Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-01-10
NORTH DAKOTA Ignite GREAT
SOURCE OF POWER.

Northern line which Is to be col.
structed from New Rockford, this
state, to Lewiston, Mont, is 10 be
electrified, and that North Dakota liz.
mite coal is to be used in furnishing
the power, undoubtedly marks the be-
ginning OF a new era in the develop
ment Of that wonderful product, in
the possession Of which this state cx-
GELS all others.
Government reports show that
North Dakota contains over FIVE hun
dred billions OF tons Of coal. which by
far exceeds that possessed by any
state in the union. But Ignite coal
has been knocked so numerically by
the coal barOns, the discriminating
railroads, and the public in general
that it has taken a quarter Of a cen
fury or more for it to receive any
thing like half recognition. But grad
ually it's excellent qualities have been
proyen by demonstration, until finally
ten million dollars are to be spent in
electrifying Il railroad system depend
ent upon it for powers Several large
power plants in this state have been
operated with this coal as fuel, and at
last the fact has been impressed upon
n large institution that, while it
is not a success under the boilers OF
the locomotive, yet it is an excellent
fuel for making steam for a power
plant which will drive the great
trains by electricity. 1t is safe to say
that as soon as the Great Northern
people have demonstrated what can
be done, the Ignite fields of North
Dakota will Immediately become in
valuable and will be developed at a
wonderful rate. At kenmare, Wilton,
Hebron, Minot and other places in
this state, immense power and light
ing plants have been in operation for
years, and it has been demonstrated
that wherever Ignite abounds, uElim-
tied power can be created. This is
the one great resource OF the west
ern part of the state which is sure to
make it excel, in that it will induce
manufacturing, for wherever cheap
fuel abounds, which means cheap
power, there capital is sure to be at
tracted. Power is the one ruling agent
of the world, and as fuel is the basis
of power, the locality which is bless
ed with an abundance of cheap coal
holds a prize which is the envy OF all
others.
The rapid increase In the price OF
eastern coal and fuel-oil has made it
necessary for western railroads to
look to a cheaper source Of power,
and now that the energy from Ignite
can be pushed many miles along the
line from central stations, it begins to
look as if Ignite coal is soon to come
to it's own. Immense power stations
will be built at intervals along the
new line. These will call for an army
of stokers, miners, electricians and
other employees, all. of which will
mean a great deal toward the devel-
Opment Of one Of the greatest re-
sources of wealth which could pos
sibly bless a state.
This may have a tendency to devel-
op another source of industry which
lies unutilized in this state, and that
is the excellent manufacturing clays
of North Dakota. No finer a he
found i'm the United States and the
supply is inexhaustible.
The possibilities Of development in
the western portion Of North Dakota
cannot be estimated. At this date
they are unappreciated and the time
is soon coming when the panorama Of
barren prairies and hills in Western
North Dakota will be transformed in
to scenes equal to those Of the manu-
featuring centers OF the east.