The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-01-22

once the commercial value of the gas
for illuminating and heating pur-
poses.
In order to further demonstrate the
use Of this gas it was connected from
a cylinder to a small gas engine
which it operated for power purposes
with entire satisfaction, demonstrate
ing beyond a doubt it's great value as
a. power producer. It was pointed out
here that by the use of this waste by
product gas, very cheap power could
be produced either by direct gas en-
gines or by conversion into electric
ity, which could be produced in this
manner at such a low price in connec-
ton with by-product and briquetting
plants as to rival h~ydroelectric power.
In such q plant, in addition to the pro-
duction of gas and ~briquettes, there
would be other by-products such as
tar, oil, etc. Samples Of remarkably
high grade Ignite tar were displayed
| and their use as wood stains, wood
preserves, filters, ETC., were illustrat-
ed. 1t is thus seen that the tar OBJ
tanned as a waste by-product is of
considerable value.
A very striking by-product was
that of oil. Professor Babcock is de-
Veloptng a method Of obtaining this
from Ignite with the hy-product and
briquetting plant and estimates that
from one to two gallons of the oil
can be obtained for every ton Of
briquettes produced.
Samples of this crude oil were dis
played and burned in a kerosene lamp.
lis was a remarkable test n dem
o~nStrates the great value Of this lig-
mite oil which may be used in many
ways and for power purposes. It is
estimated that a 1O0-ton-a-day bri-
quoting plant by this method could
produce, If the oil were saved, from
$4,000 to $4,000 gallons per year. This
n item seems to present great fu-
ture possibilities.
Samples of the ]briquettes were then
exhibited. They were small pillow
shaped briquettes about two inches
square Of very convenient size and
shape n of remarkably high quail
itY. 1t was very difficult to break
them when hammered and it was an
easy matter, with these briquettes, to
crush eastern soft coal showing their
superior strength. These briquettes
stand transportation and handling re-
markedly we'll and. are not disinte-
grated by exposure to the weather,
thus making an excellent fuel which
can be shipped to some distance from
the mines.
Charts were exhibited showing the
comparative heat value of anthracite
coal, bituminous coal and Ignite bri-
quotes. These charts and tests
showed the Ignite ]briquettes to be
nearly equal to anthracite coal in heat
value and a satisfactory commercial
product. ~
At this point the speaker exhibited
samples Of North Dakota clay and q
variety of clay products made from
North Dakota clay at.the mining de-
partment Of the state university. This
collection showed a variety Of wares
such as paving brick, hollow fire proof
material, high grade enaIneled brick,
beautiful tile, strong fire proof shin
gleS and high grade fire clay prod
ucts. Some splendid samples Of stone
ware capable of producing excellent
cooking utensils, jars, jugs, &, sewer
pipe, ETC., and finally table ware and
art pottery of the highest quality.
In this were some very beautiful
and artistic samples of pottery. All
were made at the School of Mines
from various undeveloped North Da-
kcta clays. This showed conclusively
the great possibilities of the undevel-
oped clay of the state.
when we stop to consider what
these figures mean as to the imms Ell :
sity Of the deposits" went on Pro-
feSsor BabCock, " we naturally ask
why we do not derive. larger benefits
from this great esource n why We
are annually sending put Of u state
hundreds of thousands of dollars
which might be retained at home in
the development of this and other re-
sources.
"To the people Of the state the eco
nomic utilization Of Ignite, in what
even form 1t may be, is a matter OF
very great Importance, and the new
fields which promise to open up fol
the use of the great Ignite deposits
the development of cheap gas and
power and industries are well worthy
Of careful investigation.
Attention has been called to the
Importance Of cheap n abundant
fuel and the possibilities in the de-
yeknnHnent of orr graat dnnnsitS al