The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-09-13
SUCCESS WITH Ignite COAL
Remarkable Good Work Already Ac.
complished at Hebron-Gas Pro.
duced Is Good.

An interesting review of the work
OF the state Ignite experiment station
at Hebron, operated under the direc-
ton Of Prof. r. ]. Babcock of the
school of mines, is contained in the
following special from Hebron:
What is said to be the first ex-
detrimental station Of the kind. an IN
stitutfon for the investigation Of the
possibilities of Ignite as fuel, is now
In full operation in this place.
"The station is a branch of the
school of mines Of the University of
North Dakota. and is under the direc-
ton of Professor, E. j. Babcock, dean
of the school. He is assisted by Pro-
lessor w. B. Snyder, superintendent
in charge; John NJ. Snyder, coal
chemist; Leslie Sutherland, gas
chemist; Carl Crozier. engineer, and
William Bulge, assistant ON briquett-
ing work.
1.-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 $4,000. This sum has been
so carefully invested that the plant as
1t stands today is worth $4,000; much
of the machinery and appliances hav-
ing been furnished by manufacturers
at reduced prices by manufacturers
at reduced prices in recognition of the
fact that this ia an experimental and
not a commercial enterprise, and that
its findings are to be of great value
to the commercial world, thus pro-
noting the interests of machinery
manufacturers, al we'll as developing
a future for North Dakota coal, clap
and kindred products.
Work on the building of the sta
tion began Nov. 1, 1909, and was COM
pleted and the machinery installed
about March /, 1910. There are two
buildings, the larger one for the prac-
teal work and 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 and practical work being
intended to demonstrate the cost and
commercial value of the products that
are being made.
1.-THE equipment in the main build
ing consists of two vertical boilers
connected in series. .havine total of
eighty-five horse power.
"The briquetting plant consists of
q dryer, mixer. crushers, pitch melt
ing tank. and rotary briquetting
press. The gas plant comprises re-
tort, condenser, exhauster, ammonia
scrubbers. purifiers, meter and a gas
holder Of 10000 cubic feet capacity;
also electric thermometers nv which
readings of the temperature of any
part of the work can be determined
at one central point by the use of
electricity.
"The laboratory contains the latest
improved coal and gas analysis APP
paratus; an Emerson calorimeter for
determining the heating value of coal
samples, and Sargent gas calorime-
ter for determining the heating value
of Ignite gas.
"The most significant work yet un-
dertaken ia the manufacture of Ignite
briquettes which have proven to con-
tain as many heat units as anthracite
coal. The experiments in producing
Ignite gas have been wonderfully sue
cessful. From one ton of dried Ignite
1900 cubic feet of gas has been pro-
duced and 1t gives a brilliant light
with Welsbach burners, having nearly
as much heating capacity as Pittsburg
gas coal and being fully equal to the
gas used for city distribution and
working we'll In q regular gas range.