The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-05
The Mineral Resources Of No. Dakota
Strong Convincing Article by Hon. W. G. Gbreat North
Dakota's Agriculture Commissioner.

luminous coal show 87.16 per cent of
fixed carbon and for. twenty-slx samples
Of dry bituminous coal from Pennsylva-
MIA, 67.97 per cent. From the stand
point of fixed carbon alone, the heating
power Of one ton of North Dakota lig-
West Virginia or Pennsylvania bitumin-
Gus coal. The geologist further states
that with respect to fixed carbon the
lignites Of North Dakota appear to be
equal to the coal of Iowa, Missouri and
Kansas.
In the analysis Of the sixty samples
Of Ignite cited above, the average
amount Of volatile matter, or, in other
words, gases, was 1858 per cent. It is
that produced such wonderful results
in the recent experiments with the new
gas engine. These experiments indi-
cate that by the use of the gas engine,
power can be obtained with North Da.
kota Ignite at one-half, the cost of
a much more rapid development Of man
| ufacturing industries of various kinds
all over the state, and especially in the
| immediate vicinity of the mines.
| Ignite is successfully used in most
| Of the Touring mills of the state, at
! two mills in particular of $50 and 500
barrel capacity, tests have shown the
| fuel cost of barrel Of -four to be AZ
cents. ;~--.-.
! Cheap and abundant fuel is an in
ducement honestly held out alike to the
| homeseeker and the capitalist seeking
investment in some manufacturing en-
| terprise. 49,.
More of the wheat crop of the state
could be advantageously made into
macaroni mill would find ardent sup
porters among the growers of this high
yielding variety Of wheat.
| Near Wil1iston, in the northwestern
part Of the state, board of govern.
ment engineers have united in recon-
mending to the secretary Of the in
project that will irrigate 125,00O acres
Of land. The water. for this purpose
will all be pumped from, the Missouri
| river by electric pumps, all operated
from central point, Ignite being used
entirely to operate the dynamos. It
will thus be seen what immense posi-
of a. goodly portion of North Dakota
which will be of untold value in de-
veloping the latent resources of the
entire state.
Mines have been opened in all sec
tions in the western part of the state
a large number just for the purpose OF
supplying the trade in that Immediate
V1CluICy. 49,. ~.
Mining Ignite has developed into 6
regular business at Burlington, K en-
: burn, Wilton and Williston, and from
these mines coal is shipped to all points
in the state. The largest mine is 10
Gated at Wilton, in Burleigh county
where the latest inventions in the way
of electrical apparatus for mining ar
all used This mine has daily ca
pacity at the present time of ! 200 tons
which could undoubtedly be increased
in a short time if occasion should re
quire. At the mine Ignite is wortl
from 81 to $1.40 ton, and is shipped
to any point in the state and sold t,
the consumer for not more than $685.
ton.
, Briquetting North Dakota Ignite ha
been much talked about, and many ex
periments are now in progress with al
the chances in favor Of successful
t briquetting plant. In the form o
r briquettes, Ignite will become yer,
popular, as it will be much easier t.
l handle by the consumer and its valu
l as a fuel much increased.
f w. G.. Gilbreath,
IL Commissioner of Agriculture.