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Annual Report of the 
ter in the peat that they did not succeed. It was not ground fine 
enough, and had sand in it and was not properly dried. 
Mr. Delaplaine. I wish to give a little experience of myself 
and partner in attempting to convert this crude material into com¬ 
mercial fuel. It was some 13 or 14 years since, we obtained what 
was then considered to be the most effective apparatus for convert¬ 
ing this fuel into commercial form, and make it equal to coal. Mr. 
Levett had been endeavoring for years to perfect the matter. He 
had been laboring with Mr. Nicholson, the patentee of the Nicholson 
pavement. He had been endeavoring to obtain the Prussian prize 
of $200,000 to the person who would obtain a fuel of that cast. I 
visited a number of points where peat was being converted into 
fuel. I was where peat was taken from the meadow and in 25 
minutes was placed in the furnace of the apparatus they were using, 
and burned equal to coal at that time. The question of the value of 
peat is settled, and the only question is how it can be converted in¬ 
to proper commercial fuel so it can be transported from place to 
place. We all know that crude peat when thrown on the ground 
very soon disintegrates. A year ago last winter I warmed my 
house with an ordinary coal grate with peat, and found it very much 
cheaper than coal; and a few years ago we kept our offices warm 
with it, using a soapstone stove, and we found it more profitable 
than coal. 
In all the experiments at Rush, Indiana, in Canada and New 
Jersey, and more particularly at Rochester, all the trials have proved 
unsuccessful. They never have produced a fuel that would compete 
with other fuels. Millions of dollars have been sunk at Meridian, 
Connecticut. They were offered a contract of a million tons, but 
the works have all been sold out and cast aside, and there is not a 
single apparatus to day in use of that kind. 
One firm expended about $5,000 in experiments. We had cut 
peat, we ground it fine and converted it into fuel, but w r e could not 
place any in competition with other fuels. But I have the pleasure 
to announce this fact, that we have parties, one engaged for twenty 
years, a Mr. Sexton of Canada who have made a fuel by a process by 
which they make it more dense than anthracite coal, and they say 
this fuel can come in competition with other fuels. It is made in 
about half an hour from the time it leaves the bog. 
With reference to the quantity of fuel, I think Mr. Newton is 
