The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-11-13
BR|QUETT[D L|CN|Tt
A FINE FUEL
HISTORY OF THE NEW PROCESS
AND IT'S AVAILABILITY TO
LOCAL CONDITIONS.

Win d committee from the boOSleT
club looking into the proposition of
briquetted coal. with view to
locating a manufacturing plant in
the vicinity of Missoula in the near
future. the subject is of interest to
every citizen in the state and to Mis-
soula especially; not only from the
standpoint of economical fuel. but
looking to the development of our ma
tural resources that naturally will in
crease our population and greatly en-
nance our revenue and otherwise
keep at home the vast volumes of
money that annually are poured into
the east.
The briquetting of coal is not a
new field of endeavor by any means.
but dates back for more than 40 years
in European countries and today the
consumption of briquetted fuel repre-
sents SO per cent of the coal con-
sumed in Europe.
The idea of manufactured fuel
originated in France many years be-
fore it was brought into prominence in
that country as staple product.
Other countries rapidly fell into line
and are increasing their production
year by year until it Is recognized as
an article as staple as its sugar and
wheat
Briquetted fuel is pushed ahead in
Europe because of necessity; those
countries having an abundance of in
ferior fuel were compelled to seek a
satisfactory article elsewhere. until
briquett was obtained by process
that would be cheap and at the same
time prove satisfactory fuel
But in this country conditions have
been different. and from the fact that
we We're blessed with an abundance
of good coal in its natural state. we
had no need to bother our heads over
the manufactured article: hence it's
growth has not been SO rapid.
Conditions are such in western
Montana that the people are compel
led to relieve the burden of high
priced fuel. and il is no wonder that
they turn to the hriquetting of their
low-grade fuel as their deliverer.
That there is an abundance of this
fuel in western Montana is amply
proved, and coal is found in as many
as 20 places within radius of SO
miles of Missoula.
This coal is of low grade. yet. when
uSSu DIS IL CblItS* from the
throws off n high heat value. but
owing to II being high in ash and the
fact that 1t crumbles from exposure,
it. in its raw state is not desirable
fuel. but here steps in the manufac-
tured article and does what it takes
nature years to accomplish. and never
could be accomplished in Ignite. in
single operation.
The raw coal as II comes from the
mine is first broken un and washed
taking out the foreign matter such
as clay and slate. greatly reducing the
amount of ash, then 1t is pulverized
very fine. and in this state. it is ready
for the process of briquetting.
This is accomplished by mixing
suitable binding element with the pull
verified coal and heated to n degree
that the binder IL flexible when 1t
passes to powerful presses and mould
ed into various sizes and shapes to
meet the market requirements.
Each class is uniform and free from
dust and Is practically smokeless. This
latter feature is of untold value in
cities looking to cleaner and healthier
conditions since consular reports show
that in Berlin the decrease of 9s per
cent of pulmonary troubles that is at
tributed to the general use of briquetts
in that city.
The government has tested the
merits of briquetted fuel over the coal
in its natural state and on the torpedo
boat Fern the results are marvellous |
showing greater efficiency in the boil |
ers and capable of increasing the /
speed of vessels from one to two knots /
per hour One can readily see the |
value of this to our great ocean liners |
Not only by using briquetts greater +
amount of coal can be taken into the |
ships bunkers than with the raw
material
When our battleships left for their /
memorable cruise around the world. |
the Connecticut was supplied with !
briquetts while the remainder of the t
fleet was supplied with Hocing Valley t
coal. and as they steamed from the /
harbor at Norfolk. miles of black /
smoke rolled from the tunnels of the /
fleet. only a thin. white yapor was
observable from the Connecticut
That the briauetting industry has /
arrived and come to stay is evil /
denced by the fact that demon
strating plant has been erected at
Drummond and demonstrations made +
in the presence of representative bust
ness men. who after witnessing the i
demonstrations became identified with i
1t in a financial way. and. by the end
of few months We will have a full
fledged briquett plant at our doors |
and anything chat upon investigation
has merit as has the briquettins in /
dustry) that can be done to bring such |
a plant to Missoula should receive the t
encouragement of Missoulians as
propositions of manufacturing ma
ture will be sure to reach towards 50.- /
600. the first stake To the goal OF all 1
Missoula.