The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-02-23
INDIANA COULD PRODUCE Even GOLD,
IF ISOLATED, GEOLOGY REPORT SHOWS

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. Feb, 23-Mu-
Efficiently endowed by nature with
manifold natural resources, Indiana,
after more than century of existence
as state despite the advance made in
utilization Of some of these has been
rapid. sees many of it's resources re-
naming latent or only meagerly de-
veloped, according to Dr. w. n. Logan,
state geogolist, in report just filed
with the department Of conservation.
From a commercial standpoint the
ideal state would be one whose resour-
ces permit it to supply its own needs"
says DR.. Logan. But it is fact,
we'll established that no state lives to
itself alone.
However, II during a world cata-
clysm such as was recently experien-
ced by world war, an impenetratable
barrier should be built about Indiana,
the diversity of her natural resources
and her manufacturing industries
would enable her inhabitants to go far
toward the goal of self-preservation.
and self realization. For Indiana
has been favored with natural resour-
ces, the variety, value and abundance
of which are not realized by large
part, even of her own citizens.
In case of extreme isolation, Ind
lana could produce her own needs
enough coal, petroleum and its pro-
ducts, gas, iron, building stone, lime.
cement, salt, fertilizers, except phos-
phorus, paint pigments, mineral dyes
and by an expensive process alum
mum. She would be without copper,
nickel, lead, zinc, silver and platinum.
though she would probably produce
gold for front teeth filling
Fuel Is important
Because of the independence of
manufacturing and Industrial develop
ment on fuel, this resource Is of prim-
airy Importance and Indiana's posses
sions in coal, peat. petroleum and
natural gas place the state in posi-
ton of great economic independence.
OF coal, Indiana produces annually
its five tons per capita, and per capita
consumption of the United States, and
a surplus of nearly 100000 tons. The
coal beds of Indiana occupy an area op'
proximately 1000 square miles in the
western and southwestern part OF the
state. One or more beds underlie the
whole of Is counties and parts OF 10
others. According to George A. Ash
ley, formerly assistant state geolog1st,
the total amount of coal in Indiana
aproximates so billions tons.
Indiana Coal Good
The Goals of Indiana rank we'll
among The bituminous Goals OF the in
terror basin because they contain a
high moisture and volatile matter con-
tent and only medium ash and sui
phur content. Although belonging to
the bituminous division they contain
Of oil
domestic use called "block" coal and a
variety of cannal coal, the latter
which is a good gas producer. The
state ranks sixth in the production OF
bituminous coal.
A large amount of the petroleum
PRODUCED in Indiana comes from por-
lions of Grant, Blackford. Huntington.
Wells, Adams, Jay. Delaware. Madison
and Randolph counties. This field
known as the Lima-Indiana field,
reached it's maximum production in
1904 when more than II, 100000 barrels
were being produced in the state and
the larger part from this field.
The largest natural gas area In
Indiana lies in the eastern portion of
the state: in the counties Of Delaware,
Blackford, Jay. Madison, Hancock,
Henry and Randolph. Gas has recent
~ been obtained from wells in Law
renee county and in the southwestern
oil field in Pike and Gibson counties.
The eastern gas field Of Indiana
reached the peak of production in
1902 when the value of gas produced
was more than $3,000,000. At the
present time the value of its produc-
ton is somewhat under S1,000,000.
Many Peat Beds.
Many of the shallow lakes, marshes
and ponds left on the surface OF north
ern Indiana following the retreat OF
the glacial invasion were later filled
with an accumulation of vegetable
matter. This vegetable matter grad
ually transformed into peat, the so,
called first stage in the formation OF
coal. The workable peat beds cover
approximately $4,000 acres and con
tain nearly 5000, 100000 cubic feet
Enormous fuel values are represented
in this resource as we'll as null which
NAV be used as an absorbent, packing
material deodorizer. fertilizer, filler
manufacture OF gas, coke and am
monia.
Although Indiana annually consumes
more than one barrel per capita OF
cement, the state ranks second in pro
Guction. producing more than three
wv mr.