Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1904-04-29
THE VALUE or Ignite.

THE VALUE or LlaNlTE.. i.
Fuel Value Of Ignite Coal 10 Coming
~. 1.: to be Recognized. :.:& a.sg
Quite frequently nowadays q promi-
hence is given to the native coal Of
this state in the metropolitan papers
Sof the east and editorials are written
calling attention to the value such VI
fuel is to an inland and agricultural
state like North Dakota. In these ar
ticles it is generally admitted that the
use of the coal has long passed its ex-
perimental stage and is admitted as q
practical fuel. On the editorial page
of last Sundays New York Sun, dis
tinctive recognition of the Importance
of the subject was the following arti-
Gle, under the caption ''Mgnite the
New Fuel. If it can be made into
bricks it may solve the fuel question"
"A fortune is in store for the man
who will invent some way Of briQuet-
ting Ignite. Northwestern railroad
men are deeply interested, for success
would mean the opening Of vast mines
in their territory. If the experiments
now being conducted with q view to
briquetting this coal prove successful,
it is possible the entire fuel problem
will be revolutionized. North Dakota
has supply of this fuel so vast that
under universal consumption it would
serve hundreds Of years, for the
amount is practically limitless. It has
been largely used by settlers, and has
proved veritable boon on the treeless
plains. .b.Ss.. Il
Though Ignite has not always
given satisfaction, on account Of It's
rapid consumption and tendency to
clog fues, fireboxes have recently been
constructed especially for it and loco
natives have been designed for its
use. "a, * s*s ID. IS; :, =. - : .-
with the ordinary engine the lig-
mite produces too many sparks. endan-
gering crops and property, but it is
hoped to avoid this in the new locomo.
tives. Some experimenters with the
fuel declare 1t will not be necessary
to use a binder in making a satisfac-
tory fuel. but those most interested
contend that some binders, perhaps
similar to that used for briquetting in
Germany will be needed.
Zone trouble with Ignite Is its damp
ness and another Is that the air makes
rapid consumption; but, mixed with
some slowly burning substance, and
pressed into briquettes by powerful
machinery, these failings may be done
away with. This expels the moisture
and checks the tendency to slack. !
"vast quantities of this coal are
found near Bismarck, N. D., and mines
near the town are opened up SO that
more than 1000 tons day are taken
out. It is almost the only kind of fuel
used there and its consumption in
Fargo and nearby towns is enormous
'The method of mining is unique
Usually the mines are entered by
means Of drift which taps the veir
of coal at depth of orty to fifty feet
This Is done in sections SO that thu
whole mine is a series of galleries
divided by coal partitions. Later
these are removed and blasting ant
electricity, enormous chunks Of Goa
are blown down. These are cartet
:. away after the miners have broker
them and put them in the receivin1
cars. Immense chutes carry the Liz
mite to the cars which are waiting OF
the tracks and SO expert is the Who'll,
process, even at this initial stage, tina
, the raw material costs only 40 cent.
or Whereabouts a ton"
WHAT DEMOCRATS ARE DOING.
L , 'i;e,.s ~ z = 49, 55s-
} North Dakota Democrats for Hearst
Some Suggestions for Governor.
A correspondent who claims to b,
} on the inside" of democratic counsel
| writes: = ,f- E>f&s =. '~.. 1t :
4 'The democrats Of this state ar,