Hello Folks!

There has been some discussion concerning coal on this list. This brings
to mind a question.

>From most of what I have read concerning the early steel navy,
anthracite or “hard” coal was the type preferred for use on naval
vessels. Welsh anthracite was highly sought after, so much so that Dewey
had it shipped over for his squadron, and Clark of the OREGON stowed his
meager supply of it for use only in battle during his epic trip.

Recently, in the book mentioned by Mark Hayes (Remembering the MAINE by
Samuels – an intriguing book that asked some interesting questions about
the MAINE bunker fire theory, but which still has problems of its own),
an alternative view was presented. The book mentions polls of U.S. naval
officers concerning coal types. In the poll (Virginia?) Pocahontas coal
was found to be the favored coal. This seems odd, since Pocahontas coal
was bituminous or soft coal.

Anthracite of hard coal burns hotter with less waste than bituminous
coal. Ships could develop more speed with less work and at a more rapid
rate with anthracite.

I had always assumed that the advantages of anthracite coal were widely
known even at the time of the Spanish American War. The Samuels’ book
indicates it was not.

Does anyone have any more information on this debate?

Patrick McSherry