The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-10-01
TOURS - =.
EASTERN FIELDS

Minot, N. D., Get. 1.-Prof, e. J.
Babcock, dean of the state school Of
mines, has just returned from an ex-
tended eastern trip which he took for
the purpose of making an investigation
or the coal regions Of PENNSYLVANIA,
While there Professor Babcock made
a careful study of all the different
methods utilized in the soft coal and
coking industries, also the extent of
the industries and any notifications
that might be employed in the future
In the development of the Ignite de-
posits of this state.
Professor Babcock says that while
methods necessarily employed in the
coke regions in connection with soft
coal are very different from those that
could be used on Ignite, still by the
modified methods which are being
worked out with briquetting, there
seem to be excellent future possibiIi-
ties.
This visit to the coal regions served
to emphasize the immense proportions
OF the coking industry in Pennsylva-
MIA where in one district alone 40O,eO O
tons Of coke are produced in one week
ana require between 11,000 and 12,-
OO0 freight cars to handle the product.
AT one plant there were, 1900 coke
ovens using 5000 pounds Of coal per
oven every day amounting to 5000. 900
pounds Of coal daily. TO handle the
product of all the plants would re-
quire a freight train every week
thing like a hundred miles long.
This enormous drain of coal upon
the coal supply is being noticed even
in Pennsylvania. In southern Penn
sylvania the tendancy is for the coking
industry to work to the south follow
ing the coal supply.
-. Loss In t5aS -:aJ
By the system of coking in bee
hive ovens, used so extensively in
Pennsylvania there is a great, econom-
1c loss in the gas which is wasted.
amounting to millions of cubic feet of
gas going to waste daily. New meth
DDS are beginning to be introduced
whereby the gas and other by-prod-
ucts are being utilized.
While these methods could not be
used On the Ignite directly as the lig-
mite does not coke, the methods which
are being developed here, involve the
carbonizing instead of coking and the
briquetting Of the residue.
Save Gas Here.
In addition to this, Dean Babcock
says the large volume of gas which is
lost in the coking of the eastern coal
and ofner valuable by produces pres
emit in Ignite would be a greater or
less degree saved by the methods be-
ing developed at the university and in
ltime by patient and continuous wnrx
1t seems not improbable that q large
industry will be developed in onnec
ton with our Ignite, not for the pro-
duction of coke for iron smelling as in
the east, but rather for the production
by means of briquetting, of a partial
substitute for hard coal.
When this has been fully worked
out and the plants developed a very
valuable and extensive industry will
undoubtedly be added to the state.
Has Written Bulletin.
Dean E.. j, Babcock has just. COM
pleted and turned over to the bureau
Of mines of h United States govern
ment an extensive bulletin on The
Utilization Of Western Lignites, This
is a special work that Dean Babcock
has been engaged in for some time un-
der the commission of the United
States government. It overs a wide
field in the utilization of the Ignite
Of various western states.
This bulletin Is expected to come
from the press during the fall or early
winter. ...'.
While on his eastern trip Dean Bah
cock stopped at the laboratories of the
United States bureau Of mines located
at Pittsburgh, for a days consultation
in connection with the work on west
ern Ignite which has been prepared
by him.
This work will be a very valuable
addition to the literature on this sub
ness by the leading mining. engineers
Of the country al Dean Babcock is the
recognized authority on Ignite In the
limited States, - ~ ~~,.~. I'D. -"-+-@- -