Kingston Chronicle (Kingston, ON), October 5, 1839

Important Experiments - That excellent officer, Commodore Sandom, R.N., is now trying a very important experiment with a view of introducing the use of coal as fuel on board the government steamers on the Lakes. He has lately been testing the comparative merits of coal and wood on board the steamer "Traveller", by using cord wood to heat one boiler, and coal the other; and we understand that the advantages in favor of coal are so very evident that it is supposed when these advantages are fully understood, the use of wood will be entirely abandoned - the coal being found much cheaper, affording a steadier heat to the boiler, and taking up much less room in the vessel. A schooner from Ohio is now unloading coal at the naval yard at Port Frederick, for the use of the government steamers.