The evening times., 1913-12-31
Survey REPORT:
COVERS DISTRICT
Progress in Utilizing States
Great Resource is
Depicted

Washington, Dec. 31.-The great
deposits of Ignite underlying what is
known as the Wiliiston ignite field in
North Dakota form the subject of a
report by Frank A. Herald, recently
issued by the United States Geological
Survey as Chapter E of Bulletin 531.
several mines are in operation in this
held. and one Of the plants using the
Ignite is unique-that Of the United
states reclamation service-in that i,
burns the ignite at the mines for the
generation Of electricity that is con-
feyed over cable lines to Buford,
where electrically operated pumps are
located. These pumps lift water from
Missouri river to the canals of an ex-
tensive irrigation system, which wa
ters a large section of the Missouri
river valley. The plant, including the
mine. Is In operation during the irri-
cation season only. but furnishes the
basis of an important industry. LIg-
mite seems we'll adapted to this work
and can be cheaply mined. 1t is haul
ed In pit cars from the mine to q
small crusher above bunkers, which
empty into the engine room. Some
Of the furnaces are fed by hand, but
others are stocked automatically; the
fuel is handled we'll either way.
Makes Good Domestic Fuel.
The Williston Ignite is used chiefly,
however, as household fuel but also
to some extent under stationary boil
ers. AS domestic fuel it is satisfac-
tory when properly used, but the
novice generally meets perplexing diff
its value. The most satisfactory re-
suits are obtained in ordinary cook
ing or heating stoves when the fire.
box is well filled with Ignite that has
been broken into small chunks and
dried.
Lignite has been thoroughly tested
under power-plant boilers and found
to be satisfactory when properly ham
died. Systematic tests were made at
the Reclamation Service power plant
In October, 1908. to determine the ef-
ficiency of the fuel and to learn the
best methods of firing. These test.
showed that the Ignite is satisfactory
for making steam when boilers and
| fireboxes are properly constructed and
the fires are correctly fed and con.
trolled. The results Of these tests arc
| set forth in Bulletin of the Bureau
of Mines.
Possibilities as q Gas Producer.
| Great possibilities exist in the con-
version of Ignite into producer gas
Though producer-gas plants are mum.
l IL0l OpC huu are UCCONlnS
common in this country, they are not
yet wholly beyond the experimental
stage. They have, however, been per.
fected sufficiently to prove. their su-
periority in many points to ordinary
steam boilers.
Some briquetting tests have been
made with North Dakota Ignite and
have proved that the fuel can be
treated successfully in that way. Tests
at the Pittsburg laboratory Of the Blu.
rcau Of Mines indicates that Ignite
from the Williston field can be eco
nomically briquetted, and Ignite from
this field has been briquetted success.
fully at the North Dakota Mining and
Experiment station at Hebron. The
Pittsburg tests were made with high
pressure and without binder. whereas
the others were made with lower
pressure and binder. AS both meth
DDS gave favorable results. the expert
menters believe that the Ignite can
| be successfully briquetted on q COM
mercial basis either with or without
binders When briquetted the Ignite
can compete with higher-grade coal,
as the briquets Withstand wpeathering
and do not crumble badly when han
died. = s.
The future installation Of briquet
and gas-producer plants in this field
seems proba BILE. The rapid change in
methods and machinery for such
plants and the large initial cost arc