Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1894-04-20
COAL AND $40

The news of the success of the Ignite
coal test in Minneapolis, and that of the
probable completion of the Bismarck ex-
tension of the 500 this year, is good,
provided the latter materializes into
fact, and that the extension is built.
The 500 extension, just now, in the
light of the Ignite tests being made,
connects itself quite closely with the
coal question. From the particulars of
the test Of Ignite, the future sale of
North Dakota coal in Twin City markets
seems assured.
The test was under the personal su-
pervision of the company, and was at
the request of the Jobbers' union and
the Commercial club Of st. Paul. The
fires were started at 5 a. NJ, and for
twelve hours every pound Of coal and
water used was carefully weighed, so as
to get accurate statistics. The Ignite
burned freely and, if anything, seemed
more combustlble than the bltuminous
coal, and a feature of the test was the
Fact that the combustion caused practi-
cally no smoke. Another good point
was that the Ignite left but about 81
per cent. of ash, while the Pennsylvania
coal leaves from 7 to 10 per cent. Now
the 500 extension, as projected, will
open up to the eastern markets the Nc
Lean and Mercer county coal fields,
probably as fine as any, and perhaps
finer than in the state. The lack of de-
velopment, of these fields, however, is
due, not to any inferiority of coal, but to
a lack of facilities for it's transportation
to market. The completion Of the
500 extension will remedy this dit
fculty, and once that work begins,
and the development of the Ignite
coal interests in the country through
which it will pass, will follow
Immediately. There is the whole state
of South Dakota to be supplied with
fuel, and the residents of that state are
as eager for the North Dakota coal, as
the residents of the latter are to furnish.
In fact, SO promising was the market in
South Dakota, that Josephus Plenty was
induced to make the endeavor to trans
port the Ignite in barges along the
river to South Dakota points. The or
lglnator and promoter Of this scheme,
however, met with several serious mis-
haps-the last one being the total loss
OF one of his barges, and the scheme was
given up temporarily. The abandon
nent of this project leaves the coal de-
mand in South Dakota still uneupplied,
and the completion of the Bismarck ex-
tension of the 500, means a wide market
for coal and paying enterprise for both
the mine owners and the road, to whom
the freights received from coal ship
ments would be an appreciably great
source Of revenue,
Another resourc of the vicinity Of the
Mercer county coal fields, is a clay, of
which the finest of friedrich can be
burned. Superintendent Miller of the
brickyards here last fall, made a practl-
cal test of the clay, and burned from il
a fire brick which he pronounced an Ok
cellent article in every way. It is to be
seen readily that the Missouri slope
abounds in u other than fertility.
of soil, which only await development.
It has coal veins, which need only devel.
opment and market to make them a
source Of revenue. beyond sven the
dreaming of enthusiasts. It has a clay
for fire brick, pronounced excellent by
an expert. What else may be discovered
as the country is developed, it is difficult
to say. The completion OF the 500 road
through this region means moro than
is generally supposed, and it is hoped