The Dickinson press., 1903-12-05
About Briuuettes,

When are we to have some North
Dakota briquette factories, in accordance
with promises made to us for several
years past? The proprietors of the
mines at Wilton have studied the sub
ject from a practical and scientific
stand point, and presumably have come
to the conclusion that the proper machin-
cry is not yet available for them. We
see in the papers advertisements of
other parties, seeking. purchasers OF
stock in a briquetting plant, with head
quarters at Fargo. The promoters OF
this affair profess to own a large quanti-
ty of coal lands near Belfeld, and they
say that when they make their %briquettes
the product will be nearly equal to an.
tharcite or hard coal. The advertise
msnt tells the usual story about common
and preferred stock, non-accumulative
dividends and such things as usually
appear in these advertisements. But
the conservative reader is naturally
rather cautious, and dubious as to
whether or not the company is going to
do what it processes. The manager of
the Consolidated Coal Company which
operates at New Salem and Lehigh, in a
recent interview states that the time is
not vet ripe for briquette manufacturing
in this section of the country.
The consular department of this coun-
try has done a great deal to furnish in
formation to those interested, on the
briquette question. The Pioneer re-
ceived recently from Washington a
special consular report on the sub ect OF
briquettes, containing I55 pages, in
which very full details are given as to
the machinery used in the manufacture
of briquettes, prices Q: the product and
much information Of value. This in
formation has been gathered by U. S.
consuls at the chief cities in the CONT
nent. The traveller on the European
continent sees in some localities, yer y
little fuel other than briquettes, both in
private homes, hotels and on locomo-
tives. In such cities as Amsterdam one
sees but little fuel being hauled on
wagon or canal boats, besides %briquettes,
and these all come from either Belgium
or Germany, as there is no coal mined
in Holland.
The briquettes made in Magdeburg,
Germany, are, perhaps more like those
that would be produced from North
Dakota Ignite, than those made any
where else. The report from the consul
at Magdeburg, is therefore of c~onsidera.
BILE interest to US. 1t is interesting to
note from these reports, that in the
n~eighborhood of the German Ignite
mines, or in those localities that are
reached from the mines by cheap water
transportation, the Ignite is used as j,
comes from the mines, and not in the
form OF brlquettes. In other words
briqusttss are only used at some distance
from the mines, where the fuel has to be
handled several times before delivery tc
the coal bins, as only in such cases are
briquettes regarded as being economical
to use.
The prevailing price of briquttes a,
Magdeburg is from S2.I5 to 81 rs pei
ton, n the indications are that the
quality is about the same as would pre-
vail in this locality, if our North Dakot,
Ignite is used. The consul at Mayence
states that the heating value Of bri
queries IS from 10 to IS per cent greater
than that of the coal from which tht
briquettes are made" This statemen,
10 hardly in accord with the statement.
made by the northwestern promoters o
briquette companies. who are seeking t,
sell their stock to the public.
b Eureka Coal Company at Farp,
80 ayear or two late in exploiting itsel
upon the public. The time for sellin,
air laden and water logged stocks ha'
passed for . season. The enterprisin,
gentlemen who want Il sell some stool
for the purpose Of Installing a briquett
Ing plant are up against a hard winte
proportion. Gentlemen whs wish t,
lose their money better 60 against tn,
bucket shop game, and they will at leas
have q little fun for the money the,
~spend.-Wahpeton Globe. !