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 b3 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, 
Md.: 
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 semibituminous 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. 
