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26 | -, MARINE REVIEW. [July- 17 AMERICAN COAL AND THE FRENCH MARKET. Mr. George H. Jackson, counsel at La Rochelle, writing to the state department on the subject of American coal and the French market says: The fact that much of the fuel used in Frarice has to be imported, at an exceedingly high price, has led the French to make minute calculations of the relative value of the various combustibles they employ. In some localities, there is a strong conservatism which opposes the use of any product unknown in a practical way. The result'is that our coal has been looked upon with more or less suspicion and many unfavorable prejudices have been created (1) by first appearances, due to the ignorance of out exporters as to the needs of the French market; (2) by analysis which, theoretically, showed a too small percentage of carbon and too much vola- tile matter, judging from experience with European coal. It has been found in practice, however, that to some degree appearances were decep- tive and the theory incorrect, as shown by tthe opinions of seven persons as to the quality of American coal. These persons are either highly con- nected with railway lines or with large manufacturing concerns which have burned American coal. The first claimed that it was inferior in caloric force, as compared with newly mined South Wales coal; the second, that he found the combustion in the grates of his factory too rapid; the third, that the lumps fell to pieces when touched by the stoker (he admitted that his men may not have made the most of it, as they were not accustomed to such coal); the fourth declared that the coal was too friable; the fifth stated that for locomotives, other conditions being equal, there was no noticeable difference between the samples of American coal tried by him and the best Cardiff; the sixth was persuaded that this coal could easily replace the best Welsh; while the seventh person had learned that American fine coal-was worth 10 per cent. more than Cardiff "menu," because it did not run to fine dust when broken, but consisted largely of particles the size of peas. The French classification of coal used here is as follows: (1) "Tout venant" ("run of mine" or "through and through.") To the French purchaser, the signification is not the same as to the Ameri- can seller; it means here coal that contains not more than 30 per cent. of fine. (2) "Menu" (fine coal), which contains 30 per cent. of lumps. The rest consists of dust and particles small enough to pass through a mesh of 25 millimeters (0.98 in.) ie American coal, on its arrival in France, has usually been so badly broken as to contain as high as 85 per cent. of fine. This places our coal on a par with Cardiff menu, so far as the proportion of lumps is concerned. The prices are determined by classification and quality. As the general _ opinion of the railroads is that the quality is of the best, there remains only the question of classification. One railroad officer writes me that "the price should not exceed at any time that of Cardiff coal, quality being equal." If our mine owners are content to sell their coals as menu in France, they can easily secure the market, but the buying price is low. One railroad official tells me that his company recently purchased 115,000 tons of menu at 15.50 francs ($2.99) the ton, delivered in cars alongside and duty--1.30 francs (25 cents)--paid by the sellers. These people could have paid 17 francs ($3.28) for American:menu under the same conditions. Should our exporters wish to sell coal with 70 per cent. large they may be governed in price by the current value of best Cardiff. The following conditions will usually fulfill the requirement of any French railway con- tract: a ig ah ee ee ee per cent., I Volatile matter: © Manimum. ov. oss ee VO an ie pases is do: ..: 18 ee. ee ea ec do... 24 WS 6 ee ss Be OR ee do..." 9 alee Wore Fatih) 'calories. . 8,000 As to constancy, the coal should contain on delivery at destination not more than 30 per cent. menu, it being understood that all that passes through a sieve with holes 25 millimeters (0.98 in.) in diameter is menu. Cardiff coal fulfilling the above conditions has recently been sold here, duty paid by the sellers, delivered on cars alongside, for 21.40 francs ($4.13) the ton of 2,205 lbs. The uses of bituminous coal in France should also serve as a guide to the American exporter. For domestic purposes, the coal should not be too friable, as the necessary handling produces much dust and consequent loss; neither should it be too bituminous, on account of the smell and smoke. For the manufacture of gas, the require- ments are practically the same as in the United States, except, perhaps, - that more stress is laid on the necessity for a large amount of coke. Large quantities of coal are consumed in factories in this part of France. Two important consumers say that under existing conditions American coal is worth 10 per cent. less than the best Cardiff. How far this deficiency in value may be due to grates adapted to burning a coal with greater per cent. of carbon and of a slower combustion than the American coal tried . here, is a question which it may pay our exporters to investigate. In the ships that visit ports south of Havre, there seems to be very little difficulty in obtaining good results from our coal. This may be due in part to the construction of the furnaces and in part to the experience of the stokers in using various kinds of coal. The railways are the most important con- sumers. The three lines nearest La Rochelle burn nearly 700,000 tons per year. This immediate district receives 650,000 tons annually, of which stand the deleterious rine 225,000 tons are burned on the railroads. I am led to believe that this proportion also holds for the ports of St. Nazaire and Nantes. To meet the requirements of the French trade, the following sugges- tions are made: Can Americans procure cheaper transport? Should they not sift certain coals? Should they not improve the loading apparatus, so that the coal be not broken in putting it into the hold? Should they not use their coal dust to make briquettes, which sell here for from 27 to 82 francs ($5.21 to $6.17) per ton? The Staples Coal Co., Taunton, Mass., has been obliged to put out of commission its ocean-going tug Cuba and also eight of its barges. Sixteen other barges have been placed in the ice business owing to the difficulty of obtaining coal. Cab i ns and ..otaterooms 'of modern vessels especially those in the passenger service should denion- strate the supreme possibilities of the wood finisher's art. | This demands a special varnish however, as atmospheric conditions are more destructive to varnish afloat than ashore and the ordinary article is of but little use. The varnish best adapted to with- influences of wind, wave and weather is "BERRY BROTHERS' SPAR VARNISH." 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