The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-01-26

and wonderful development enjoyed
by the state in this industry have
tended to make us overlook the pos
sibilities which exist in the develop
ment of other natural resources and
industries.
COAL. Although the average per-
son has some idea of the deposits of
| Ignite coal which are found within
the state Of North Dakota, it is sur
prising how little the immensely of
| these deposits and their value is ap-
preciated. There Is very large area
in the western part of the state which
| is underlaid with quick thick deposits
of Ignite coal. Indeed, North Dakota
has, according to government est1-
mates, probably the largest deposits
in coal tonnage, in it's Ignite, Of any
state of the union. a fact the import
ance Of which few people have any
conception. Although these great de-
posits are Ignite, still they possess an
enormous economic value, and it is
not strange that the people are be-
ginning to look for better means for
their development and for deriving
larger benefits from their proper and
! more extensive utilization. ...-
The Ignite seems most commonly
worked are usually from seven to
twenty feet in thickness and are
found at from fifty to two hundred
feet below the surface. The average
composition of the North Dakota 1ls
mite after it has been dried is prob
ably about as follows:
Fixed carbon ..... At to 40 per cent.
Ash .............. 8 to per cent.
AS the Ignite is mined it has a
large amount of moisture present,
ranging from rs to IS per cent, some
times more. In a general way it may
be said that the heating power Of a
ton of Ignite will equal about IS to
IS per cent of ton of good grade
eastern bituminous coal.
1t is largely due to the lack of the
familiarity with the character of lig-
mite coal and to a lack of knowledge
of the best methods Of burning it that
this coal is not being more generally
used. However, the use is gradually
being extended as from time to time
more perfect methods Of burning ap-
pear.
At the present time Ignite coal is
chiefly used in Jumps in heating and
cooking stoves and in engines for
power. 1t is generally used in the
most simple manner and very few
special methods have been adopted
for burning or utilizing this coal or
for preparing it for the market. There
can be little doubt that for general
stove and furnace use briquetted lig-
mite would prove a most economic and
profitable fuel. .,.-r1 $50,
A successful and sufficiently mex
pensive method for commercial bril-
quoting Of Ignite is now being devel-
oped at the school of mines. The pro-
cess is made commercially, possible
and profitable by operating the bri-
quoting in conjunction with a gas
producing plant in which a variety of
by-products are saved and utilized and
by which process the residue, after
the gas has been driven off, can be
successfully briquetted into concen-
trated and valuable fuel.
1t has been found that one ton of
the dried Ignite will produce about
two thirds of ton of briquets, in ad-
dition to about 5000 to 10000 cubic
feet Of gas, besides other valuable by
products, such as tarS, heavy and
light oils, ammonium sulphate, etc.
All of these by-products have q con-
siderable commercial value and i'm
portance. The tar can be so treated
as to render it suitable in connection
with other material for use as bind
er in briquetting the Ignite residue
Among the valuable by-products are
found heavy and light oils and it
seems quite possible that these can
be derived in sufficient quantity to be
of considerable commercial value. TT
very light oils it is thought possiL.
to use in oil or gasoline engines.
The Ignite gas can undoubtedly be
successfully employed for power pur-
poses so that power can be produced
at such low figure as to exert a
marked influence in the development
in the Ignite area Of a variety Of in
dustries dependent upon cheap and
abundant power and by the establish
ing of large by-products plants may
become a close rival of hydroelectric
power. Considering the ease with
which the gas is produced, the low
cost of the original Ignite and the
value of the other by-products and
the residue which could be saved, this
gas should have a large commercial
value also for heating and industrial
purposes because Of the low price for
which it could be obtained 1t manu-
featured as by-product in a plant
used also to- produce brtquets from
Continued on page IL.