The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-08-20
PEAT MAY FURNISH
LIGHT, HtAT,POWER
Plants Will Supply Many Cities
OF Country by transmits
sion From Boys
VaIue Of Deposits in the United
States Estimated at Thirty
eight Billion Dollars

number of cities and towns in
the United States may obtain
their. light, heat and power di-
rect from peat bogs in the near
future. The statement is. made by
federal experts that millions of dol
lars worth of fuel lies undeveloped in
the swamps and bogs of the country,
awaiting only the genius and business
ability of the American before it drives
the wheels of progress. It's value, on
basis of So ton, roughly guessed
at by experts of the geological survey,
is more than $4,000, 900, OO0-more
money than is represented in all the
property, stock, implements and build
ings owned by the farmers of the
United States
An important fact which Leads the
experts to believe that peat will soon
come into quite general use in GER
tain parts of the country is that it 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 itself at the mines.
Inc States lnC sICdICSS
quality of peat are the Dakotas. Min
nesota, Wisconsin,. Michigan. northern
Iowa, Illinois, Indiana. Ohio, New
York, the New England states, New
Jersey, portions of 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 to
the amount of peat and its location,
but also it's use. Prof. Charles A.
Davis of the technical branch has gem
lseral charge OF the Investigations,
while Prof Robert H FernaId con-
suIting engineer in charge of gas pro-
Queer tests, is endeavoring to find the
value of peat as a fuel for heating
and power purposes The latter but
recently returned from trip to
Europe, where he investigated the
uses of peat and found the older
countries much farther advanced
along this line than the United States.
In ireland he found that peat was
being generally used for domestic pur-
poses but not by the manufacturing
establishments. Sweden is dotted with
peat deposits and its bogs are now
being extensively utilized for power
purposes" says Professor Fernald.
During the last eight years new
Dogs have been constantly added TO
the list until bogs producing from
1000 to 5000 tons of dry peat for
power purposes a year are found on
every hand. The consulting engineers
who have installed some of these
plants are unquestionably working in
the right direction, placing the. power
plant directly in the peat bog and
transmitting the electric current TO
the surrounding towns.
Law n the line of
bpeat industry which promises SPLEEN
did returns is the use of peat in by
product recovery gas plants. From
these plants both gas for power and
sulphate of ammonia can be obtained
in commercially paying quantities"
Professor Davis. who has just issued
Jointly with Edison A Basin a bulle-
tin on peat, is optimistic on the future
of peat, yet he believes the develop
ment of the industry should be accom-
panied by great caution.
The operation of gas engine at
the experiment plant on peat in one
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" says Professor
Davis.
| Il believe the day is coming soon
|
when cities located near the peat boys
and away from the coal fields will OBJ
tain their power and light from peat
| | understand that Florida is to have
| a power plant soon that will use peat
as fuel and will transmit the cleo
tricity to Jacksonville.
The burning of peat for power
| heat or light is but one of its many
uses. The by-products of great value
J w. Ill ,lnrf
eating oils, paraffin wax, phenol, as
phalt, wood alcohol. acetic acid, am
monia sulphate and eombustible gases
of fuel value.
| Paper is now being made from peat
! in Michigan. Possibly per cent OF
the total peat in the United States, OIL
644,4O0, 900 tons. is suitable for the
manufacture of coarse paper and
pasteboard, which will reduce the con
sumption of wood by whatever amount
| it dispiaces wood pulp in the manu-.
facture of such articles