The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-11
The Coal Shortage
and the Question
Of B||riquett|es.

It will not be necessary to recall to the minds Of
the people OF the Twin Cities and the Northwest
the scarcity Of Hard Coal last winter-as the sit
uation bids fair to impress another shortage on
the minds Of the consumers the price which they
We're compelled to pay for it nor the causes that
led to these conditions There is little doubt that
the conditions likely to be repeated this win
ter. and although prices may not be 50 high there
will undoubtedly be scarcity. This being the
case and liable to be the case any winter the ques-
ton has developed: Why should the Great North
west be dependent on the territory east Of it for
fuel when we have 1900 square miles In the
states OF North Dakota and Montana underlaid
with from 25 to 80 feet Of Ignite coal
Many will answer that question by saying that
Ignite is very Indifferent fuel that you have to
use twice as much of it as you do Of hard coal,
consequently it is no cheaper, it's propensity to
slack and become dust and dozen and other OBJ
Jectlons. These points are all admitted but all
easy to remedy also All that has to be done Is to
properly Briquette this same despised Ignite and
we have superior fuel to any that was or ever
will be mined anywhere in the world. The ques-
ton OF utilizing our home fuel is one that should
vitality interest everyone in the Northwest for it is
fact that every dollar expended for Eastern coal
SO much money placed beyond recall. while on
the contrary all money sent west will go toward
opening Mines. building Briquetting Factories.
| around which thriving towns and villages spring
up, which will be tributary for supplies to the
Twin Cities and will in short time amount to
millions of dollars and become one of the great
Industries of the Northwest, Those who invest
in this business are absolutely sure Of large profits
at once. and are laying the foundation for i'm
| mense fortunes. Conditions Of High Price
- :~ly~
| time. and in fact are here already.
The movement Of Coal through the 500 during
June was only $1,000 tons. when it should have
been 100000 and it is not expected that more than
$4,000 tons will pass up during July, with not a
pound on the docks at Duluth and Chicago dealers
offering premium over market prices for car.
goes. The prospect for any large amount at the
head of the Lakes is not very good. SO we should
| bestir ourselves and remember that Self preser.
walton is the first law Of nature It seems to us
that there should be no difficulty for Americans
to successfully accomplish what they have
been doing for the past 80 years
| throughout : Continental Europe Ignite
! Coal is Briquetted in Germany alone to the
extent Of 100000 tons per annunn, and VIII,
should not the great Northwest do the same
| American brains have solved the problem of sue
cessful process and the Northwest should have
| two or three Briquette Factories in operation b.
fall, which will only be starter, for feel con
fdent that the solution of the fuel question wi
never be settled for this region until such fac
tories are plentiful along the line of all railroad
traversing the immense Ignite Fields of tn
Dakotas and Montana and tributary to the Twil
Cities and that brains and capital will never res
until that condition is brought about
The pioneer concern in this field is the Inter
national Coal Briquette Company, which was in
; corporated few weeks ago by Minneapolis bust
ness men. They have already secured the patent
the fuel and have the machinery for capacty.o
1000 tons daily already built. They will also opel
ate their own coal mines and supply the binde
q and machinery to other manufacturers.