The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-08-26
ESTABLISHED MODEL
BRIQUETTE PLANT
POSSIBILITIES or sRloUETTINo
TO BE FULLY EXPLOITED
NEW FIELD or WORK.


Grand Forks, ". d., Aug. 2s.-Com-
liberalization of ignite coal in the
briquetting, gas producing. electric
power producing and kiln burning
fields are four problems that will be
worked out in order at the North Da-
kota mining experimental station at
Hebron and Dean r.. j. Babcock OF
the state school of mines will leave
Grand Forks today for the purpose of
looking after some matters in con-
nection with the first of these fea-
lures. Installation Of sufficient equip
ment to make the plant large enough
to indicate clearly the commercial
possibilities in briquetting is the first
step that will be taken to bring about
the new order of things at the state
station and it follows right in line
with the successes that have been met
with In the experimental work in the
production or manufacture Of the
briquette.
Eastern capitalists or capitalists
who might become interested in the
Ignite possibilities of North Dakota
are, generally speaking from Mis-
souri," and 1t is TO satisfy that sen
timent Of "show me- that the state
Of North Dakota, through the officers
ii has placed In charge of the Hebron
station, plans such extensive work in
the commercial field. Dean Babcock
wants it understood, though, that the
state plant ia not commercial plant
In itself, but is merely one that dem
onstrates the commercial possibilities
Market Briquettes at 50. :
Ignite briquettes can be placed on
the market in the Red river valley
according to Dean Babcocks present
estimate, at about IS or $3.50 a ton,
bringing it about 81 under the price
paid for anthracite and the dean is
firm in the conviction that the Ignite
briquette has every advantage that is
possessed by anthracite. OF course
further work may result in indicating
that the briquette can be put on the
market at an even lower cost, or IL
may be slightly higher. 1t is to work
out this problem that the briquetting
plant is being increased by the addi-
ton Of new equipment Between fif-
teen and twenty tons will be the daily
production of the plant after 1t is in
creased and the new machinery Will
be installed in about three weeks.
Briquetting operations, when thor
oughly perfected, will be followed by
more complete experiments in the
question of producing gas. While some
work has been done already the bril-
quoting question has held the right
of way. Next in order will come the
question Of producing electricity and
after that kilns will be constructed
and an effort will be made to show
the value of Ignite in the burning
of North Dakota clay in the pottery
efild.
Establish Model Mine.
Not only has North Dakota model
briquetting plant, but at the present
time T. III. McAllistc- is engaged in
experimenting the work of opening a
model Ignite mine, which mine viii
be operated in connection with the
station. He will remain at Hebron
until the opening Of the school year
at the university as he is one of the
instructors.
Disposition of the product of the
state briquetting plant will result in
additional cash for the maintenance
Of the station. Waste in the briquet-
ting department will not be evident
any more and a portion of the work
will therefore be self sustaining. 1t
is the aim Of Dean Babcock to supply
such of the state institutions as may
desire it, and afterwards, If there is
any surplus, to sell to others, thereby
cutting down the cost of operation.
William Bulge and r. L. Suther-
land have been regularly appointed to
have charge of the work at Hebron
and the former is there at the present
time. Much of the experimental work
hereafter will be done at the school
Of mines at the university in this
city, with the heavier work done at
Hebron.