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a 146 of the specifications for the current fiscal year. Nature of Specifications. In explaining the nature: of the specifications, Mr. Burrows says: "Government specifications are drawn with a view to the considera- tion of price and quality. For manu- factured articles constant and uniform quality they generally can be reduced to a clear statement of what is desired. For coal, however, the variation in char- acter makes this impracticable. "This lack of uniformity is the fea- ture recognized and provided for in the coal specifications prepared by the geological survey. Under these specifications, bidders are requested to quote prices on the various sizes of anthracite, a definite standard of quality being specified -for each size, and to furnish the standard of qual- ity with price for bituminous coal of- fered. Awards are then made to the lowest responsible bidder for anthracite and to the bidder offering the best bi- tuminous coal for the lowest. price. The specifications become part of the con- tract, and the standards of quality form the basis of payment for coal delivered during the life of the con- tract. For coal delivered which is of better quality than the standard. the contractor is paid a bonus propor- tional to the increased value of the coal. For deliveries of coal of poor- er quality than the standard, deduc- tions are made from the centract price proportional to the decreased value of the coal. The actual quali- ty and value of coal delivered is de- termined by analysis and test repre- sentative samples taken in a specified manner. by agents of the government and analyzed in the governmen: fuel- testing laboratory in Washington. The necessity of paying for coal on a slid- ing scale was fully discussed by D. T: Rardalb in: a recent paper." Advantages of the System. . The advantages of buying coal-o1 specifications are explained by Mr. Burrows, as follows: "The advantages of this system of purchasing coal may be briefly sum- marized as follows: "Bidders. are placed on a_ Strictly competitive basis as regards quality as well as price. This simplifies the selection of the most desirable bid and. minimizes. controversy and crit- icism in making awards. --"The field for both the govern- ment and dealers is. broadened, as trade). names' are' ignored and com- paratively unknown coals, offered by and materials of THe Marine REVIEW responsible bidders may be accept- ed without detriment to the govern- ment. "The government is insured against the delivery of poor and dirty coal, and is saved from disputes arising from condemnation based on the us- ual visual inspection. | "Experience with the old form of government contract shows that it is not always expedient to reject' poor coal, because of the difficulty, delay and cost of removal. Under the pres- ent system rejectable 'coal may be ac- cepted at a greatly reduced price, "A definite basis for the cancella- tion of contract is provided. "The constant inspection and analy- sis of the coal delivered furnishes a check on the practical results ob- tained in burning the coal." Necessity of Uniform Standard. A few years prior to the adoption of the present system the necessity for a uniform standard in the pur- chase of coal became apparent to a few of the government. departments, and the plan of purchasing on the heat-value basis was introduced. It proved successful, especially in the treasury department, under which pur- chases are made for the postoffices and other public buildings through- out the United States. The treasury department had at that time a well- equipped laboratory and. was. thus enabled to do all of the necessary testing. Other departments were un- able to follow the example: of the treasury because of lack of informa- tion and proper facilities. In 1904, at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at' St. Louis, the *@eolopical 'survey began a comprehensive study on a practical .scale of the utilization of coal i A. Holmes being placed in charge of the.work. These investiga- tions are still in progress at Pittsburg, Pa., and they have resulted in mak- ing authentic information of great practical value available to the public as well as to the government depart- ments. This work led up to the develop- ment of a general and uniform speci- fication plan for purchasing the gov- ernment fuel supply. STEAMER FOR GEORGIAN BAY SERVICE. A: steamer, .not of -large. size, - but with several exceptional features: about her, known as the 'Simcoe, and. built by Messrs...Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson, .Ltd., at.. their Neptune Works, Newcastle, for the Canadian Government, left the Tyne last month June, 1909 for Canada. 'She- has been specially built for lighthouse and buoy work in Georgian Bay, and when on service will frequently have to go amongst ice. Safe navigation under such conditions has therefore been kept carefully in view in her design and throughout her construction. She Has special appli- ances for dealing with. the heavy buoys which will have to be lifted up, taken to shore for repairs, and laid down again. 'The principal machine for this purpose is a large winch, which, with its special derrick, will lift no less than 40 tons. There is also arranged a well between the forecastle and poop of the steamer, where these large buoys can be safely and conveniently carried. Extremes of temperature will be encountered by the vessel on her serv- ice, and the accommodation has been designed to afford the utmost comfort to those on board during hot and cold weather. In addition to the accom- modation for crew for working the vessel, special well-finished accommo- dation is provided for the various off- cials of .the Canadian government, whose duty it may be to inspect the various lighthouses, etc. For use on her special service, the - Simcoe will be fitted with an installa- tion of wireless telegraphy, and _ she is supplied with a steam launch. The Simcoe is a steel vessel, 180 ft. in length by 35 ft. beam, with a poop ' in which is -placed the accommodation for the officers, engineers and_ officials, and a forecastle containing the crew. The steamer is propelled by twin-screw triple expansion engines, supplied with steam from two Babcock & Wilcox watertube boilers. On the trial trip, a few days before she finally left the Tyne, the propelling machinery worked without .the slightest hitch, and_ the vessel attained 'an average speed of nearly 1214 knots. The Canadian gov- ernment were represented on the trial trip by Mr. C. Duguid. JAPANESE MERCANTILE MA- RINE. The number of Japanese merchant © steamers in '1899 was 3,536, represent- ing 'an aggregate burthen of 768,538 tons. In 1908 the number of steamers had increased to 6,098, and the aggre- gate burthen to 1,494,676 tons. The progress of Japanese steam shipping in the last 10 years was as follows: Year. Steamers. Tons. TO 90 ee ke 3536 768,538 POU ewe oo ce ag, 4534 902,190 MOOS) Pe os ee we. ol 4624 977,308 COQ 5089 1,260,087 MOQ 7 a ce 5784 1,462,718 TONG ek eo 6098 1,494,676