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 21, 1901. 
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. 
AVhat 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 provided 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, 
and 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. 
