St. Paul daily globe., 1893-09-20
AN EXCELLENT SUGGESTION
The Peat Beds of Minnesota
Should Be Utilized.

Ihe Peat Beds of MINI eSota
Should Be Utilized.
To the Editor of the Glohe
1t Is very singular that during the pre-
Vaiilng high prices Of coal and fuel in
the last years past.n attention has been
given to the immense peat beds existing
In different parts of the state of Mime
sofa. which would furnish cheap and
gooi supply of fuel if only rightly used,
and keep the money at home which is
now sent away in immense sums. in
stead OF furnishing employment for our
people at home.
Nothing struck me more fOrcibIy.
while in Europe last year. than the gen
eral use of peat as fuel i'll every portion
OF Europe, wherever the same is Oh
tainable.
There are many large and popnlous
districts, and cities as large as st. Paul
or inneapoiis. where not stick of
WOOD nor pound of coal is ever used,
peat being used exclusively, particulars
ly IN steam plants for manufacturing
purposes, and the absence of the dense
clouds of black smoke caused by the
use of soft coal in this country was very
striking. What is still more astonish-
ing is that it is being used on locomo-
tives in some parts of Europe, aud that
too. without being compressed. [ IN
qulred with some of the fremen and
tralnmen how they liked it, and thew
replied that it did we'll enough for
ordinary use, excepting fast trains or
haaUU frlirht -
large tenders to carry it. In general
use it is cut without being compressed
and dried in the open air, which often
is much more difficult than ii would be
in Minnesota on account of the climate
In Europe being generally much more
damp than here, where it could be dried
quicker and easier,
In compressed shape it can be found
in different forms. quite large pieces;
moulded In different shapes. being used
in steam plants. and smaller shapes
pressed into oblong form, or of the size
and form of an egg, which are used in
place of hard coal in stoves like our
self-feederS. anu are said to work salts
factorilY
1t is singular that with the bountifnI
supply which exists here of this ma
terial. and the advantages of our eli
mate for drying it, no more of an effort
should have been maze to utilize it.
A good many years ago some parties
tried to compress peat near this CITY:
whether it failed because people did not
know its value, and thus left the ey-
pensive machinery without a market
for Its product, | do not know, but pre-
sumo that such was the case.
While it is difficult TO introduce a
new thing or something not sufficiently
known, at the expense OF a heavy out
lay, 1t would be very easy matter for
people to provide themselves with fuel
by simply cutting it and drying it with
out compresSing it, and without the use
OF machinery or extra tools, which can
be provided when people once have
gotten used to it. and then reduce the
expense OF obtaining it still more.
Many iaborer without employment
could easily obtain long winter supply
himself, and in many localities it would
furnish an ineXtalstible supply almost
at the door of large manufacturing
plants now sending heavy sums of
money East for soft coal, that would
employ good many at home
The different kinds of tools used In
different countries, as well as the ma
chinery used in cutting or In compress
Ing the peat, are very interesting and
have been perfected to high degree,
but having given the detail of the
matter only a passing attention while in
Europe, had not observed the ma
chinery used as closely as | now wish
that / had done.
The results SO far are fully satisfac-
tory and have exceeded expectations.
There is no reason why there should
not be great saving in many localities
where 1t can be used to advantage.
GEORGE REFS.