The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1891-04-18
OFFICIAL PAPER OF MCLEAN co.
North Dakota Coal.

North Dakota Coal.
Prof. E. j. Babcock, of the University of
North Dakota, made during the past sum-
mer a very thorough investigation of the
coal belt of North Dakota. He annalyzed
some fifteen or twenty specimens which
were obtained from different mines and
concludes that North Dakota has an ine1-
haustible supply of native fuel. He sum-
marizes his Investigations as follows:
The coal deposits of this state cover a
very largo area. No very exact statement
ON this point can be given. There are, no
doubt, several thousand square miles of
coal. There is, therefore, an abundant
supply, the value of which only remains to
be shown.
The value of coal varies widely according
to the use to which it is to be put. So no
statement can be given to cover all cases.
For n purpose a caking, highly volatile
coal is desirable; for another, a free burn
ing coal with little volatile matter il pre-
ferred. And so on, different uses demand
coal of n special character. However, sit
must always hold true that local supplies
of mineral fuels, whatever their quality,
must be the chief dependence of communi-
tics, because of their proximity to the con-
sumer." Lignites even of inferior quality
are coming into increasing use in many
localities. The statistics of Germany and
Austria show that moro than 22,OOO,OOO
Ions of this fuel are annually used in those
countries for domestic and other purposes"
The North Dakota coal, though Ignite, is
of q high grade and IN n or two cases
ma be classed as bituminous.
For general heating purposes, the value
of coal can usually be estimated approx
mately by the amount of fixed carbon it
contains. BY referring to the analyses it
will be seen that the fixed carbon in North
Dakota coal analysed averages All per
cent; that of Iowa, 44.42 per cent; that of
Indiana, 1920 per cent
Using this method of determination, the
heating power of n ton of North Dakota
coal will equal All 4542 of a ton of Iowa
coal, md 4471-581O of a ton of Ohio coal.
As compared with wood; there is no
doubt that, for ordinary purposes, this coal
is far superior at reasonable prices. 1t is
10 he hoped that little timber will be burn
ed in North Dakota where SO much better
and usually cheaper fuel can be secured. In
some localities it is sad to notice how
much wood is cut for fuel. Every tree
should be encouraged to grow. If tree cul-
ture were what it should be in North Da-
kota the good resulting would be of inesti-
mable value.
For gas and coke manufactures and for
smelling purposes only one or two of the
samples were well adapted. Sample No. Is
Turtle Mountain coal) seems quite well
suited to these uses.)
For heating locomotive boilers, much of
this coal might not be economical for
general use since it would, perhaps, be diff
fcult to arrange a locomotive CRATE, draft,
ETC., suited to other kinds of coal, which
would not waste the Ignite.
For general manufacturing and heating
purposes, in which most of the fuel Is used,
the coal of North Dakota is well adapted.
BY the use of native coal, hundreds of
thousands of dollars might be kept within
the state and encouragement given to the
development of an important resource.
The purity of a fuel is a very important
element in determining its value. A differ
ence of 2 or 8 per cent in the earthly mat
ter of two Goals may be the source of a
very serious difference in their final value.
North Dakota Goals are almost always very
free from earthly matter as seen from the
amount and character of their ash.
"Of all the substances of q hurtful kind
commonly to be found in Goals sulphur,
usually combined with iron forming min
utely disseminated sulphuret of iron, is by
far the most injurious. The proportions
in which it prevails IN different Goals are
various, many beds revealing scarcely a
trace, while others again contain as much
as 8 or 4 or even 6 per cent. of this dele
FERROUS constituent"
From the ANALYSES of Ohio Goals, pub
lished by Prot. Wormley, the average
amount of sulphur in Is samples was 2.04
per cent. Of the Goals of Great Britain, an
analysis made a few years since for the
British admiralty, the average amount of
sulphur in thirty-seven Welsh Goals was
LAT per cont; of twenty-eight from Ian
canshire, 1,42 per cent; eight Scotch Goals,
Las per cent.
It will be seen by reference to the ana
lysis of North Dakota Goals that the aver
2 is "a per cent. sulphur, while the low
est shows but lite more than a trace. This
remarkable freedom from sulphur is of no
small advantage to any coal.
Another important matter in the econo-
mics of coal is the character of the ash.
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