The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1880-05-18 00:00:00

PORTL &ID.
THE EXPLOSIVES CASE.

We note elsewhere in our columns a case which came
before the Dorchester magistrates on Saturday last,
In which three quarrymen f Portland were summoned
for having in their possession a certain quantity of a
new Explosive, above the amount permitted by the
" Explosives' Act, 1875."
From the remarks of tke men it transpired the pow-
der, which is named Espies powder, is entirely non-
explosive, until confined when its extd tsive qnslities
are just double that of Ordinary blasttug gunpowder,
thus enabling the men to economize the quantity used
in their blast holes. . .

On making further enquiries as to its non-explosive
quality, we find th, above remarks are absolutely
correct, and on setting light to • small quantity, it
merely burps away, leaviaz a slight residue of the
nature of wax behind ; but this residue is not observ-
able Allen blasting, as in this operation the powder ia
ignited by a fuse, and the ordinary tamping of broken
stone b4ng tamped tightly downupon the powder,
the atmosphere becomes entirely excluded; the result
ir the instantaneous decomposition of the chemicals of
which the powder is composed. or in other words an
Instant explosion occurs, which acts upon the rook in
a similar manner to gunpowder, dynamite,gun-cotton,
or other explosives more or leas in use among qu irry-
men and miners.
_ . . . . .

—.—
One important feature, other than its perfect Wee,
In handling or use, is claimed for it in the fact that
lila of Kepi?, powder will generate the same quantity
as
gas or
b rendingobapnoer
by
yoneexxxdlotong
2iinbse
of blastbl
asting
powder in the same manner, thus enabling the men to
do their work with half the weight hitherto used by
them of gunpowder, and of course without necessitat-
ing the men to carry with theta to their work so large
a quantity of explosives, which is to say the least a
dangerous act, and one in which if by accident a epsrk
reached the gunpowder, would result in a loss of life
or limb to the unfortunate bearer of the useful but
dangerous assistant in his every-clay operations. Men
cannot be too careful in their manipulation of explo-
sives, as a slight oversight or mishap may hurl the
poor victim to the feet of his comrades, maimed and
bleeding, and with often scarce • spark of a precious
life left on his poor body; and accidents will occur—
whether by some unforeseen circumetanoe, noticed
perhaps only too late, or whether occurring in conse-
quence of too great a freedom in handling, arising
from constant use for years, of a substance they no
longer treat with the care its nature demands.
To our minds safety is as or qua non to all quarry-
men or miners, whose employment compels the use of
explosives, and if Espies powder can be handled and
used with the minimum of danger, as claimed by its
manufacturers, who are, we hear, Messrs. Falrholme
and Co., West Roos, Plymouth, we have no hesita-
tion in saying that such powder cannot be too widely
known and used, as in itspossession quarrymen have
an explosive doing the work of powder at one half
weight, perfect safety, and considerably less than half
wet. _

--iitese feature. are, we presume, sufficiently clear to
all, and we draw the attention of our traders to them
with satisfaction, if in any future time one accident
only can be prevented, and one poor maimed being is
prevented from draaging out • weary and painful
existence, brought about by accident or incautious use
of a dangerous substance.
We will conclude our remarks on this subject by an
allusion to the un-English underhand action of some
person who called the attention of the police to the
men having the powder in their houses, not that we
can hold with any infringement of an "Act of Parlia-
ment framrd for the careful storage, Ac., of explo-
sives," but an anonymous letter-writer is too con-
temptible to trouble about, and his action has only
the effect of making • stir and defeating his own
object by giving publicity ta the case, and enabling
users of explosives to give a trial to Espies powder,
which they might not otherwise hoar of.