The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-09-29
Herbert A. Hard, Secretary of
Flood Control Commission,
Sees New Possibilities
OUTLINES NEW PLAN
Fuel Supply Well Fitted To
Replace the High Tariff
Rules of Eastern States
BY Herbert A. Hard
Sec Flood Control Commission

Ny attention has just been called
to a recent editorial in the Grand
Forks Herald, strongly endorsing
the letter of Hon. f. w. Mclean,
published in the Herald and Fargo
Tribune, calling for development OF
North Dakota Ignite as 4 definite,
tangible means whereby the bankers
and business men of the ninth dis
trict may actually help solve the
present agricultural crisis.
While the plan is not given rs
able to, overnight, give results in
aiding in marketing this years crop,
it does strike the practical business
man and engineer in fuel operation
as being one of the really sane sug-
gestions given among the many UNI
feasible suggestions to help agricul-
ture.
The Ignite producing states are
fast learning that their local fuel is
emmnently fitted to replace the
high tariff eastern fuels in all or
binary heat and power plants. This
is especially true when they stop to
consider that over half the coal
cost represents its own freight costs,
to say nothing of the several un-
necessary middleman charges.
But it is another matter which
Mr.. McLean's plan involves; that of
revolutionizing the. form Of power
used on farms and in towns along
the lines of the great over-state
electric cables proposed, leading
from central generating plants to be
located near the Ignite beds, along
the Missouri River.
The feasibility Of this must final
ly be tested on two scores; 1st.-the
ability of the business men, railroads
and farmers to see clearly that the
use Of electricity in their operations
is practical in any large degree;
second;-Is the generation of cleo
tricity from Ignite and it's trans
mission over lines 2, 3, or hundred
miles, now technically practicable
from sound engineering stand
point?
Stating the conclusion first, we
will say that they are not only en-
tirely feasible but they are in set
tied, stable operation in several
states, as notably California, where
water and other power are success
fully operating all kinds Of plants
over several hundreds of miles Of
cable.
Many large plants have also used
Ignite for the production of cheap
electricity. Where it is possible to
OF ha vVoir 10
is very feasible, as it entirely ELI
inmates the enormous freight
charges on SO gross, bulky commodi-
ty as coal. Time was when it was
impracticable to economically trans
nit electricity any considerable dis
tances owing to the great losses en-
route. Now, with the comparative
recent perfection Of copper cables of
large diameter, and the transmission
of electricity under under high po-
tential, it is but matter of Ordin-
airy practice to send it several hun
dred of miles without serious loss.
North Dakota Conditions
Thus, interpreting the facts to &C.
tual North Dakota conditions, it is
now entirely practical to generate
electricity at or near the great lig-
mite mines in the Slope, and send it
by great trunk lines to the Red
river valley and the twin cities. 1t
is suggested that these producing
plants be placed one near Minot and
another in the Bismarck territory.
Trunk transmission lines, paralleling
the Northern Pacific, 500 and Great
Northern lines will serve these rail-
roads as large customers, saving to
them enormous freightage on east
ern Goals. These lines will ,ulti-
mately be thus electrified, or
through their own generators,
through the Dakotas as are the Mil
waukee and other lines through the
mountains.
Traffic expert Williams Of Fargo,
has recently handled the Ignite data
to answer the railroads demand for
high freight on the score that east
ern Goals cost them SO much for fuel
for operations In turn they are u.g-
ed to revolutionize their system and
use Ignite, converted into elsctrici-
ty. The claim is made that it takes
car Of coal to deliver car of coal
to the distant consumer, or that they
use half their coal in operation.
On the other hand several railroad
officials have privately stated their
agreement with the fact that the
time is fast coming, if not here
when their lines through Dakota and
Montana must be electrified owing
to the APPALLING cost and waste in
the use Of coal. The figures we have
prepared on this. read like fiction to
the public. The average man is at
first incredulous when he gets< the
statement that the actual efficiency
on eastern coal, !. by the time it
reetkes the piston head Of the en-
Efne 81 butt percerv when to the
Original cost is added the loss at the
! deek1 lie loss from overlooking
scafs. eQal to haul coal, and . score
o. Isr ~leaks", before ths fuel ID
aHpllsd - firebox.
lDoetlGeity for Farm anA MIN
Thf several main electric cables
jfll ~ doliver to the various towns
4 xlor1l ~ Way. Thus will -tentfal
niank w etion cnt out a1l, the
dsrlisafj6k RI numerous small local
!: vitf III ae hr plants with high
i ,iorl1Sol ~ Low effieieney. From
& ~ - lines viii fa1fate
! SiiIi ~ 81 T. k and south. Gradual
~ - lY I'd ms IN the $500 49,
! Y extended u tkeln.
( SH3 IadI come - herp, Al