The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1894-04-21
Coal And Tho 500.

Coal And Tho soo.
The news of the success of the lignitc
coal test In Minneapolis, and tllat of the
probable completion of the Bismarck e1
tension of the 500 this year, is good, pro
yidsd the latter materializes into fact, and
that the extension il built. This 500 OK.
tension, just now, III the light of Ignite
tests being made, connects itself quite
closely with the coal question:. From the
particulars Of the test Of lignis,7: II futnre
sale of North Dakota coal IN the Twin
City markets seem assured.
The test was under the personal super
vision of the com pany, and was at the re-
quest of the Jobbers' union and the Com
mercial club of St. Paul. The fires were
started at q. M, and for twelve hours
carefully weighed, so as to get accurate
statistics. The Ignite burned freely, and
If anything, seemed more combustible
than the bituminous coal, and feature of
the test was the fact that the combustion
caused practically no smoke. Another
good point was that the Ignite left but
about 3115 per cent. of ash, while the Penn
sylvania coal leaves from to 10 per cent
Now the 500 extension, as projected, will
open up to the eastern markets the Me-
Lean and Mercsr county coal fields, prob
ably as fine RS any, and perhaps finer
than in the state. The lack of develop
meat, of these fields, however, is due not
to any inferiority of coal, but to a lack of
facilities for its transportation to market.
The completion of the 500 extension will
remedy this difficulty, and once that the
work begins, and the development of the
Ignite coal intereits in the country through
which it will pass, will follow Immediately.
There is the whole state of South Dakota
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, tsat Jose
phus Plenty was induced to make the en-
deavor to transport the: Ignite in. baIgss
along the river to South Dakota points.
The originator and promoter of this
scheme, however, met with several serious
mlshaps-the last one being the total loss
of one of his barges, and the scheme was
given up temporarily. The abandonment
of this project leaves the coal demand in
South Dakota still unsupplied and the
completion of the Bismarck 500 means
wide market for coal and paying enter
prise for both the mine owners and the
road, to whom the freights received from
coal shipments would be an appreciably
great source of revenue.
Another recourse of the vicinity of the
Mercer county coal fields, is clay, of
which tho finest of fire brick can be burn
ed. Superintendent Miller of the brick
wards here last fall, made practical test
of the clay, and burned from it friedrich
which he pronounced an excellent article
in every way. 1t is to be seen readily that
the Missouri slope abounds in recourscs
other than fertility of soil, which only
waits development. 1t has coal veins,
which need only development and market
to make them source of revenue, beyond
even the dreaming enthusiasts. 1t has
clay for fre-brick, pronounced excellent
by an expert. What elese may be dis
covered as the country is developed, it
is difficult TO say. The completion of the
500 road through this region means more
5han Is generally supposed. and it is hoped
there may be foundation for the reports
that work is to obegin.-BismarckT Tribune.
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