Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1867-12-06
PEAT ~ IOWA.
I.OCAI.ITIEs. dc

a list Of localities presc nted in that form.
Indeed, it is the OILY method by which Io>
calitics III such region could be definitely
indicated. The marshes indicated in the
list were all visited and tested by myself in
person, but for the nun bers Indicating them
] am indebted chiefly to the principal inhab-
itants, who are well acquainted with the land
surveys and many Of whom accompanied me
in my examinations. They indicate that the
marsh lies wholly or principally upon the
sections whose numbers are given, and are
doubtless in the main correct The number
Of acres given was estimated, not measured,
but an effort was made always to be quite
within the limits Of truth. The depth men>
toned is the greatest depth ascertained.
| Most Of those indicated as six feet are doubt.
less deeper, for that was the length Of nv
probe handle, and when greater depth was
reached hole was dug with spade in
which to work the probe. Towards the Dor.
ders of the marshes the depth was always
less than that indicated in the list, but the
borders having less than two feet Of peat
were always excluded from the estimates.
(rABLE oxIrrED.)
The foregoing list Of marshes is intended
| by no means 70 be complete one for the
| region named, its principal object being to
cali public attention TO the fact Of the exist
ence Of large quantities OF valuable fuel
| which have thus far been overlooked. All
| the marshes known to exist in this region
were not visited and many we're seen that are
larger than some Of those here enumerated.
Besides this, small marshes containing from
ten to thirty acres each, with from two to
| four feet Of peat, are very numerous. These
are not included a, all, although they will be
| capable of supplying the persons who own
| them with all necessary fuel within their own
| means. Others, again, it will be seen, are
so large that they will supply material for
! the most extensive machinery as soon as the
| demand will warrant it. Residents Of this
region have estimated, and perhaps correct>
| ", that the counties of Cerro Gordo, Han.
cock, Worth and Winnebago, contain 1000
each of good peat lands. Certain it is, how
ever, that the supply is so abundant and so
generally distributed that it will be very diff.
| fcult for capitalists to obtain monopoly Of
it. kossuth county has been only partially
examined, but is known to contain some
very fine marshes, and it is expected that its
northern part will be found to contain many
more.
In other parts of the world we learn that
peat is found, having depth of thirty or
forty feet, but We have yet no reason to ex.
pect the discovery Of such beds in Iowa. In
the region under discussion the character of
surface before described forbids it, because
the inequalities are too gentle to produce de-
pressions Of that depth which might become
filed with peat. The majority of marshes
have probably less than six feet of psat q.
their greatest depth, yet some are already
known to be more than eight feet deep.
PREPARATION AND USE.
The peat question is q new one in Iowa,
and having been thwarted in my efforts to
procure full information upon this part Of
the subject, am unable to satisfactorily an
swer many Of the inquiries which naturally
arise in the mind of those who are turning
their attention to it.
From the fact that much is said about the
manufacture of peat, and that many ma
chimes are offered in the market, those who
hnd themselves the owners of the peat ma
chimes earnestly ask the questions-Is it in
dispensable that peat must pass through
process Of manufacture before il can be
burned? If SO, is it necessary that . capi>
talist with $1,000 or $4,000 should stand
between us and supply Of fuel from our
own lands or may We not prepare a good
article within our own limited means?
These are important questions, and will
answer them as we'll as am able.
1t is not indispensable that peat should be
manufactured before it is burned for it has
been used in the crnde state for hundreds of
years. Drain the marsh by cutting one or
more bitches clear through it communica-
ting with the ostlet and put . gate at the
outlet that you may protec. it from the an
nual prairie 6res, BY foodingit. When well
drained, strip off the sod with sharp spade,
or better still, with an Irish slane, cut the
peat into convenient blocks, dry them on the
ground and store them in dry place for
use. The slane is an instrument something
like a spade with the blade-which is OF thin
steel, about fourteen inches long and ten
inches wide-bent at right angles ike a car
penters corner>chisel, SO that the two sides
will cut the width and thickness of the peat
block at the same thrust. This is the sim>
plest method of its preparation but the same
peat which is thus prepared, will answer in
passable manner, all the purposes of ordi>
nary fuel, can be rendered q very superior
article, both for domestic and manufactur>
ing purposes, by condensing process of
manufacture. Machines have been con-
structed for COMPRISING pest into blocks
when partially dried, and, although the fuel
is much improved thereby, it has been found |
that the compressed blocks quickly disin-
tegrate BY ABSORPTION of moisture from the |
atmosphere, and by handling, so as to ren>
der it inconvenient and troublesome. 1t is |
now generally conceded that a condeasiny
and not a COMPRISING process is the proper |
one TO be adopted in the manufacture Of peat, |
and this view is without doubt the correct |
one.
The conclusive process consists in grind> |
ing the peat while wet, in a properly con-
structed mill, into smooth pulp which is |
then nodded into convenient blocks, without |
great pressure, and dried for use. While |
these blocks are driving, cellulars PAGES which |
existed between the 6bres of the crude peat, |
being broken up by the grinding process, |
they shrink into compact masses, quite un> |
like the light crude peat freu which they |
we're manufactured. when thoroughly ground |
and prepared in this manner, il shrinks by |
the natural process of drying alone, into |
denser masses that blocks Of tue same peat |
would be, when dry, after having been CONS
pressed by the most powerful machinery |
without previous grinding, when, of course, |
the violent compression would be useless.
am not familiar with the practical differ |!
ence in the value between the well manufac |
tured and crude peat, but judging from spec. |
linens in my possession, it is certainly rs |
great as that between basswood and good |
hickory. Well dried hickory is probably
the best fire wood in use, but from the fact |
that it will float upon water, while pure, dry,
well manufactured peat will sink in it, is is |
evident that the latter contains the create ST |
amount Of comhustible matter, bulk for
bulk.
There is no doubt OF the value Of the large |
condensing machines, such Is Leavitt's, for |
those who wish to establish q business for |
the manufacture and sale Of peat, but great |
desideratum is small machine which would |
come within the means Of every family in |
the peat region, SO that they may prepare |
their own fuel with their own labor. Peat |
being much improved in quality, even BY an
imperfect grinding, it is not improbable that
small machines may soon be introduced that
will produce an excellent article Of fuel for
domestic use.
Upon comparing samples of Iowa peat
IL