Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-09

uuN = ayhtemaNc etfort mas been roiuR
on 20 stop these drains on the future
prosperity OF the country.
The United states geoIoeicai survey has
been sr important factor In this move
ment for many year. and while it, work
has been 70 a certain extent altruistic
In that the immense benefits will come
20 the generations OF the future. Il hes
already saved millions OF dollars worth
Of resources FOR the people OF today. The
surveys geologic and topographic work
have resulted In an inventory OF ' the
natural resources. a stock-taking such as
a prudent manufacturer takes once a
year. This has disclosed the waste that
has been going on n led directly to tha
conferences Of the governors. The study
ana classification OF the coal deposits Of
the United statcs. and especially those
on the public domain. have established
the value OF these Goals and have pre-
vented the ~thouehtIess disposal OF the
so.o0o.o 900 acres Of government coal
lands. The values Of the mineral de.
positt on government land have been ap-
prcximated 20 such IN extent that IL Will
now be impossible to dispose Of them
without setting a fair return.
Whi1o there have been many immediate
benefits from the topographic work and a
study Of the water resources OF the coun-
try. their value TO the people will be many
FOLD greater In the near future. without
an accurate topographic survey Of the land
and water the contemplated Improvement
OF the waterways. the drainage OF swamps
and the great IRRIGATION projects would be
impossible. The work already done along
these lines will push these big improve-
ments forward several years and result in
the saving Of much money.
U~tIIination OF Fuels.
In its endeavors to check the great waste
Of the natural resources the survey q few
years ago extended It's field by taking up
the subject Of the utilization Of the fuels
Of the country, and 20 fruitful have been
these Investigations that there is every
promise OF a saving OF millions Of dollars
within a short period. These Investigations
appeal directly to the manufacturer. the
business man and the consumer. for they
show him how TO realize Immediate econo-
mies he never dreamed Of before.
Authorized to test the fuels owned by
or for the use OF the government itself. the
survey has made q number OF discoveries
Of the greatest Importance TO the entire
people. At the governments fuel testing
plant II has been shown that the gas engine
Il capable 81 senerasiAg from two and a
tNaA " AnAte tttuEa - muCn power. USING
= given amount Of coal. as can be obtained
from a steam engine. This means. It ia
declared, that a 60O-horse power gas engine
viii save 5000 a year Ia its coal bill over
the same power steam engine ana that the
saving on q s.Ooo-horse power gas engine
ought TO amount to $1,000 a year.
The gas engine has also opened the way
for the use of millions Of tons OF low grade
fuel. much Of which hae heretofore been
thrown away ae useless. The tests have
shown that Goals, practically valueless
under steam boilers because of their high
percentages OF impurities, nave generated
sufficient power In the sas engine to render
them Of high commercial value. Goals az
high In ash as IS per cent have been used
SUCCESSFULLY in the gas engine.
In the west, where the supply Of high
grade coal Is inadequate. the low grade
lignites (fhe poorest form Of coaD Of North
Dakota developed as much power wher
converted into producer gas as did tht
best West Virginia bltuminous Goals wher
used under the boiler of q steam engine.
To the west this discovery OF the govern.
ment scientists IL OF the utmost Importance
1t makes possible the Introduction OF oheaI
power and therefore the establishment Of
an Industrial empire OF Immense proper
tons. There are many miilions Of acre,
OF lignites In the westauan almost mex
lhAustinle supply OF fuel that has so IA
been practically useless. Tie people beint
compelled 70 send 9 great distance for theii
coal and pay Biz freight charges on whaI
thew ala use. ~
weshine ana coHsfng Coal.
At the government fuel-testing plant a
Denver. Colo, Investigations into the wash
ing ana cokine Of coal have been carries
on for a yesr with much success. In tn
pashery plant. It has been shown tina
coels we're greatly improved BY washing a
the nominal cost Of from Q to 10 cents
ton. In recent experiments. the experts
have succeeded in making coke out O
several Goals that have been regarded a
noneokine. OF thirty-seven samples testee
from the Rocky mountain region. all bu
three produced good coke. though a mum
Der OF these were considered noncokinl
GOALS. When the metaliurgicai interests o
the west are noted. the Importance OF tses'
t-..mat-.At~Aa ..uf =. -x.tt44l