The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1907-08-02
IIGNITE AS A
GAS PRODUCER
sas VIII Revomtionize Industry and
Open Northwest Coal Fields.

Experiments covering over Jnfee
years, undertaken by the United
States geological survey. have re-
suited in the announcement that
The Ignite and other low grade
J. GOALS of the west and northwest
will be available for all purpose Of
industrial activity through the de-
yelopment of the internal-combus-
tion gas power engine, which has
seen pushed on the American
market only within the last few
years.
Statements made by members Of
the geological survey regarding the
future of the gas engine contain
some remarkable facts. It is
claimed that the steam engine will,
within a few years, actually be re-
legated to the 'junk pile" as a
producer of energy for modern
commercial purposes, and that the
internal-combustion motor, as it is
know, the outgrowth Of the ex-
perimental gas engines, of a few
years ago,will speedily take the
place Of the steam engine, where
ever economy Of power production
is sought.
Experiments made by the gov
ernment have demonstrated that
the internal : combustion engine
will produce from two o three
times, as much power with given
amount Of coal as will the steam
engine. Fully'as important. how
ever, is the fact that the gas pro-
aucer will generate twice as much
power from the low grade Goals as
win actually produce commercial
power from Ignite coal, when the
latter is of a quality as will do no
work whatever under the steam
boiler.
In common with other depart
ments of the government engaged
in experimental work, the geolegi-
calssurvey has promptly computed
the saving to result to the ma
ton through the development of
the gas producer as an economic
force. 1t is estimated that the ma
tons coal bill W II be reduced
from $lo0Oop,O4o to s2oo,o0o,ooo
In 1905 Is country used coal
valued at 00,O00,O00 and fully
one-third of this, or $5O0,OO0,O00,
was used to produce8p power.
Manufacturing interest in the
United States have been watching
the experiments of the government
with the greatest interest, and
rendering all possible assistance
through the use of private plants,
and experiment with various grades
Of 6 al The Ignite and other low
grades of Goals Of the northwest
and middle west have been expert
mented with at great length and
the results indicate revolution in
the production Of power for COM
mercfal enterprises, particularly
those located adjacent to- the low
grade coal fields.
Experiments have been carried
on for three years at the fuel test
ing plant erected by the techno-
logic branch Of the geological sur
vey at st. Louis. The plant is
now being moved to Norfolk, Va,
4 whore the experiments will be con-
! tiued.
In the reports Of the experiments
carried on it is claimed that it has
been show that from a ton of coal
sossumed in an ordinary manufac-
turing plant less than 5 per cent Of
the tot i energy is availatl lie for the
actual work Of manufacturing. In
locomotive engines, only from 3 TO
IS per cent Of the fuel energy is
obtained for pulling the train.
This enormous loss Of energy
through the waste Of the gasses re-
leased from the coal has been the
subject Of greet study + is
olaiimed that the development Of