The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-12-19
CANADIAN DELEGATION IMPRESSED
NORTH DAK0TA'S POWER TRANSMISSION
SYSTEM AND DEPOSITS OF Ignite

placing the power station at the
mine pit they are in position to
produce power most economically.
Assist Development
These transmission systems have
been the means of greatly assisting
the development Of industry and
business generally throughout the
state, a development which will
continue to increase as the network
Of power lines continues to expand.
Inspect Ignite Mine
The following morning the party
travelled to Beulah, point some 60
miles from Bismarck, where they
remained until the following morn
ing. Here they Inspected the huge
Ignite mine operated by the Knilc
River Mining Co. and the power
station Of the Hughes Electric Co.
and were greatly impressed with
the high state of efficiency of both
Of these huge enterprises.
This mine has twenty-five miles
Of track underground and has a
coal area Of over $500 acres. The
company estimates that even with
the most intensive operation the de-
posits are sufficient to last for over
$50 years. The coal deposits arc
estimated at 10000 tons to the
acre and at the present time the
average daily output is 1000 tons.
This one mine produces twice as
much coal annually as all of the
coal mines Of Saskatchewan COM
bined, yet Saskatchcwan's deposits
Of Ignite are quite as extensive as
those of North Dakota, our climate
is colder and the need here is great
CT for cheap fuel supply.
Ignite Prices Cut
When the Knife River Co. began
operations some four years ago lig.
mite was bcils: sold in North Dakota
at an average price Of $500 per
ton. By quantity production and
efficient mining methods this price
has been reduced to an average of
$l.75 per ton, with the result that
practically the entire domestic fuel
supply of North Dakota is now pro-
vided by its own mines. The con-
sumption Of Ignite has been in
creased in the past four years from
100000 tons per annum to $500, 900
tons, and the importation Of coal
from outside the state has been cor
respondingly reduced.
People Save Millions in Fuel Costs
Power plsEts and domestic heat
ing plants have all been equipped
for the proper burning of Ignite
which when burned scientifically,
has proved a very cheap and salts
factory fuel. The Northern Pacific
Railway, from the Rocky Mountains
as far east as Staples, Mimi, uses
Ignite as fuel for all its heavy me-
chanically stocked trains and as a
result = saving of a million dollars
q year has been effecttd. The saw
ing to the people of the state by the
change from more costly fuel to
Ignite amounts to several millions
of dollars annually. Saskatchewan
undoubtedly has much to learn from
North Dakota in this respect.
A couple of hours were spent in
the mine by the Yorkton delegation
guided by Mr.. Hughes and his man
ager. Each member was equipped
with a miners cap and lamp and
the group presented a weird sight
In the murky surroundings of the
mine shafts. They rode to and from,
| the mine in special cars attached
to the coal truck trains and heard
the sound Of distant dynamite ex.
plosions as fresh "rooms" were
"blown in" in preparation for the
miners to start work on the NOR
row.
Low Labor Costs
Next the power station was visit
ed and inspected. Here they saw a
5000 X. w. unit in continuous oper-
alton with two-men shifts, a great
saving in labor costs being effected
by. mechanical stoking and other Ia
bor-saving devices. A second unit
is about to be installed of 5000 K.
W. capacity, which will produce a
larger output than the municipal
plant in the city of Regina. When
completed this one station will be
sufficient to take care Of the cleo
trical demands of twenty-eight
towns connected by 700 miles of
transmission lines. At present three
plants at widely separated centres
are providing power for this sys-
tenn, but in addition two of these
plants provide central steam heat
ing for the business areas of their
respective cities. The plant at Bis
marck derives a revenue from the
sale OF steam greater than it's, entire
expenditures on fuel.
The twenty-eight towns on the
Hughes transmission system are
taken care of with total staff of
thirty, the reduction in labor costs
and plant equipment being the
principal factors which make it pos
sible for transmission companies to
supply electric power at much lower
costs than individual plants, wheth-
er privately or municipality owned.
The delegation arrived back in
Beulah at 1870 o'clock on Saturday
and left at $3.50 for home. The in
formation secured was the subject
of many discussions on the home
ward journey and the advantages
and disadvantages of the three pro-
positions now before the Council
were gone into very fully. The
Councillors learned much that will
be of value in helping them to de-
terlnine which particular scheme
should be submitted to the vote of
the ratepayers; they are still of. an
open mind and are prepared to in
vestigate the other propositions
just as carefully and thoroughly as
this one before coming to any def
mite decision on this very important
and intricate question.
VERDICT Is AFFIRMED
Refusing to upset the verdict of