The Navy Was Coaling in British Ports, Ignoring Seattle's Mines

Senator Squire is in receipt of telegrams from E. O. Graves, vice president of the Chamber of Commerce; J. H. McGraw, president of the First National Bank, and other prominent citizens of Seattle, informing him that the United States war vessels now at Port Townsend propose coaling and fitting out in the British port of Nanaimo, although good coal at a lower price can be procured at Seattle. They protest against this alleged purpose, and ask the senator to see the secretary of the navy and have orders issued for the vessels to buy coal and fit out in an American port. Acting Secretary Soley said he did not quite understand the protests, for the simple reason that no orders of that character had been issued. He said the Mohican, now at Seattle, was under orders to go to Tacoma, and will reach there in a few days. The only other naval vessel in those waters is the Adams, now at Port Townsend, and most likely coaling at that port. Subsequently, the acting secretary issued an order that all naval vessels cruising in Puget Sound should get coal at ports in the Sound.