The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-10-21

much of the machinery and appliances
having been furnished by the manu-
facturers at reduced process in recog-
milton OF the fact that this is an ex
perimental and not commercial en-
terprise, and that it's findings are to
be of great value to the commercial
world, thus promoting the interests
of machinery manufacturers. as we'll
as developing great future for North
Dakota and its coal clay and kindred
industries.
Work on the building of the station
began Nov. /, 1903, under the super
vision of Prof. w. B. Snyder, of the
state university, and was completed
and machinery installed about March
1, 1910. There are two buildings at
present completed, the larger one for
the practical work and a smaller office
and laboratory building where chem
ical work and coal and gas analyses
are made. In these two buildings the
work is done both scientifically and
practically, the practical work being
intended to demonstrate the cost and
commercial value of the products that
are being made.
The equipment in the main building
consists of two vertical boilers con-
nected in series, having q total of
'eighty-flve horse power. The machin-
cry is mainly driven by sixty-fiv
horse power Atlas engine, which is
supplemented by four horse power
gasoline engine and a two ISilowatt
dynamo, which driver motor that OPP
crates pumping jack and also gener-
crates electricity for the lighting sys-
tenn. The dynamo can be driven
either by steam or gas engine.
The briquetting, plant consists of a
drfer, mixer, crushers, pitch melting
tank and a rotary briquetting press.
The gas plant comprises a. retort, con-
denser, exhauster, ammonia scrubbers,
purifiers, meter and gas holder OF
10000 cubic feet capacity; also cleo
trio thermometers by which readings
of the temperature of any part of the
work can be determined at one CEN
trail point by the use of electricity.
Modern Apparatus.
The laboratory. contains the latest
improved coal and gas analysis APP
paratus; an Emerson calorimeter for
determining the heating value OF coal
samples and also a Sargent gas calori-
meter for determining the heating val
ue OF gas. The once and laboratory
building Is also fitted out with desks,
telephone, typewriter, steam and gas
for heat and light, and bathroom and,
laboratory with running water.
This is the first experimental sta
ton OF the kind in the United States.
and much practical work has already
been done. the most important being
the manufacture of Ignite briquettes
which have proven to contain as many
heat units as anthracite coal The ex-
periments in producing Ignite gas
have proved wonderfully successful.
From one ton Of dried Ignite 10000
cubic feet Of gas has been produced.
which gives brilliant light with
Welsbach burners and having nearly
as much heating capacity as Pitts
burg gas coal, being fully equal to
the gas used for city distribution and
working well in regular gas range.
II Is the intention to put up several
street lights in the near future to
demonstrate the lighting value Of the
gas.
The following gentlemen have been
connected with the station during the
summer months In experimental and
other work: Prof. e. j.. Babcock
director: Prof. W. b. Snyder. guDer-
intendent In charge; John snyder. coal.
chemist; Leslie Sutherland, gas chem "a
ist; Carl Cozier, engineer; Paul Keller.
fireman. Peter Roth, night Waterman;