The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-11-05
PEAT IS URGED AS FUEL
MINNESOTA IS SAID TO
HAVE LARGE SUPPLY
Development of This Resource
Urged AS Guarantee Against
Future Shortage
Minneapolis, Mimi, November A.

Minneapolis, Mimi, November -
Correspondents of The Associated
Pressl-Fuel experts here, including
several associated with state institu-
tions, believe Minnesota's Worries
over the fuel problem will be greatly
lessened in the near future through
the conversion of peat into fuel. Peat
these engineers say, commonly Is
known as an accumulation OF yege-
table matter, which has been reserved
from decay by constant immersion Ia
water. but which Is a substance re-
presented by a stage between wood
and Ignite, low grade OF coal. The
oxygen content Of wood Is forty per-
cent: of peat thirty percent; OF lig-
mite twenty percent; bituminous or
soft coal ten percent, and anthracite
or hard coal, three percent.
Still more significant, the engineers
point out, is the cost Of this fuel. 1t
probably will be available for indus
coal for less than half the price OF
soft coal. .-
Peat Is now being mined and con-
verified into fuel for the first time In
Minnesota, and possibly for the first
time in the United States. Vast areas
of the state, which the geological
survey estimates at 100000 acres,
are blanketed with peat bogs, and
contain a potential supply of more
than $500, 00o 900 (6 n billion) tons
of dry peat, sufficient to last LOCO
years..
: -. Checked Peat Industry.
The development Of the peat In
dustry was prevented by two causes
They were the inability to remove
best from tbs ground by capable ma
chinery, and the need Of suitable
equipment to prepare it economically
in condensed form for fuel.
The first obstacle was done away
nv the invention of machine that
digs peat, macerates 1t and spreads 1t
out on the ground in strips to dry.
The second impeachment was remov-
ed by the construction by local com
pany of crusher plant here to pull
verize the peat into powdered form.
Tests have been made with row.
dered peat by the engineers of the
university of Minnesota, and results
have shown that but ten percent
more powdered peat is required to
while q ton of the powdered peat g.
quals the work Of practically two ton
Of /hard coal hand fired. But the
cheapness of peat offsets this. Pull
verifying plants are to be constructed
by the fuel company, which built the
crusher building chere, at st. Paul,
Duluth and other advantageous POINTS
throughout the state as soon as con-
struction bids and plans can be con
sumfnated 1T Is announced. The local
plant has, a caracity for turning out
five hundred tons Of dry peat a day,
and this amount VIII be increased
when added facilities are installed.
Cannot Help AZ Present
I'VE cannot take out enough peat
this fall to help the fuel situation
materially" said F. e. Bryan, presi-
dent of the company, which operates
the crusher plant here, ''but. all the
machinery will be put into the boys
next year." ....
Enough peat will be ready for
burning as fuel before next winter,
however, to materially ease any coal
shortage should ona exist at that
time. Mr.. Bryan believes. In 1925, he
explained, if no hindrances arise to
prevent the contemplated consfruc-
ton of other crusher establishments
in the state, Minnesota will be indie
pendent of outside sources for fuel
for industrial establishments and will
have an exportable surplus.
The cost of the pulveriZed peat, Mr.
Bryan estimated, would be under SIS
ton, at the crusher plants.