Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-06-21

money on useless prospecting, as IL
is to make valuable resources
known. Before the organization Of
the Nebraska survey over $4,000
was spent in the eastern half of that
state in prospecting for coal and
natural gas alone, and it is said that
the sum total thus spent through
the entire state in aimless prospect
ing did not fall much below $780,
900 annually. The geological sur
vey of many states have been the
means of saving thousands of dol
lars to citizens by telling them not
only where, but where not to look
for coal, gas, oil and other minerals.
In Iowa, for example, the survey
constantly receives inquiries as to
whether 1t would be worth while to
prospect for certain minerals in. GER
tain localities. The survey, know
ing definitely the areas and limits
of the rocks in which the mineral
occurs, can advise intelligently on
the subject, and in this. way prevent
the expenditure if great deal OF
money.
One of the most practical uses of
the survey is its educational value.
!, The most genuinely practical thing
in which everyone shares is the ed
ucation of the public schools. In
many of the schools of the state
photography and elementary geo.
logy are being taught, and it is inn
portant that the photography, tops
ography and geology of North Da-
kota receive especial attention, SO
that the student may become famil-
lar with his own state. 1t is the
aim of the geological survey to sup
ply in its report material which can
be used in these studies. The Third
Biennial report for instance, contains
4 papers on the topography and geo.
4 logical formations Of the region,
1 which were written part with a view
to their use in teaching. The sur
| vey has recently sent out seven hum
dred copies Of each of the Second,
Third and Fourth Biennial reports to
county superintendent of schools, SO
that they might distribute them
among the schools where they would
4 be Of most use. In education, then,
the state geological survey is a wor-
4 thy servant Of the state.
I 1t often seems to persons not in
timately acquainted with the sub
q ject, that In q state like North Da-
kota, which has no mineral wealth"
as the term is understood in the west
/ geological survey is superfuous.
i Such, however, is not the case. 1t
i is often said, and truly, that "a clay
bank on the Hudson is better than
] gold mine out west So it is
only proper to point out the immen-
sity of the production Of non-me-
talic products and compare it to the
production OF wealth. According to
Il the figures OF the United States geo
&. logical survey for 1906, the latest
4 available, the total non-metallic pro-
&. ducts amounted to $1,016.206,709.
il while the metallic production was
4 $886,110,856. That is, the non-me-
tallic production was nearly five
4. fourths as great as the metallic, and
4 exceeded the latter by over $780,
n 600, 900. a few Of the leading non.
Il metallic products may well be cited
!. here. Bituminous coal led with q
production Of $s81,162,115, while
\ pig-iron, the largest on the metallic
side, amounted to $500,700,000
]. Clay products to the amount Of $161
Il 032,722, were second In the non
q metallic column, and exceeded the
5 combined productions Of silver, gold
and zinc. Pennsylvania anthracite
d was third with $131,917.694; petro.
!. leum fourth. 92,444,735; stone
lsffth, $66,37S,794; cement sixth
I, $55,302,277; natural gas, $46.873,.
J, sS2 and sand $11,4s9,420. North Da
kOta Is s1ngularly rich IN non-meIal-
/ ic products. The extensive beds Of
/. Ignite In the western part Of the
!, state are well known. The United
I States geological survey shows a re
Gently issued map of the coal areas
], lof the United States; that Of the
!. state Of North Dakota has 500, O00..
], 900 900 tons Of coal, the largest
j quantity Of any state In the union
i Fuel Of this sort has been extensive
lily and proftably utilized in Europe
!. particularly in Germany. and will nc
), doubt very soon be used here also
{ to large extent. No other state has
4 AS much fine and high grade clay as
I has North Dakota, and this industry
is rapidly developing. Cement il
! also q prominent natural resource Of
this state. 1t has been worked to
some extent in the past by the Penn
! bina Portland Cement Co.. and will
l undoubtedly rapidly increase IN i'm
. portance with the completion Of their