The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-04-18
NO NEED TO WORRY
ABOUT FUEL SUPPLY
If Claims Made for New Gas
Developing Steam Engine :
Are True. N.
TO PROBE COAL DEPOSITS
GeoIosists Will Soon Begin Work Of
Surveying the Big Fields Of
the Rocky Mountain
Region.

Washington, ID. c.. Special: The
fuel problem OF this country has been
solved beyond possibility OF uncertainty
for some centuries to come, IL the
claims which are now advanced for the
gas developing steam engine are not
overstated The experts of the
geological survey. after months or thor
ough tests, are convinced that this en-
gine is capable Of producing three ana
one-half times as much power from
given weight OF coal as can be secured
under an ordinary steam boiler.
This is one OF the remarkable results
from the series OF fuel tests that nave
been conducted at st. Louis the last Two
or three years under direction or Or.
J. A. Holmes, of the survey. The
Holmes tests have aimed to determine
the fuel values OF different Goals, and
also to demonstrate the comparative
economies Of various methods OF apply
ing coal to production OF power.
Given New interests. .
The greatest fuel deposit in America
Is the immense area Of Ignite which
underlies the western two-fitths OF
North Dakota, the eastern third or
Montana. and great areas OF eastern
wyoming and northwestern South Da-
kota. This field has never been accur-
ately deliminated because 1t has been
regarded as OF small value. But the
demonstration OF the possibilities of lg-
mite, when properly used, has suddenly
givenit new and striking interest. Dr.
Holmes has proved that, properly used,
a ton of Ignite will produce two and
q half times as much power as a ton or
the best steamlng coal represents when
used under an ordinary steam boiler.
The steam coal, used in the gas-produc-
ing engine is worth three and one4half
times as much in units of power as
when used under boiler.
The gas producer is simply double en-
gine which combines the steam engine and
the gas motor. The fuel Is used in the or
binary way to provide steam; but the pro-
duct of combustion Is afterward drawn on
as gas, and used in gas motor where by
explosion produces a great deal more pow.
er than in the first phase. The apparatus
Is pronounced entirely practical and sue
cessful commercially.
Study the Deposits.
Thirteen parties OF geologists will begin
work in the next few weeks, accurately
surveying and studying the coal deposits
of the Rocky mountain region. Two of
these will work on the great Ignite field
OF the northwest, one In east central Wy
oming, one In the Rock Springs field Of
Wyoming, one in the Rawlings. Wyo.,
field, one In the district just south of the
Yellowstone Natioaal park two In central
Montana, TO the east OF Great Falls, one
in northern Colorado and Utah, one In the
Trinidad region of Colorado, one in north
western New Mexico, one southern Utah.
These parties are expected to cover about
1900 square miles OF coal lands each, maxi
ing a substantially complete scientific sur
vey; and when they are done the govern
ment will know for the first time what
the coal public domain is, where 1t is. and
how II may be made commercially avail
able. Following this work the lands will
be appraised and steps taken to assure
that they will not be sacrificed. ...a