The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-03-10
IGNITE DEPOSITS
TO Be UTILIZED AS
BR|QUETS FOR FUEL
Former immigration Commits
sioner Evolves Plan to Save
Consumers Millions.
BY DoANE

Pierre, s. D.. March 9.-The recent
official statement from h federal
geological survey. approximating the
Ignite supply of this state, lying In
the measures of the northwestern
made South Dakotans prick up their
ears. and some have turned their at
tention to a study of the means for
the commercial utilization OF this
great resource.
Among those who have given atten-
ton to the problem is Colonel Pattison
F. Mcclure, former immigration COM
missioner and now president of the
Pierre National bank, who has gone
into the subject with characteristic
thoroughness and has secured samples
Of Ignite and of briquets, both OF Ger
man and American production, and all
available information pertaining to
Ignite and briquetting.
While the Ignite, now accessible,
over the new railroads and to be made
more accessible by the constructions
Of this year., is a wonderful gas pro-
generates power equivalent to the best
anthracite, ton for ton, 1t is for domes-
tic fuel that 1t Is at present most need
ed, and 1t il to that use that Colonel
Mcclure has given most attention. He
believes 1t must be briqueted and that
at present the German process Is most
feasible.
For many years scientific men have
been experimenting to find a cheap
and practicable binder for Ignite bril-
quets, Inc h use Of material has been
much hindered by lack of such a bind
err, but the Germans have provided a
process by which the necessity for an
artificial binder is eliminated. They
grind up the Ignite, separate the slate
and non-combustible matter, mix II
and heat 1t n cast it into briquets In
a powerful press which, by exclusion
of the moisture, reduces three tons OF
raw Ignite to n ton of briquets
equal in value to the best anthracite
Colonel Mcclure has secured samples
of these German briquets. They are
oval, 8 inches long, IN inches wide
hard coal, heating red hot, become
glowing ember n turn into a clear
white ash.
A German briquetting machine cost.
$40, 600, and will work up $50 o n
day, or a net 80 tons Of ~brtquets, which
with Ignite at 60 cents a ton at thu
mine will be worth IS a ton in bri'
quets.
There is the proposition and thu
prospects which are open to our peo'
pie. The equivalent of the best hare
coal at SIS per ton within the stat
where the matter of transportation 1
wholly within the hands of our owl
people, and where the vexed question
of interstate commerce and long an,
short haul n come into consider
alton.
Colonel Mcclure is prepared to in
vest capital in the enterprise and n
doubt many others in these times o
overlooking bank accounts will be gla'
to join with him.
These considerations suggest tn
negligence of South Dakotans in fail
ing to secure full knowledge Of OF
mineral u Outside Of tn
Black Hills we know next to nothin
of what we possess in the way of geo
logical riches. In this we are sorel
behind our neighbors of North Dakots
who have for many years pursued
painstaking examination of her eco
nomic geology. Here we nave In som
years supplied the state geologist wit
$3.50, in others, with nothing at al
and in years of great liberality hav
placed 1000 in his hands to exploit
our mineral riches. Whatever else w
do, we certainly should at the frs
moment begin a careful and compre
hensive survey.