The coal offered by the next retained bid-the Gibralter Fuel Corporation-at $1.22, shows by records favorable possibilities, and cars for trial have been ordered.

The next retained bid by Consolidation Coal Co., at $1.25 has the same freight differential of $1.01 per ton against it, as against its 60-cent bid, and it is eliminated for the same reasons as given above for the 60-cent bid.

Bid No. 45 by Hooper-Mankin Fuel Co., at $1.33, offers coal which has the $1.01 freight differential and it is eliminated in favor of the Sparks No. 2 coal. Bid No. 31, at $1.44, offers coal from a mine located on the Pennsylvania Railroad. It therefore has a freight differential against it, and is eliminated in favor of the Sparks No. 2 coal.

The fuel inspection section has detailed men to collect tipple samples for analysis at following mines: George Lee, Camp Chapel, and Black Diamond mines offered by Lick Run Coal & Coke Co., at $1.30 (the Camp Chapel mine is offered also by the Continental Coal Co. at $1.30); Kenna mine offered by Hall Bros. & Co. (Inc.), at $1.33.

The results obtained on the trial shipment of cars by the Gibralter Fuel Corporation, and on the analysis of the tipple samples from the mines named immediately above, will determine the action to be taken on the bids still retained.

REPORT DATED JULY 5, 1928

Under our preceding reports the following bids were being held for further consideration:

Gibralter Fuel Corporation, Miller mines, at $1.22.

Lick Run Coal & Coke Co., George Lee, Camp Chapel, and Black Diamond mines, at $1.30.

Continental Coal Co., Camp Chapel mine, at $1.30.

Hall Bros. & Co. (Inc.), Kenna mine, at $1.33.

J. Edward Hibline Co. (Inc.), Ruth mine, at $1.34.

Johnstown Coal & Coke Co., manor No. 1 mine, at $1.34.

Quemahoning Coal Co., Sparks No. 2 mine, at $1.38.

Preston County Coke Co., Hawley and Murphy mines, at $1.40.

Hillman Coal & Coke Co., Jerome 1 and 2 mines, at $1.60.

As stated in preceding report, cars for trial were ordered of the coal offered by Gibralter Fuel Corporation, and fuel inspection section had detailed men to collect tipple samples for analyses at the George Lee, Camp Chapel, Black Diamond, and Kenna mines offered by other of the bidders above.

The cars of coal shipped by Gibralter Fuel Corporation showed by analysis ash contents from 11.2 per cent to 13.8 per cent for its Miller mines. The bidder set forth in his bid an ash content of 9.58 per cent. Under provisions of paragraph 17 of Government Instructions to Bidders and paragraph 9 of Special Instructions to Bidders, this failure in the analysis of the coal subjects the bid to rejection, and it is accordingly eliminated.

The George Lee and Black Diamond mines offered by the Lick Run Coal & Coke Co. were not regularly operating, and under provisions of paragraph 9 of Special Instructions to Bidders the bid on these two mines is eliminated.

The tipple samples collected at the Camp Chapel mine offered by both the Lick Run Coal & Coke Co. and the Continental Coal Co. showed by analysis 13.7 per cent ash, and at the Kenna mine offered by Hall Bros. & Co. (Inc.), showed 9.5 per cent ash. The Camp Chapel and Kenna coals were offered at $1.30 and $1.33, respectively. On price-quality factors the Camp Chapel bids are eliminated in favor of the Kenna bid. Cars for trial of the Kenna coal have been ordered.

On price-quality factors the bid by J. Edward Hibline Co. (Inc.), at $1.34, is eliminated in favor of the bid by Johnstown Coal & Coke Co. at the same price. Cars for trail of the Manor No. 1 coal offered by Johnstown Coal & Coke Co. have been ordered.

Records on the coal from the Murphy mine offered by Preston County Coke Co. show it to have an ash content of 15.6 per cent, and as this content exceeds the limit of 15 per cent set forth in Schedule No. 1 for this item, this mine is eliminated. Records on the Hawley mine by this bidder at $1.40 indicate favorable price-quality possibilities in comparison with lower bids, and accordingly cars for trial have been ordered.

The Hillman Coal & Coke Co. at $1.60 will be released as it is evident that a lower cost coal can be procured.

Final recommendation will await results on the coals ordered for trial.

REPORT DATED JULY 27, 1928

Under preceding reports the following bids were being held for further consideration:

Hall Bros. & Co. (Inc.), Kenna mine, at $1.33.

Johnstown Coal & Coke Co., Manor No. 1 mine, at $1.34.
Quemahoning Coal Co., Sparks No. 2 mine, at $1.38.

Preston County Coke Co., Hawley mine, at $1.40.

As stated in preceding report, cars of coal for trial were ordered from the Kenna, Manor No. 1, and Hawley mines as offered by the respective bidders above. The Sparks No. 2 coal offered by the Quemahoning Coal Co. was furnished to the hospital during the past fiscal year under a contract with this company.

The coal from the Kenna mine was tried out in the hospital's power plant and it was found to be unsatisfactory, due to the coal clinkering and to the inability of the firemen to obtain required boiler ratings. The results obtained eliminate this coal under provisions of paragraph 9 of the Special Instructions to Bidders and paragraph 11 of the Government Instructions to Bidders.

The coal from the Manor No. 1 mine was tried out in the plant and it was found unsatisfactory, due to excessive clinkers which stuck to the brick-work of the furnace and to the grate bars of the stoker. The results obtained eliminate this coal under provisions of paragraph 9 of the Special Instructions to Bidders and paragraph 11 of the Government Instructions to Bidders.

The coal from the Hawley mine was tried out in the plant and as the results obtained in actual service as compared with the results obtained with the Sparks No. 2 would not warrant the purchase of the Hawley coal at a higher price, the Hawley coal is eliminated.

Award of contract is recommended for Sparks No. 2 coal offered by the Quemahoning Coal Co. at $1.38.

List of bids submitted May 12, 1928, on bituminous and anthracite coal requirements from July 1, 1928, to June 30, 1929

ITEM A

[Nut and slack coal for shipment to Government fuel yards' coal handling plant in New Jersey Avenue yard on the Pennsylvania Railroad]

[Nut and slack for shipment to Government fuel yards' coal handling plant in New Jersey Avenue yard on the Pennsylvania Railroad]

Besoco, Raleigh, W. Va..

1-inch

do.

[Bituminous stove coal for shipment to Government fuel yards' coal handling plant in New Jersey Avenue yard on the Pennsylvania Railroad]

[Bituminous egg coal for shipment to Government fuel yards' coal handling plant in New Jersey Avenue yard on the Pennsylvania Railroad]