The Dickinson press., 1910-09-24
OUR Ignite COAL IS
GOOD FOR MAKING GAS

0VVD TUX WAAUW6 mo
Hebron, Sept 22.-What is said to be
the first experimental station of the
kind, an institution for the invesiiga-
lion of the possibilities of Ignite as
fuel. is now in full operation in this
place.
The station is q branch of the School
of Mines of the University of North
Dakota, and is under the direction of
Professor E. j. Babcock, dean of the
school. He is assisted by Professor w.
B. Snyder, Superintendent in charge;
John M. Snyder, coal chemist Leslie
Sutherland, gas chemist; Car Clrozier
engineer; and William Bulge. assis-
tant on briquetting work.
The initial work carried on the past
summer has been encouraging to a high
degree and will be continued in the
winter by Professor Snyder and three
assistants.
The original state appropriation was
for SIP, 600. This sum has been so care
fully invested that the plant as it stands
today is worth $40, 900; much of the
machinery and appliances having been
furnished by manufacturers at reduced
prices in recognition of the fact that
this is IN experimental and not a COM
mercial enterprise. and that its findings
are to be of great value to the CONNER
cial world thus promoting the interests
of machinery manufacturers, as well as
developing a future for North Dakota
coal. clay and kindred products.
Work on the building of the station
began Nov. l., 1909, and was completed
and the machinery installed about
March 1. 1910. There are two build
ings, the larger one for the practical
work and a smaller Office and laboratory
building where chemical work and coal
and gas analysis are made. In these
two buildings the work is done both
scientifically and practically the practi-
cal 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 a total of
eiehty-ive horsepower.
The briquetting plant consists of a
dryer, mixer, crusher, pitch melting
tank, and a rotary %briquetting press.
The gas plant comprises a retort, con-
denser, exhauster, ammonia scrubbers,
purifiers, meter and a gas holder of TO-
600 cubic feet capacity also electric the
thermometers by which readings of the
temperature of any part OF the work al
be determined at one central point by
the use of electricity.
The laboratory contains the latest i'm
proved coal and GAS analysis apparatus :;
an Emerson calorimeter for determining
the heating value of coal samples, and
q Sargent gas calorimeter for determin-
ing the heating value Of Ignite gas.
. The most significant work yet under
taken is the manufacture of Ignite bril-
quettes which have proven to contain as
many heating units as anthracite coal.
The experiments in producing Ignite
gas have been wonderfully successful.
From one ton of dried Ignite 10. 900
cubic feet of gas has been produced and
it gives a brilliant light with Wesbach
burners, having nearly as much heating
capacity as Pittsbure coal gas and be-
ing fully equal to the gas used for ci ty
distribution and working we'll in a re-
gular gas range. ]" is the intention to
put up several street lights about the
station to demonstrate the lighting value
of the gas.
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