The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-09-29

lighted comparatively cheaply from
Juice" that in other states costs
but few cents per kilowat hour. 1t
is also found that power can be
delivered at rates cheap enough SO
it can be used on all stationary work
on the farm, and ultimately to GER
tain traction operations just as fast
as the owner becomes financially
sound again, and able tp install
change in machinery type; and this
will only be, after he RECEIVERS from
his present acute 'deflation' and is
permitted cost of production plus
a reasonable profit. Anyone fami-
liar with actual farm conditions
now, knows that the old machinery
and harness have been cobbled up
SO many times to make them last,
that there will be small loss in
junking them for different type Of
outfit!
Again, if the farmer does, as he
now intends, - diversity more in the
future, he will find it the cheapest
time to shift to some electrical ma
chinery. Not that there will be a
sudden turnover to Il large use of
electricity, but, the production
costs plainly show that cheap cleo
tricity, will permit the gradual in
crease in use in many ordinary
operations, allowing one to get along
with less hired help and few horses.
If the cost data compiled on this
does not convince the uniformed,
the actual operations elsewhere
should do So
Low Freight Means Profit
That which reduces cost of haul
ing freight should directly benefit
farmer and merchant by lowering his
cost of operation and increase of
profits. While cost of electric in
stillation on railroads is high, once
it is established the cost Of opera
ton on many lines has startling
drop to one half or even one third
Of steam operation cost. No more
long trains of coal used simply to
make the traffic go! Electricity
rides the wires at low cost on the
right of way, and is taken off when
wanted. The writer's research in
this for the state and in many 9TH
er angles OF operation, convince him
as it does any engineer that the fu-
ture power in the great plains states
is electricity, largely from Ignite.
Rev0lutiOnize Railroads
Considering maintenance of roll
ling stock alone, the cost is vastly
greater with steam equipment. Elec-
trio motors were longer and hit the
turnstile for repairs just about
HALF as frequently as engines, are
out of commission about half as
much of the time and have, about
half the repair cost with their light
err equipment. Henry Ford has cor
rectly sensed the fact that rolling
stock must be lighter, though not
less strong, and that the present
heavy equipment is viciously waste
full. sn1D
The revolution of rail and other
power will reflect at least 25 cents
a bushel profit in grain production
in the northwest, according to the
present estimates. The St. Lawrence
waterway, fully developed, will add
another dime to the bushel of wheat
profit on Liverpool. Nor are the
above statements just the hopes or
imaginings of local engineers! They
are based on a consensus of care
fully worked out data in agreement
| with the recent findings of rail and
federal engineers.
Possibilities Unlimited
So much for the railroads and for
the general situation in electrical
development; later article will
show no less startling results in the
practical application Of Ignite pro-
duced electricity to ordinary mill
and farm operations, with cheap
power applied to supplant man and
horse power in doing in a few hours,
that which now requires days and
weeks of time and hard manual la
Dor.
Electricity is practicable from lig-
mite at few cents a kilowat hour,
in comparison with the present pro-
hibitive prices of steam produced
electricity. What a transformation
it will make in small town and large,
and on the farm. If you, Mr. Bust
ness man, pass this as ethiopian
dream, remember the marvels in au-
to and air navigation and in the ra-
do! 1T is built on even more tanpi-
BILE data.
Ignite Unlimited
Now is there lack of Ignite in
sight. My work for the state and
federal governments indicates that
there are 6O0,OOO,OOO tons of Ignite
in North Dakota alone. This APP
pears in beds over four feet thick,
and underlying just about the west
half of the state. These beds are Of
ten 10 to Is feet thick and may
reach IS feet. Further, there are
any where from one to. seven of
these immense beds lying one below
the other; an unlimited resources
for the future.