Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-11-14

Dakota's vast fuel supply it is neces'
sary that we reduce terms Of billions
to something more tangible to the
human mind. The United States &c.
illogical survey estimates that there
are within the state, in beds three
feet or more thick, and within l.
900 feet Of the surface, 70o.00o,o0o
tons of Ignite. II this fuel could be
compressed into one block, it would
form a cube five miles high, five
miles broad and five miles long, COW
ering nearly a township Of land and
reaching almost the altitude of the
highest mountain on the globe.
Another writer, in making q COM
parative estimate, states that If
North Dakota's coal were valued at
$1.00 per ton, the aggregate would
be equal to the assessed valuation
of the whole United States. Or, again,
assuming that the present popula-
ton of the United States is 100000
900 and allowing ten tons of coal per
year, per capita, North Dakota has
sufficient fuel to provide for the
needs Of this great people for the
next 700 years.
Ignite Vast Fuel Resource
"The Ignite of North Dakota"
says the United States geological
survey, in a recent report. "consti-
tutes a vast fuel resource which will
in time become Of great value, not
only to the individual citizen of the
state, but to the corporations. that
are seeking power for use in man
ufacturing, or in transportation"
Ignite is delivered to the consum-
er at $500 to $500 per ton, depend
ing upon the distance from the mine.
Bismarck, on the edge of the great
coal fields, uses this fuel almost ex-
~clusively for domestic heating. The
Hughes Electric Co., supplying the
city, uses no other fuel in the
generation Of its current. That lig-
mite can be used economically and
effectively is indicated by the fact
that this company, the largest in
America using Ignite, exclusively,
sells power for domestic, commercial
and industrial use at lower rates than
given by a majority of the plants
which have the benefit of cheap water
power.
At the large brick and tile plants
in Hebron and Dickinson, Ignite is
used altogether for firing. At the
North Dakota state p~enitentiary lig-
mite has replaced all other Goals.
Industrial Future for State
The possession of this great ma
tural resource assures q brilliant in
dustrial future for North Dakota.
With the rapid increase in popula-
ton of North Dakota and its sister
states, manufacturing must follow in
time. Cities so located as is Bis
marc, with rail and river transp0rta-
ton and close proximity to these
coal fields, are bound to become in
dustrial centers Of the first import
ance.
There is workable Ignite in beds
over three feet thick, and within L.
900 feet of the surface underlying ev-
cry section of land in the western
part of the state. More than 100 es-
tablished mines are now producing
coal, at a rate Of 1900 tons
per annum. In addition, there are
Of farmers who have their
private fuel supply within the
Of their own land, and
who mine the coal for the benefit of
themselves and their neighbors. the
latter hauling it away for 500 per
ton.
Authority Tells Of Opportunities
Prof. E. ]. Babc0ck, dean Of the
Of mining engineering Of the
University of North Dakota, and rec
ognized as the greatest living author
ity on Ignite, in an article on the
coal resources of North Dakota,
says
North Dakota has good reason to
be proud of the position which she
occupies in the agricultural and
stock raising industries. Indeed. the
great prominence and wonderful de-
enjoyed by this state in
these industries have caused most
to overlook the possibilities
exist in the development OF
other natural resources and indus
tries.
while North Dakota may never
appear as q metal producing or q
great mining state, yet It certainly
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