The Washington herald., 1909-07-18
MAY UTILIZE PEAT
FOR CHEAP FUEL
Government Studies Prob
lem and Gathers Data.
THE PLAN APPEARS FEASIBLE
Large Deposits Occur In Many states
Capable OF Furnishing Heat to
Power Generating PIants-Experi-
ment VIII be Tried Near Jackson
Vile, FIa.-PossibiIities Set Forth.

A number Of cities and towns in IN
United States may obtain their light
heat. and power direct from peat boss q
the near future. The statement Is mad
by Federal experts that millions Of dol
lars worth Of fuel lies undeveloped in tn
swamps and bogs OF the country, await
ing only the genius and business abilitl
OF the American before it drives th
wheels Of progress.
It's value, on a basis Of 50 a ton. roughly
lgressed at by experts of the Geological
Survey, who have been studying the pea
deposits for some time, is more thar
S2s, 10000 ooO-more money than is repre-
sented in all the property, stock, nipple
ments, and buildings owned by the farm
ers Of the United States
With the coal supply being used at a
tremendous rate, peat Is expected to be-
! comea most important auxiliary fuel. and
one that win prolong the life OF the coal
An important fact which leads the ex-
] perts 10 believe that peat VIII soon come
into quite general use in certain parts OF
the country IS that II is as a rule found
/ in quantities IN regions far removed from
the coal fields. so far that the cost OF
Transporting the coal amounts to several
times the cost OF the fuel az the mines.
Where Peat Exists.
The States containing the greatest
amount Of peat are the Dakotas. Mime
sofa. Wisconsin, Michigan. Iowa. Illinois,
Indiana. Ohio. New York. the New Eng
land States. New Jersey, Virginia. North
and South Carolina. Georgia. and Florida.
A thorough investigation Of the peat
resources is now being undertaken by the
Geological Survey, not only as 10 the
amount Of peat and its location, but also
its uses.
Prof Charles a. Davis. Of the techno-
logic branch. has general charge Of the
Investigations. while Prof Robert II. Fer
naId. consulting engineer in charge OF
Eas-produCer tests. is cndcavOrinE 20 find
the value OF peat as a fuel Tor heating
and power purposes The latter but re-
Gently returned from a trip 20 Europe
where he investigated the uses % peat.
and found the older countries much
farther advanced along this line than the
United States
Prof. Fernald returns with the belief
that peat win soon be extensively used In
the United States In ireland he found
that peat was being used generally for
domestic purposes. but not by the manu-
featuring establishments.
Sweeden Has Peat Beds.
sweden is dotted with peat deposits
and its bogs are now being extensively
utilized for power purposes" says Prof
Fernald.. During the last eight years
new bogs have been constantly ADDED 10
the list until bogs producing from 2009
to 5000 tons Of dry peat for power pur-
poses per annum are found on every
hand The consulting engineers who
have installed some OF these plants are
unquesuonably working In the right di-
rection. placing the power plant directly
in the peat bog and transmitting the cleo
trio current 10 the surrounding towns.
The current is being used for manufac-
turing purposes and also for lighting both
the streets and houses.
The installation of the power plant In
the bog or at the mine has been advocat-
ed in this country by the technOl0gfc
branch Of the survey for installation Of
several thousand horsepower only, vet
this principle is applied IN Sweden to
small plants and may be feasible in GER
tain parts OF this country.
A. Subsidiary Fuel.
Another development in the line Of
peat industry which promises splendid
returns IS the use Of peat in bi-product
recovery gas plants From these plants
both gas for power and sulphate Of am
nonia can be obtained in commercially /
paying quantities. Both the utilization
'f peat for producer gas and for the re- I.
Of
ectly feasible with American peats. Al I
though the work done on peat al the sur 4
-ey experiment plant has been limited. IL /
has been demonstrated that gas FOR pow
r can be made easily from both Florida
md Massachusetts peat"
Prof. Davis. who has Just issued Jointly 4
With Edison A Bastin a bulletin on peat.
S optimistic on the future Of peat. yet he
believes the development OF the Industry
houid be accompanied by great caution.
The operation Of a gas engine at the
Experiment plant on peat in one or two
esrs has shown that this fuel Is but little
Inferior 10 many grades OF soft coal now
N the market, and superior 70 some In
ne quantity OF power gas produced -
avs Prof. Davis. 7 believe the dav is
oming soon when cities located near the
eat bogs and away from the coal fields
7ill obtain their power and light from
eat. understand that Florida is 10
ave power plant soon that will use
eat as fuel and VIII transmit the cleo
ricity TO Jacksonville.
Must BE Dried First.
In the development OF this industry II
lust be remembered that peat contains
rom S to 80 per cent water as It comes
rom the bogs. All but 10 or % per cent
an be dried out by exposure Of the peat
the air. In burning peat in gas pro-
ucers to make power gas this peat win
urn successfully with 40 per cent moist
re. which is impossible in a furnace.
The burning OF peat for power. heat.
: light IS but one Of its many uses. The
i-products Of great value include coke. z
Eliminating oils. lubricating oils. parafin 4 d
AK phenol. asphalt, wood alcohol. acetic !.
I'd, ammonium sulphate, and combus-
bic gases Of good fuel value IF used for
el gas, there Is enough nitrogen stored T
the peat resources Of the country TO +
apply 64A000000 tons, with a value OF /,
io0o.0oOoo0 in addition to the gas.
Peat is capable Of FURNISHING pofentisl :,
bstitutes for wood in various depart-
ents Of Industry and may relieve 10 a =,
extent the drain upoD the =
lnishing forests. Paper IS now being :,
lde from peat in Michigan. Possibly 5 ;.
r cent Of the total peat IN the United i
ates. or ST. 10000 tons. Is suitable for =
e manufacture Of coarse paper and y
stebosrd. which viii reduce the con-
mption Of wood by whatever amount #
iplaees wood pulp IN the manufacture
such articles"
- b
Increases Tax Rate. T
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