Stoux City Academy of Science and Letters. 177 
Chemical Composition.—Both proximate and ultimate 
analyses of the lignite were made by the writer, for the 
purpose of determining its relative commercial value. 
The proximate analyses were first made upon cleaned 
samples of the drillings washed up by the hydraulic drill, 
and later, upon samples averaged from the lumps of lig- 
nite removed from the outcrop and shafts. In connection 
with this work, proximate analyses of lignites from 
North Dakota, and Rock Springs, Wyoming, were also 
made, that a first-hand comparison might be made of 
results obtained under the same conditions. 
In order to obtain a basis for the calculation of the 
heating value of the lignite ultimate analyses were made 
on two of the samples, and, as a check, the same was 
done on one of the Wyoming lignites. 
Very elementary experiments were carried out with 
regard to arriving at an approximation of the relative 
gas-producing capacities of the Nebraska and Wyoming 
lignites and of cannel coal. A word should perhaps be 
inserted here in regard to the nature of this latter method 
of experimentation. The proximate and ultimate analy- 
ses were made strictly according to the standard accepted 
methods discussed by Stillman, Gill and other chemical 
engineers, but the work on gas production was of neces- 
sity somewhat improvised. 
Weighed samples of the powdered coal were placed 
in porcelain combustion boats inserted in an iron tube of 
4-inch internal diameter, sealed at one end and fitted 
with a gas-tight connection at the other. This was laia 
horizontally in a combustion furnace and heated to 
bright-red heat for several hours, or until the gas was 
practically exhausted from the lignite. This gas, in 
escaping, was cooled by passing through a set of glass 
condensing tubes, which cooled it and collected the tar, 
and was purified by passing through tubes of potassium 
and calcium hydroxides. It was finally collected in large 
bottles over water. The volume of the gas was accu- 
rately measured and reduced to standard conditions of 
temperature and pressure, and from the data obtained, 
the yield of gas in cubic feet per ton of the lignite is cal- 
culated. As a further check, the loss in weight was 
noted and compared with the percentages of volatile 
matter as indicated in the analyses. At least two deter- 
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