The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, August 23, 1917, Page 5

@ustry which promises to cause a broader distribution of industries and which will be a factor in increasing the number and importance of manufactur- ing industries In this state. In a bulletin recently issued by Dr. Babcock he has this to say about the use of lignite gas: MARKED INFLUENCE IN - DEVELOPMENT OF STATE “There {s little doubt that lignite gas can be successfully employed for power burposes, and that power can be pro- duced at such a low figure as to exert & marked influence in the development in the western lignite area of a variety of industries dependent on cheap and abundant power, which, with the estab- lishing of large by-product plants, may become a close rival of hydro-electric power. s “Because of the ease with which the gas is produced, - the low cost of the original lignite and the value of the residue when briquetted, the gas should have a large commercial value for lighting, heating and power purposes in many districts, especially in view of the low price for which it could be sold if manufactured as a by-product in a plant used also to produce briquets from lignite residue.” But, as mentioned above, gas is not the only valuable fuel contained in the lignite, now beginning to be seen as a wonderful storehouse of interesting products. Dr. Babcock has not been working for very long on his' experi- ments with “motor spirit,” the sub- stitute for gasoline, but he has gone far enough to have learned that this equivalent of gasoline can be obtained in quantities which will mean some- thing and which will make the new automobile fuel of commercial import- ance. Its distillation will further re- duce the cost and increase the profits of the making over of lignite into a more usable fuel. When the lignite briquet industry begins development North Dakota will begin to manufac- ture her own gasoline. It should be "but a few years before this state will be furnishing all her own supply of gasoline, or motor spirit, and very likely beforé many years will be ex- porting some to other states. “Another by-product of not a little importance to the lignite industry is ammonia. The distillation of lignite at the state experimental® plant has re- sulted in obtaining ammonium sulphate at the rate of about 17 pounds for every ton of dry lignite. Ammonium sul- phate is highly priz=d as fertilizer and its production within the state will be a boon to the farming industry as well as reducing the cost of lignite bri- quets. WHERZ THE SCIEMTIST HAS PRECEDED THE INDUSTRY Dr. Babcock’s experiments with lig- nite furnish a rather astonishing chap- ter in the history of scientific research along industrial lines. Other labora- tories have furnished different indus- tries with valuable processes and have aided in their development, but this state laboratory under Dr. Babcock and his assistants has explored the ground from the beginning and pio- neered the way for industry to follow. The results of his work have been published by the United States gov- ernment; his methods have been tested and approved. He has shown the state how to develop with tremendous gain to all citizens a resource of priceless wealth, Improvements may be made in the process but enough has been done to show that it is commercially practica- ble and profitable. The present high prices of fuel, the growing scarcity of - gasoline, the difficulties of transporta- tion, all combine‘in holding out a beck- oning hand to the new industry for. which Dr. Babcock has made all the ' plans. It seems strange that before this capital has not entered the field to ‘de- velop it. There are several possible reasons, however. In the first place, to enter the business on a large scale would require a heavy investment in mines and machinery. The sources from which capital could be had for such an investment are limited. The next obstacle is that the rail- roads are interested in coal mines.ot their own or in hauling coal, which #constitutes one of the important back freights into North Dakota. It is not to their interest to aid or encourage the development of the North Dakota lignite field. They have done nothing whatever to repress it, but if it had promised highly profitable traffic for them they might before this have fcund a way to cause its development. HIS WORK BELONGS TO PEOPLE OF STATE The third probable factor in causing private capital to hang back has been that Dr. Babcock has taken the view that the work he has done belongs to Citizens of Fargo and from various parts of North Dakota were present on the Sheyenne river near Fargo when the first concrete was poured for the Equity Co-operative packing plant. workmen pouring the first concrete for the foundation. all the people of North Dakota, and all its future citizens. “Any man or any corporation is wel- come to all our discoveries and to full information and advice on our proces- ses,” says Dr. Babcock, “but no ex- clusive rights nor exclusive informa- tin will be given.” If Dr. Babcock had been willing to give cxclusive use of the processes he: has worked out to some one corpora- tion it is very likely that a lignite cor- poration to manafacture his briquets would be in the field before this time. Another reason for lack of private development probably lies in the fact that the state owns large areas of lignite and that the ownership of others is scattered. An industry with many competitors is not a highly prof- itable industry. Where the chances of monopoly are poor the situation dcesn’t appeal to big capital. Altogether the situation is such that it seems likely the state will have to go still further in developing the in- dustry in order to make certain that its citizens shall have the benefits of The photograph shows this better fuel and the door be opened for the development of other industries. .That can be done by building a state lignite gas and briquetting plant on a larger scale than the experimental plant at Hebron and putting the bri- quets on the market. An electric gen- erating plant with gas engines would be a desirable accompaniment. Such a plant either should be located where there is a market for electric power or it should be built in connection with other state industries to which it could furnish power. The L.aw Will be Enforced Farmers’Governor Issues Proclamation to Peace Officers of North Dakota YNN J. FRAZIER, farmer's I 2 governor of North Dakota, has issued a proclamation to A state's attorneys, sheritfs, policemen and other peace of- ficers in regard to labor troubles in North Dakota this year and their pre- vention. The state has had no trouble as yet and none is expected if the gov- ernor's instructions are observed. Governor Frazier gets to the root of the matter. He explains that the en- forcement of the law fairly and with- out fear is all that is needed—the en- forcement of the law against acts of depredation by lawless individuals, as well as its enforcement against persons who violate the law under guise of preventing law breaking. The gover- nor says the law will be enforced to the limit against persons who plot to or try to burn crops, damage farmers’ machinery or do any other disorderly things. An attempt has been made by the anti-farmer gang and the gang news- papers of the state to use the gover- nor’s proclamation against him and against the farmers’ administration. All the governor asks is that the peo- ple of the state read his proclamation, which those who have criticized him evidently have not read, because the papers opposed to the governor and the farmers have failed to print it all, but have used only sections of it. MESSAGE OF FRAZIER UPHOLDS THE LAW The message of the governor was as follows: & “To the attorney general, state's at- torneys, sheriffs, policemen, and other peace officers of the state of North Da- kota: “As governor of the state of North Dakota, I feel it my duty to call your attention to the fact that there are a great many rumors that a lawless ele- ment 18 passing through the country bent upon destruction and devastation of property. It i1s charged that there are men going through the country burning crops and destroying farm ma. chinery and other property. “It is for this reason that | urge you to take every precaution to prevent any such lawlessness be- ing perpetrated within this state. I urge that wherever the evidence warrants you apprehend without fear or hesitation anyone guilty of attempting or threatening to com- mit any such lawless acts. “And | can not urge upon you too strongly that you make every endeavor to have any such’ person promptly tried and punished, if guilty, in accordance with the laws of the state, in order that all may take heed that this state will not tolerate either lawlessness or vio-, lence. “Society’s very existence de- pends upon the enforcement of law and, order. In these troublous times all authorities must be on the alert. You may rest assured that this administration will back you in seeing to it that all laws are observed and enforced. MUST NOT TRAMPLE ON PEOPLE’S RIGHTS “According to reports mob violence is prevalent in many parts of our country. Within the last few days most deplorable reports have come from South'Dakota and Montana. It is charged that the constitutional rights of individuals h&ve been tram- pled under foot by mobs in the guise of so-called safety committees, defense leagues, vigilant committees, labor or- ganizations and even by peace officers. “To some of these misguided mobs and officers it seems to be a crime to -be seeking work and not to possess money. Men have been illegally searched, beaten, deported and other- wise mistreated contrary to all law and in.direct violation of the inalien- able rights of every citizen, “I wish it distinctly understood that no such unwarranted actions against the rights of ‘any individual will be tol- erated in this state while I am gov- PAGE FIVE \ ernor. No official has a legal right to search any man, without a search war- rant. He has no right to beat any man. He has no right to deport any - man, because he is without money, or because he demands higher wages. The federal and state constitutions guarantee to individuals certain rights, These rights must be respected. The surest way to lose our liberties and constitutional rights is to take them away from those who are less fortun- ate. Abuse of official power is but to weaken all respect for law and or- der. Officials must protect the weak as well as the strong. I call upon you to sustain me in making North Dakota a model state of law and order. URGES FIRM DEALING WITH ALL' CRIMINALS “In conclusion, let me urge upon you again the necessity of dealing with firmness and determination with any man who is guilty of burning, at- tempting or threatening to burn crops or destroy farm machinery, or any other property, or com- mitting any offense against the peace and order of the state. Such a man must be promptly arrested, tried and punished in accordance with the law. Let us' use the strong arm of the law, but not the strong arm of a mad mob, or of a bullying official. “I trust that all officers of the state will sustain me in enforcing and ob- serving the laws, and thus protecting the rights of all people, but if there should be any who so far forget their duty to the state and their official po- sition and oath of office as to ‘assist or countenance violence, I shall not hesitate to cause their prompt removal from office. Nothing does more to de- stroy respect for government and to cause disloyalty than violation of the law by those entrusted with its en- forcement. I urge your earnest co- operation that our government may have the united support of all its peo- ple, Respectfully submitted, LYNN J. FRAZIER, Governor. SIS S S 1 ) \ e