The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1919-02-28
PLAN TO MAKE
OIL FROM SHALE
Great Industry May Be Born as
Result of Experiments
Being Made.
DEPOSITS IN THREE STATES
Decrease Of Supply Of Petroleum ana
Products and Ever Increasing
Demand Makes Substitution
Necessary for Years.

Salt Lake City, Utah.-Oil shalc
must be looked to, probably for years
to come, to supply increasing demands
for and lessened supply of petroleum
and its products. Salt Lake City seems
to be the natural center for expert
mentation and exploitation of an in
dustry which is not yet born in this
country, although manufacture Of oil
from shale has been conducted on
commercial basis in Scotland for go
years.
In Colorado, Utah and Nevada, east,
west and south of Salt Lake City, are
shale deposits of unknown magnitude,
and of richness SURPRISING that of
shales known elsewhere. Oil shale Is
a common and general term for sew
eral different geological formations
different in appearance and in gum
content.
Without attempting any elaborate
description, it will be sufficient to say
that the Colorado deposit is found in
dense masses of black rock, often with
a considerable fossil content. Some
southern Utah shale appears in broad
strata two or three inches thick, light
gray in color, and may be extracted
and handled like great .planks, while
the Nevada deposit pronounced rich
est of alD appears in sheets rarely
more than half an inch thick, of fine,
even texture resembling an oil stone
and dark brown in color. 1t Is readily
broken, even with the fingers.
Different Productive Methods.
Chemists say different methods of
reduction will be necessary in the
utilization of these various forms of
gum-containing rock. A greater part
Of all experimentation by competent
persons in the United States has oc-
Cured in the chemical laboratory Of
the University of Utah, in Salt Lake
City. Here DR.. w. ID. Bonner, consult
ing chemist to the bureau of mines,
department of the interior, in charge
Of laboratory investigation, is the au-
thority. DR.. Quinn is his assistant.
A fact which has been widely herald
ed, but which is pronounced Of no i'm
portance by the chemists, is that a
small shale reduction plant was built
at the university about year ago. It
is not used now, nor did Its use ever
have any special significance. To be
even more plain, the fact of this small
retort having been built at the univer-
sity was seized upon by some pro-
moters of "shale oil" companies and
considerable advertising matter has
been circulated regarding an indus
try" which does not exist.
The proper method OF reduction (de-
structive distillation is the chemical
term) of oil shales of the United
States has not been determined. Re
fining of the resultant crudes has not
been satisfactorily accomplished
Chemists anticipate no difficulty In
perfecting these processes-but 1t has
not yet been done.
Crude Oils Vary.
The product of oil shale after "de-
structive distilladon" and retorting is
a heavy, thick, dark oil, resembling in
many ways the petroleum known as
fuel oil; and 1t may be used as such.
These crude oils vary, as may be sup
posed, according to the shales from
which they are produced. They smell
more like asphalt than petroleum.
An immense amount of gas Is liber-
ated by the distillation. Some enthusi-
asts believe this gas will be sufficient
fuel supply for the retort furnaces, but
in this the chemists do not agree. The
idea savors too much of perpetual mo-
ton. Important by-products are paraf-
fin and ammonium sulphate. 1t Is also
considered probable some form of CON-
merciai fertilizer will be obtained.
Several bona fide experimental shale
reduction plants are now being con-
structed In the three states mentioned.
Chemists OF the bureau Of mines
are agreed that the greatest hindrance
that could occur to the legitimate de-
velOpment of a shale oil industry In the
United States would be any extensive
"wildcatting"; that is, selling Of stock
in imaginative shale Oil plants, or
even in plants to be erected by unin-
formed persons and which may be
held out to be practical commercial
ventures. A shale oil plant is an ex-
pertinent In this country at the present
time, nothing more.
In order to encourage legitimate and
practical experimentation, an effort
will be made to induce congress to
make an appropriation to assist re-
sponsible companies.
Let the fact be clearly stated that
manufacture of oil from shale must
be, so far as is now known, one of the
greatest industries In years to come
Plants which are understood to be ex-
perilnental are perfectly legitimate
now. They are good businesses. But
evidences of wildcatting are abundant,
and they will tend to discredit the en-