Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1900-10-05
VALUE OF COAL.
Col. E. L. Crow Sees in Ignite Fields
Vast Sources of Wealth
for the Slope.
Capital Becoming Interested in the
Development of the Ignite
Mines Near Here.
A Few Years, He Says, Will See the
General Use of Ignite in
the Northwest.

"The value of the Ignite coal depos-
it's on the Missouri slope is just COM
ing to be realized" said E. L. Craw oil
Grand Rapids, Mich, who came down
from the north yesterday. Il have
just looked over the coal fields with
A. c. Stewart and Mr.. Leiferman of
the Monarch Elevator company and Il
they can make satisfactory terms they
will use $4,000 tons of the coal annu-
ally. These gentlemen came out at
their own expense to look ove the coal
fields. That they think enough of the
coal to consider the matter of contract
ing for enough for their needs is pretty
good evidence that the coal is all right.
This is only a step. Other concerns
will become interested. The imme-
diate future of the coal business in this
section is assured except for one thing,
railroad rates. AS soon as these are
obtained, 4 will ship a trial carload of
coal to Grand Rapids, Mich. have
no doubt that it will be extensively
used there after it has been intro
duced. The same is true of St. Paul
and Minneapolis. All needed is a
fair rate on the railroads.
There has always been a prejudice
against Ignite coal, fostered by rail-
roads, eastern coal barons and capt.
talists interested in the eastern coal
fields. The development of the lig-
mite fields means SO much money taken
from the eastern coal mine owners.
But the use of Ignite is coming Just
the same. The present strike is hav.
ing it's effects. People of the west
will not always consent to be at the
mercy of eastern coal region disturb
ances.
Look at the value of the coal fields
of the Missouri slope. On a quarter
section otland belonging to General
Washburn there are, it is estimated,
3,NOO,NOO tons of coal. What does
that mean in money to the Missouri
slope, when fifty cents a ton is paid
for mining it, ten cents a ton for roy
atty, forty or fifty cents a ton for haul
ing and say, a dollar a ton for the
coal, net. 1t means that a quarter Of
a section of coal land is worth mil
lions to the country. 1t is an indus
try that isn't dependent upon the
weather. Wet or dry, the income
from it Is assured. 1t is safe to say
that in a few years, there will be little
If any coal shipped into North Dakota.
Instead of that, North Dakota will be
shipping coal out. Then there will
be a steady source of income to the
slope country. Capital, which is al
ways the last thing to follow, will in
terest itself and the Missouri slope
will have a source of wealth greater
than it ever dreamed OF. Think OF
buying coal land, such IS there is in
this section, for IS an acre, when in a
few years, and not very many either,
it will be worth hundreds.
These gentlemen who came out to
look over the coal fields are not vast
ing their time in something in which
they have no confidence. They are
busy men, but not too busy to see a
good thing and they believe the coal
fields OF the slope to be richer than is
dreamed of here"
Mr.. Craw left for the east yesterday
afternoon and will return to the city
before long.