord. 1907. 49 pp. 
 
 Bulletin No. 325. A study of four hundred steaming tests made at the fuel¬ 
 testing plant, St. Louis, Mo., 1904, 1905, and 1906. By L. P. Breckenridge. 
 1907. 196 pp. 
 
 A few miscellaneous references of special interest may be given, 
 as follows: 
 
 Bement, A. The testing of coal. Western Society of Engineers. 
 
 Electrical World. Editorial, April 6, 1907. 
 
 Engineering Record. Editorial, April 13, 1907. 
 
 Parr, S. W. Composition and character of coals. Bulletin No. 3, Illinois 
 Geological Survey, Urbana, Ill. 
 
 Preliminary report of committee on coal analysis. Journal of the American 
 Chemical Society, vol. 20, 1898. 
 
 Report of the committee on coal analysis. Journal of the American Chemical 
 Society, vol. 21, 1899. 
 
 Voorhees, S. S. Analysis of coal. American Society for Testing Materials, 
 1907. 
 
 Woodwell, J. E. The purchase of coal. American Society for Testing Mate¬ 
 rials, 1907; Mines and Minerals, September, 1907. 
 

 CLASSIFICATION OF THE PUBLICATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL 
 
 SURVEY. 
 
 [Bulletin No. 339.] 
 
 The serial publications of the United States Geological Survey consist of (1) 
 Annual Reports, (2) Monographs, (3) Professional Papers, (4) Bulletins, (5) Mineral 
 Resources, (6) Water-Supply and Irrigation Papers, (7) Topographic Atlas of United 
 States—folios and separate sheets thereof, (8) Geologic Atlas of the United States— 
 folios thereof. The classes numbered 2, 7, and 8 are sold at cost of publication; the 
 others are distributed free. A circular giving complete lists can be had on application. 
 
 Most of the above publications can be obtained or consulted in the following ways: 
 
 1. A limited number are delivered to the Director of the Survey, from whom they 
 can be obtained, free of charge (except classes 2, 7, and 8), on application. 
 
 2. A certain number are delivered to Senators and Representatives in Congress 
 for distribution. 
 
 3. Other copies are deposited with the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, 
 D. C., from whom they can be had at practically cost. 
 
 4. Copies of all Government publications are furnished to the principal public 
 libraries in the large cities throughout the United States, where they can be consulted 
 by those interested. 
 
 The Professional Papers, Bulletins, and Water-Supply Papers treat of a variety of 
 subjects, and the total number issued is large. They have therefore been classified 
 into the following series: A, Economic geology; B, Descriptive geology; C, System¬ 
 atic geology and paleontology; D, Petrography and mineralogy; E, Chemistry and 
 physics; F, Geography; G, Miscellaneous; H, Forestry; I, Irrigation; J, Water stor¬ 
 age; K, Pumping water; L, Quality of water; M, General hydrographic investiga¬ 
 tions; N, Water power; O, Underground waters; P, Hydrographic progress reports, 
 Q, Fuels; R, Structural materials. This paper is the tenth in Series Q, the com¬ 
 plete list of which follows (PP=Professional Paper; B=Bulletin): 
 
 SERIES Q, FUELS. 
 
 B 261. Preliminary report of the operations of the coal-testing plant of the United States Geological 
 Survey at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis, Mo., 1904; E. W. Parker, J. A.Holmes, 
 M. R. Campbell, committee in charge. 1905. 172 pp. 
 
 PP 48. Report on the operations of the coal-testing plant of the United States Geological Survey at the 
 Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis, Mo., 1904; E. W. Parker, J. A. Holmes, M. R. Camp¬ 
 bell, committee in charge. 1906. 3 parts. 1,492 pp., 13 pis. 
 
 B 290. Preliminary report on the operations of the fuel-testing plant of the United States Geological 
 Survey at St. Louis, Mo., 1905, by J. A. Holmes. 1906. 240 pp. 
 
 B 323. Experimental work conducted in the chemical laboratory of the United States fuel-testing 
 plant at St. Louis, Mo., January 1,1905, to July 31,1906, by N. W. Lord. 1907. 49 pp. 
 
 B 325. A study of four hundred steaming tests made at the fuel-testing plant, St. Louis, Mo., in 1904, 
 1905, and 1906, by L. P. Breckenridge. 1907. 196 pp. 
 
 B 332. Report of the United States fuel-testing plant at St. Louis, Mo., January 1,1906, to July 1,1907, 
 Joseph A. Holmes in charge. 1908. -pp. 
 
 B 333. Coal-mine accidents: their causes and prevention; a preliminary statistical report, by 
 Clarence Hall and W. O. Snelling, with an introduction by J. A. Holmes. 1907. 21 pp. 
 
 B. 334. The burning of coal without smoke in boiler plants, a preliminary report, by D. T. Randall. 
 1908. 26 pp. 
 
 B 336. Washing and coking tests of coal and cupola tests of coke, by Richard Moldenke, A. W. 
 Belden, and G. R. Delamater. 1908. -pp. 
 
 B 339. The purchase of coal under Government and commercial specifications, on the basis of its 
 heating value, by D. T. Randall. 1908. 27 pp. 
 
 Correspondence should be addressed to 
 
 The Director, 
 
 United States Geological Survey, 
 
 Washington, D. C. 
 
 January, 1908 
 
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