Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-11-14
Vast Coal Deposits Place
Cheap Fuel Within Easy
Reach Of the Farmers
Valued at 81 q Ton It Equals Assessed Worth Of All Property N
the United States. Estimated That There Are 100000 O0 Oeo#
Tons Of Ignite in Beds Three Feet Thick Or More. :

IposSesses some mineral res0ufces,
especially its great coal and clay de-
postts, which are sure to bsco1ne
more extensively used and to. prove
Of great economic value.
The discovery, Investigation and
PROPER methods for development and
utilization Of these resources REQUIRE
time, patience, and hard work and
technical skill, but these Efforts
are gradually leading to the wider
utilization Of these undeveloped re-
sources and to the establishing OF A.
ISOLATED industries.
Value Little Appreciated
Something Is known Of the vast
deposits Of Ignite coal which are
found within the state Of North Da-
kota, but it is surprising how little
the immense value OF these deposits
Is appreciated. There is q very large
area in the western part of this state
which is underlaid with thick de-
posts Of Ignite coal. North Dakota
has enough coal, II properly used. to
supply her fuel needs for ages.
North Dakota has one Of the larg-
est coal areas Of the states Of the
Union, estimated at $4,000 square
miles, capable of producing probably
500, 5000. 900 tons. X
1T is evident from the investiga-
lions which have been carried on 1t
the School of Mines that the heat
value or calorific power Of the Az
erage Ignite of North Dakota, when
entirely dry, is about 65 per cent Of
that of the Hooking Valley coal, and
about GO per cent Of that Of the Po-
cahontas coal. The analyses which
have been made show that the 6x0d
carbon in the samples Of North Da-
kota coal (dried) usually runs from
48 to 81 per cent; that Of West Viz
ginia bituminous Goals about 81 per
cent; that of the better grades Of
semi bituminous dry Goals OF Mary
land Is per cent; and that of the
fine, dry, close-burning bituminoas
Goals of Pennsylvania 10 per cent.
In a general way it may be said that
the heating power Of one ton of
North Dakota coal will equal about
SIS per cent of a ton Q,300 lbs.) Of
bitumin0us coal.
1.-THE purity of a fuel is . very i'm
portant element in determining ito
value. A difference Of 2 or 3 pAr
cent in the earthly matter Of two
Goals may be the source Of . very
serious difference in their final value.
North Dakota Goals are almost always
free from earthly matter, % seen from
the amount and character Of their
ash.
by these comparisons It will 10
seen that North Dakota ignite ranks.
SO far as its heat-producing power
is concerned, between the lower
grades Of Ignite and 9 bituminous
coal, and that it is far superior 70
the Ignite mined in some other coun-
tries.
1T is largely due to q lack Of "a
miliarity with the character Of. liz
mite coal and to q lack Of knowledge
Of the best methods Of burning Il,
that this coal is not being more gsn-
orally used. However, the use Is
gradually being extended % from
time to time more perfect methods
Of burning appear.
AT the present time Ignite coal
is chiefly used In Jumps In heating
and cooking stoves and in engines
for power. It is generally used In
the most simple manner and very
few special methods have been adopt
ed for burning Or utilizing this coal
or for preparing It for market. But
there can be little doubt that for
general stove and furnace use bri-