The Washington herald., 1909-08-01
FLORIDA USES PEAT
Two Plants in Operation in
EVerglade State.
PREPARE IT FOR FERTILIZER
Employment for Fuel Yet I'm Expert
mental Stnge-NOt SO Effective as
Coal I'm Municipal Works at Jack
sOnvtIIc-MnlNinE Briquettes at Or
InndO Has Been Abandoned.

Jacksonville, Fla, July 81.-while It IS
an established fact that there are many
peat 5ogs In Flcrida. the development OF
the peat industry has been slow. and IS
still in the experimental stage. Experts
who have examined the various bogs
have said that the quality Of the best Of
them compares favorably with the best
% be found IN other States OF the Union;
but the value Of a peat bog depends upon
the quality Of the deposit. extent OF the
bog. and the ease with which the ma
terial can be prepared for market and
the facilities for transportation.
Peat has been mined in Florida for
several years. Two plants are now being
operated during all or part Of the year.
The Orlando Water and Light Com
pGny is operating a plant near that city
The peat at this plant after removal
from the bog is passed through a l1nead-
ing machine, which dislntegrates the fiber
and prevents reabsorbtion OF the moist
uro. It IS then dried in the open. and
after drying IS cut into convenient size
pieces for local use as fuel
Making Briauettes Abandoned.
Briquetting. which was formerly used.
has been abandoned by this plant as i'm
practicable. but the product of the bog
has been used as fuel under the boilers.
and also as q gas producer. The plant
was established some two years ago near
Jacksonville on a bog situated on one or
the large creeks running into the St.
Johns River by which water uansporta-
ton is afforded direct from the plant 10
Jacksonville.
There IS also almost or quite completed
another plant situated on Crescent Lake.
not far from Crescent City. These two
plants. however. confne themselves 10
the preparation OF peat for fertilizer man
ufacturers. who use # in considerable
quantities.
Experiment and analysis have proved
that the Southern peat stands high in the
list Of gas producers and as a source OF
power. and this probably affords a most
promising outlook for the future. The
great abundance OF coal in the United
states has doubtless delayed the develop
ment OF the peat industry. At Jackson
Vile the price OF sea-bOrne coal is very
low, and while peat has been prepared
successfully for fuel under the boilers of
the city electric light plant, the number
Of heat units which can be bought with
a given sum invested I'm coal IS greater
than can be obtained from the same sum
invested in peat
May Follow Higher Coal.
With the possible exhaustion Of the coal
supply. with the advance IN price on
| account of the increased cost in mining.
and in Florida. in particular. on account
OF the supply of wood rapidly diminish
ing, wood stiH being the chief fuel used
for domestic purposes, It Is highly prob
able that peat, especially IN the form OF
briquettes. viii find a ready market.
There has been circulated at various
times a rumor to the effect that gas pro-
ducers and dynamos would be Installed
on peat bog near Jacksonville to pro-
vide this city with light and power
While such an undertaking is feasible. II
is not believed that any steps have been
taken yet toward its accomplishment In
addition to its gas-prodUcing powers. peat
has been proved available in the manu-
facture Of lumber and paper, while am
monia and alcohol are readily obtained
as by-prOducts In the manufacture OF
gas
The ashes Of peat form one Of the best
polish powders obtainable.
II. II. RICHARDSON,
Secretary Board Of Trade