The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-05-12
AS | SEE 1T.

The above heads an editorial in the
April Minnesota Conservationist from
the pen of Conservation Commissioner
Herman Wenzel. Writing in the Con-
ServationiSt, Commissioner Wenzel
speaks of the development of Min
nesota's vast peat resources for use as
fuel and further research to make our
low grade iron ore merchantable. He
recommends action by the legislature
to make such program possible. He
says:
The next session of the legislature
should provide adequate funds for the
Department of Conservation to enlarge
and operate scientific laboratories in
cooperation with the University of
Minnesota.
Every effort possible should be made
to determine what additional resources
that man has not yet found have been
provided by nature in this state, in
order that industry may thrive in our
state.
One of the difficulties which stands
in the way of establishing new indus
tries in this state is the high cost of
fuel. For instance, the freight alone,
on ton of industrial fuel, costs Min
neSota industries more than the fuel
itself. Industries located closer to the
coal mines, therefore, have this adj
vantage in operating costs over in
dustries in Minnesota. Every effort
should be made by scientists to find
if possible, cheaper fuel. Tentative
research has indicated that this is
possible.
| Northern Minnesota has a tremend-
GUS supply of peat which, if it can be
developed into fuel, is large enough to
supply the needs for large industries for
several hundred years to come, pro-
vided a method can be found to de-
velop it for commercial use. Further
more, it has been pointed out that
with federal aid, by the construction of
a pipe line through the Dakotas into
Minnesota, it may be possible to bring
natural gas into our industrial centers,
particularly the Iron Range, from the
Montana gas fields, where millions of
cubic feet are escaping into the air for
want of market.
If natural gas could be brought into
the iron mining districts, say at Is
cents to Is cents thousand cubic feet,
it would make possible the operation of
roasting plants, so that low grade iron
ore could be concentrated, and the life
of the mining industry prolonged for
hundreds of years to come.
At the present rate of consumption
Minnesota reserves of merchantable
iron ores will be exhausted in from Is
to so years The lower grade ore de-
posts, however, which run from 20 per
cent to As per cent in iron, are I'M
limited, and an effort should be made
Immediately to find means to benefici-
ate this ore on a commercial basis.
In order to produce a ton of con-
centrates from this low grade ore it
will require from six to seven times as
many men as are employed at the
present time in producing one ton
of direct shipping ore.
Experiments to date indicate that a
roasting process will be necessary in
order to concentrate this low grade
material, and in some cases sintering
of the concentrates will also be neces-
sary, so that if cheaper fuel can be
obtained for Minnesota, it will provide
additional employment for many of our
people for a long time to come.
A well equipped and financed scien-
tific research laboratory might well find
ways to successfully produce and use
other chemicals and minerals which are
found in this state. Then, too, the
utilization of much of the products
raised on farms, which now are largely
wasted, would aid materially in help
ing the distressed farmers. All large
modern industries have appreciated the
value of research laboratories in keep
ing up with the trend of the times.
The state should do everything pos
sible to extend to its people the greatest
possible benefits from its natural re-
sources. The Department of Conser-
walton, in cooperation with the Uni
versity of Minnesota, is ready to carry
on an active research program along
these lines if the Legislature will pro-
vide the necessary funds for this i'm
portant work.