Daily Kennebec journal., 1922-08-14

ooAS OAN
Millions in Peat-GOvernOr
Cannot Investigate Now But
Sympathetic - IL General
Use Abroad-"Heat With
Peat" Not Idle
Heat with peat" is that to be the
slogan of the future? Maine
possesses in the estimation of Geol-
ogist Freeman F. Burr of Augusta no
less than the astounding total of So
600, 900 TO 100000 600 tons of this DO
tentlal fuel. I'VE should investigate
peat and experiment with it at once. :"
said Mr.. Burr. THE value of our
bogs so frequent throughout the
state as far west as the Androscog-
gin river is invalua BILE. 1t would be
an excellent thing for the State
authorities to do at the present time.
Not that we necessarily have an i'm
mediate remedy for the present cri-
Sis, but in such investigation we
might be able to discover the means
+, whereby Maine would forever be
freed from the need of Transporting
coal within our borders The posi-
bilities are stupenduous"
4 The Journal at once placed the
lead expressed by Geologist Burr he
fore Governor Baxter.
ndoubtedly peat is existent in
Maine in large quantities" said the
Governor. Il am sympathetic with
the proposition, but now l must focus
my attention on the coal and wood
situation, ] cannot at the time extend
the activities of the State in the di-
rection of peat. The Legislature at
its next session might well consider
the advisabilitv of such course.
however SO long as we have fire
wood within a half hours walk of
our cities. / do feel that the likeli-
hood of peat coming into a general
use on commercial basis is indeed
limited"
I'VE will look into every possibility
for providing the people of Maine
with fuel said Fuel Director Lane
to the journal. "A few Years ago |
studied the peat situation at some
length. l am glad that you have
brought to TO my mind again at this
time"
What is this peat that holds such
4 potential value and that interests
statesmen and fuel administrators
alike? Have we millions of wealth
in our territory awaiting eXpioita-
ton, and have we the wherewithal to
become a great supplier of fuel as
well as an Unsuitable consumer?
Peat is incipent coal. It is found
in bogs or marshy land. The nearest
example of this material is the great
Sidney bog not over five miles from
Augusta and one of the most import
ant beds in Maine. Peat will not al
ways turn into coal as the top vege-
tation may not be in the proper con-
dition fur such a process. According
ly. it is used as it IS found.
Peat must be dug and dried befor :,
1t is available as a fuel, and then it
is not the equal of coal although it is
a very satisfactory fuel for all uses.
Usually in the many European coun-
monplaCc it is dried and pressed into
bricks or "hriQuets" This process is
expensive and where other fuels are
present at low cost peat is not used
to a great extent.
The cost of securing peat in sub
stantial quantities is the great ques-
tion which tgators must con-
front. The uses to which it may he
put arc we'll known and there are pro-
cesscs available which are adaptable
10 conditions in Maine. Ireland for cen
turos has used it as a domestic fuel.
and in Sweden important cxperimunets s
have proved its utility in railroad en-
gincs.
at is bulky substance impressed.
and the cost Of pressing it is great.
The most apparent uses to which it
could be put are in manufacturing
plants. perhaps gas plants. on the edge
of the bogs. Ii should make excellent
lighting gas. Eut bear in mind that
there are no limits to its uses as a
fuel. Abroad It is widely used TO heat
the homes. The largest use for peat in
this country at the present time is as
an element in the manufacture Of fer
tiliZor." thus Mr. Burr continued his
| views on peat. "In 1919 In connection
with a report of the Maine Water Pow
er Commission I published the fol-
lowing:
"'Although the outlook for the dis
covery of coal or oil in Maine is en-
! tirely discouraging. the attention of
the public should ho forcihlv called to
large source of fuel which is at
present practically untouched. and
be made to go long way toward the
solution of tho present fuel difficulty.
We refer to the large deposits Of peat
which exist in nearly all of the thick
lv settled parts. and which could ho
made to Weld, with relatively small
expenditure in equipment and labor.
many million tons Of fuel which. II
somewhat inferior to coal. has possi-
hlitics which should not he neglected.
The peat question was entered into
, with considerable detail in tho earlier
report of the reologist. Second An
nual Report. Public 1-tilitios Con'"' 8
sion. state of Maine. Vol. .. 1850.
and AL persons so located rs 70 ho ahln
10 utilize. to anv oNtont tho matoriH :
of a peat deposit. arn urr i 70 ccH-
suit that report at tho earliest oppo"-
tunity'
Peat IS found in Naina everywhere
IN small denosits and in la"~o quati-
IN Co., ef