The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-06-25
PEAT AS A FUEL AUXILIARY
Uncle Sam is Making Extensiv. In.
vestigations.

Washington, ID. G.. June 25.-
Peat boys in northern Iowa, the east
ern Dakotas and a score of other
states can supply sufficient fuel to
operate the light, heat and power
plants of the cities and towns in
those states, according to an invests
cation that has just been completed
by the United States geological sur
vey. Government experts estimate
the value of the peat deposits in
these states at more than 8,O0O,-
0O0,000.more money than is in
vested in all the property, stock,
implements and buildings owned by
the farmers of the United States
and yet the use of peat as a fuel
In this country is but little known
except in a few localities.
With the coal supply being used
at a tremendous rate, the govern
ment experts expect peat to become
a most important auxiliary fuel,
which will aid in the conservation
of the coal supply itself. The states
containing the greatest amount of
peat in addition to Iowa and the
Dakotas are Minnesota, Wisconsin,
Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio,
New York, the New England states,
New Jersey, parts of Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia and Florida, where the mil
lions of dollars worth of this fuel
lies ~undeyeloped as yet in swamps
and boys.
Peat boys as a rule are found in
regions far removed from coal
fields. It's value now is estimated
by the geological experts at SO a
ton, and 1t is equal as a fuel to the
lower grades of soft coal. The de-
velopment of the peat deposits near
tn ose towns and cities now distant
from coal mines will result in their
obtaining fuel for manufacturing
purposes on IN equal basis with
towns in the mining districts. This
is expected to result in a great boom
to the industries of the peat dis
tricts.
The geological survey is now un-
dertaking a thorough investigation
of the peat resources of the country
not only as to the amount of peat
and its location, but also as to its
uses. The burning of peat for pow.
er, heat or light is but one of its
many uses, according to Prof
Charles A. Davis, of the technologit
branch, who has charge of the in.
vestigations. The by-products OF
great value in crude coke, illumin.
ating oils, lubricating oils, parafin
wax, phenol, asphalt, wood alcohol
acetic acid, ammonium sulphate
and combustible gases of good fue,
value.
II used for fuel gas there is enough
nitrogen stored in the peat resources
of the country to supply 644, OOO,.
600 tons, with a value of $4,000.
100000 in addition to the gas. Peat
is capable Of furnishing potential
substitutes for wood in various de.
partments of industry, and may re.
lieve to a considerable extent the
drain upon the vanishing forests
Paper is now being made from peat
in Michigan. Possibly S per cent
of the total peat in the United States
or 644,40O, 900 tons, is suitable fol-
the manufacture Of coarse paper
and pasteboard. which will reduce
the consumption of wood by what.
ever amount it displaces wood pulr
in the manufacture of such articles
Another development in the line
Of peat industry" says Prof, Rob.
ert HI. Fernald, consulting engineer
In charge of gas producer tests fol
the government, sis the use OF peat
in by7product recovery gas plants
which promises splendid returns.
From these plants both gas for pow.
er and sulphate of ammonia can be
obtained in commercially paying
quantities. Both the utilization Of
peat for producer Of gas and for the
recovery of su1phate of ammonia
are perfectly feasible with American
peat"
The operation of a gas engine
at the experiment plant on peat II
oae or two tests has shown that this
fuel Is but little inferior to many
grades OF soft coal now on the
market, and superior to some in the
Quantity of power gas produced
reports Prof. Davis. i believe the
day Is coming soon when cities 10
Gated a theapeat boys and away
from the coal fields will obtain thei1