Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-11-16

The development and rapid growth o
manufactures IN Texas is absolutely de-
pendent on an adequate supply Of cheaI
fuel suitable for use under steam boilers
and for smelling and working ores arc
| metals.
| For these purposes bituIninoTs coal
and the coke made from it, are in almost
| universal use in the United States, and
| in consequence, whenever fuel is wanted
for such purposes the first inquiry is for
! the nearest available bituminous coal
| fields.
| Texas has btuminous coal fields, and
| they will prove TO be of great value, but
their distance from many of the proposed
| centers of production and the lack of
| water transportation will prevent the
| laying down of this coal at the prices
needed for successful competition with
| more favored localities. This Is also the
case with coal from other similar fields
outside the state.
Some other source of supply, there
fore, must be found.
In the year 1877 | called the atten ton
of the people of Texas, through the COL
umus of the press. to the fact that in the
immense deposits of Ignite which are
found throughout Eastern and Southern
Texas they had a source of supply of
cheap fuel unequalel of its kind, and
gave some idea OF the ways in which II
could be utilized.
Since that time several articles have
been written and published by myself
and others giving the results of inves;iga-
tons on this subject. These have had
,y-s,
peers of the state.
In the first report Of progress of the
geological survey / again called atten-
ton TO the lgnites and the processes OF
making them available as fuel, and re-
peated the statement in the first annual
report.
Fifty years Of experiment eud actual
use in Europe have shown that the in
trinsic value of Iignites, OF lower grade
than those of Texas, when properly pre-
pared or used in furnaces adapted TO it,
is fully equal TO that of bituminous coal.
and at cost that enables the product 20
compete with bituminOus coal even when
two exist at no great distance from each
other.
The Texas lignites are of higher grade
than most OF those of Europe, are just
as readily prepared and at no greater
relative cost.
Therefore, we have in the Ignite de-
pOsits the basis of a fue, that will meet
every requirement for manufacturing
purposes Ut u minimum cost.
Ignite is form Of fossil fuel between
the stages Of peat and bituminous coal.
1t has lost much of the moisture and
friabllity of the peat, but ha. not IN
dergone sufficient heat and pressure to
30 fully develop the bituminous matter
as has resulted in what We know as
bitumincus coal. The amount of moirt-
ure that 1t still contains is suffic ient TO
make Il very frIable, and upon exposure
to the wsIther it crumbles to dust in q
short time. If, however, 1t be protected
by shelter it will frequently stand for a
long period without falling to pieces.
This high percentage or water also de-
tracts considerably from Its heating
power. The composition of Ignite,
both chemical and physical, Is such that
satisfactory results cannot be obtained in
attempting to burn it under the same
conditions as bituminous coal, which
has prevented Its use to any
extent in the United States,
where other fuels were so ebund-
ant, and where, Texas and some OF the
were scarce or of inferior quality. Lig-
mite has, therefore. never received the
attention in this country that it really
deserves, aud which has been given it
III Europe. II we wish to learn its true
value We must seek our inform. alton from
Germany and France, where 1t has been
thoroughly tested, and where to-day it
is being used successfully for every pur-
pose for which bituminous coal is avail
able.
The following facts are taken from the
W things Of the German authorities on the
subject. and brief statement of what
will appear more at length in our next
report:
The two forms IN which Ignite is prin-
cipally used as prepared fuel, are bril-
quotes and coke.
BHIQUETTES.
As has been stated, Ignite usually |
too great percentage OF water |
and is too friable for general use in ordi- |
nary ways. These Deficiencies are COM |
pletely counteracted by the manufacture |
OF briQuettes, and valuable fuel is pro-
duced. The general process is to drive
out the surplus water continued in the
Ignite by heat, and then to cause the
powdered material TO cohere by great
pressure, with or without q bond of cold
tar pitch, bitumen. potato starch, clay
or other cement Of similar character. In
many German lignites the combined heat
and pressure develop the bitumnous
matter contained within them, and thus
furnish the necessary cementing mate
rial.
The presses used are very similar to
those for making pressed brick, but are
much more powerful. The entire work
Of pulverizing, conveying, heating, mix
ns, pressing and delivery on the cars is
automatic. The product is suited to
svery purpose for which ordinary blum
mus coal is used, with several advau-
ages over it. 1t is more compact; FIVE
tons can be stored in space shat will
lold only four OF coal. 1t is cleaner,
ind there is less loss In handling 1t
ourns without clinker and with little
moke, burning evenly and with great
as a steam generator.
The best evidence of its entire success
S shown in the rate of increase in bril-
luette factories In Northern Germany
Turing the last twelve years. From
wentysix the number of factories has
increased to ls6, and the product from q
quarter of million tons has grown to
wo and a hail millions tons annually: or
ullT as much Ignite In the form of bril-