The Sun.
London, England, 1868-08-20 00:00:00

AUGUST 20, 1868.

they had received from Great Britain, and now was
the time for this course to be altered. If the same
state of matters regarding the Church prevailed in
Scotland, he believed the result would be an uproar
such as that country had never seen. He was
thoroughly prepared to support a large scheme of
free and unsectarian education in the country, and
he was not sure but that before long it would be
found necessary to make it compulsory. A vote
of confidence in Mr. Carnegie was unanimously
carried.

INCREASED 1 UNNELLING FACILITIES.

HAUPT'S IMPROVED ROCK DRILL AND NITRO-
GLYCERINE.
(From the Anglo-American Times.)
There is a good article in the last Westnzinster Review
on nitro-glycerine, which the writer believes, as an
explosive agent, to be destined to achieve great re-
sults. In conjunction with Haupt's improved rock
drill, we believe that the reviewer's anticipation
will be more than realised—a system of tunnelling,
boring, and blasting being introduced which will
give immense facilities in penetrating through the
bowels ofthe earth. An interesting experiment
has just been made at the Alinera Lime quarries,
Wrexham, in North Wales, to test both the drill
and the explosive compound, and we will only say
here that the instrument and the compound were
alike successful. The rock drill is the invention of
the eminent American engineer General Herman
Haupt, of Philadelphia, lately and essentially modi-
fied and greatly improved. Messrs. Blanchard and
M'Kean, 5, Rue Scribe, Paris, are the proprietors
of the European patents, and during the past year
have done much to adapt and perfect it for the pur-
poses required. The machine, as: used at Wrex-
ham, is 38 inches long, and in weight 140 lbs., re-
quiring one man only to work it. The parts brought
into operation are constructed of hardened steel,
and the machine is fixed in a simple frame, which
has four adjustable legs, weighing about 75 lbs.,
two men easily moving both machine and frame.
In motion it works as does the hand, viz., the stroke,
the revolution, and the feed all automatically made
by the machine, which adjusts itself to the differ-
ences in the hardness of rocks or varying speed of
penetration. It may be worked either by steam or
compressed air, which operates upon the piston in
a small cylinder, giving the necessary impetus to the
drill to carry it through its automatical motions up
to 450 strokes per minute, the ordinary stroke
being 2001b5., which can be increased or lessened by
the turning of a screw. To work effectually two-
horse power of steam at 30 to 401bs. pressure is
required, which is obtained at small cost by a port-
able boiler. The smallest size machine will drill holes
up toll inches in diameter,but machines maybe made
to drill holes of any required dimensions, penetrating
from one to six Or seven inches per minute according
to the hardness of the stone. The machine used in
theiLime quarry was placed upon a flat surface,
occupying a space two feet square, a 1i-inch drill
''being' passed through the cylinder. A flexible tube
attached to the locomotive gave the necessary
power, and the drill commenced hammering away
at full speed. In four minutes the tool had gone
to the depth of sixteen inches, the dust being ab-
Ofloed a.uct the,, ilrgi kept cool by ajet of water
pouring inio:thEi ' The tool was then changed
in "two 'minutes and a half for one an inch and
three-eighths, and in three minutes the hole
had reached a further depth of fifteen inches, mak-
ing a good blasting hole in the hardest rock
of thirty-one inches in less than ten minutes,
including the time occupied in adjusting the ma-
chine and changing the drill. To have effected
this in the ordinary way two men would have
been engaged three hours. The machine was then
removed to other parts of the rock and other holes
bored with exactly the same result, which excited
the astonishment and satisfaction of those who
witnessed it. The machine as here tested was
horizontally placed, and in large tunnels three or
four may be kept working together one over the other
at different angles and wholly independent of each
other. The machine can be used on a columnar
stand weighing 100 lbs., and consisting of one or two
hollow iron columns with telescopic and screw adjust-
ments to suit any height of tunnel. The frame is placed
on a universal joint to drill at any angle, the direc-
tion being changeable in two minutes. The legs
are so framed as to stand on any surface, however
irregular, and shod with steel points. What adds so
much to the value of the machine is that it is pecu-
liarly adapted to submarine work. As it is equally
good in driving levels, sinking shafts, and open
quarry work, its introduction at the present time,
coupled with the use of dynamite, is very fortunate,
as it will encourage the prosecution of the three
huge projects now discussed—" the Sub-Channel
Railway from Dover to Calais"--another " from
Port Patrick to Donaghadee, connecting Great
Britain with Ireland"—and " and that under the
Firth of Forth between Linlithgow and Fife."
It may not be out of place here to condense from
the Westminster Review a few remarks about nitro-
glycerine : —lt had its birth in the chemical
laboratory of an eminent French professor, M.
Pelouze, upwards of twenty years ago. It is
a mixture of four parts of oil of vitriol and
two parts of strong fuming nitric acid, the specific
gravity of which is as nearly as may be 1.52. When
this acid mixture has thoroughly cooled down, one
part of glycerine in the dehydrated state—that is
free from water—is poured into it and the whole well
stirred. Chemical action ensues, attended with
considerable increase of temperature, and with the
escape of ruddy, brown fumes. To prevent the
temperature becoming too great, the vessel is
externally cooled by being surrounded with ice.
When the chemical action ceases, it is found
that a yellowish oily-looking fluid comes to
the surface ; this is impure nitro-glycerine.
To obtain it in the pure state, free from contami-
nating acid, the whole liquid mass is thoroughly
mixed with fifteen or twenty times its bulk of cold
water, and then permitted to settle. The nitro-
glycerine collects in the lower part of the vessel,
and is drawn off by means of a syphon, or separated
by the process of decantation. It is afterwards
washed so completely that not the slightest trace of
acid is found in the washings. When perfectly pure
it is a colourless fluid, decidedly heavier than gly-
cerine, petfectly inodorous, and possessed of a
sweetish, aromatic, and pungent taste. It is power-
fully poisonous, and even a small quantity placed
on the tongue produces violent headache ; and as
it acts similarly when absorbed through the pores, it
is advisable that gloves be worn when working
with vessels containing it. When prepared in a
pure state it is a very stable compound at
ordinary temperatures. If, however, it be im-
pure, and contains any of the acid used in
preparing it, there is a proneness to decomposition,
and then explosive violence is almost certain to
occur. When pure it will safely bear exposure to
the temperature of boiling water. It is not in the
slightest degree volatile ; it is practically, if not
absolutely, insoluble irk water, but in either alcohol,
and especially wood-spirit or methyl-alcohol, it is
freely dissolved. lts especial property is great ex-
-I,lo3ive power, but it is not exploded with any
unusual degree of facility. It will not explode by
simple contact with fire or heat unless raised to about
360 deg. Fahr. If a flame be plunged into it the
liquid will simply burn so long as the match is applied,
and with an ordinary cotton wick it will burn like
common lamp oil. Gunpowder will explode with
a spark, and gun cotton at a temperature of 277
deg. Fahr. Some other agent than heat must be
employed, and that is concussion. When a quan-
tity of the liquid is spread over an anvil, on strik-
ing the moistened surface sharply with a hammer
there will be a detonation ; but only that part will
explode which is actually struck ; and there may
be many such explosions on the parts untouched by
the hammer. Experiments have been made with
glass bottles filled with the liquid ; they have been
dashed against hard rocks, thrown from great
heights, but no explosion has resulted, and
even after being heated to 120 degrees Fahren-
heit. When it is desired to employ this substance
as a blasting agent, bore-holes arc made in the
usual way, which are filled up to a sufficient height
with the liquid, and then rock powder, or sand, or
water is introduced above the nitro-glycerine as the
tamping material. Hard stamping or stemming
yery objectionable; just mentioned), water

will suffice ; for as the nitro-glycerine is fully one
and a half times the weight of water and insoluble
in it, the latter will rise to the surface, even
though the drill-hole contain water when the
nitro-glycerine is poured into it, so it may be
used in wet rocks or water-bearing strata with
impunity. When the liquid is in the drill-
hole, the fuse-tipped with a tightly fitting per-
cussion-cap, is introduced into it either before
or after the tamping is done, but the cap must be
actually in the blasting liquid. When the explo-
sion

is effected there is no residue nor smoke, and
being much quicker than gunpowder the operation
is performed with greater than ordinary rapidity.
It is the most powerful explosive known, one pound
of nitro-glycerine doing as much mechanical work
as ten pounds of gunpowder, and some affirm even
thirteen. Weight for weight it costs seven times
as much as gunpowder, but the economy of its use
is seen in the effect produced by the explo-
sion. So great is this in comparison with
gunpowder that few bore-holes are required,
and a swing results of from thirty to forty
per cent. in mines, and 50 to 60 in quarries.
Although the Reviewer alludes pointedly to its use in
Sweden, a late order of that Government prohibits
its use in that country, from which we must con-
, elude that experience proves it to be a more unsafe
compound than he represents. It may, however,
result from ignorance, and the fright caused by the
destructive nature of the explosions at Newcastle-
on-Tyne, and he commences his article by showing
the absolute necessity for safety to obtain the
liquid in a pure state, when he affirms it to be far
less dangerous than gunpowder.

MUNITIONS OF WAR.

Report to the Government of the United States on the
Munitions of War Exhibited at Paris, 1867. Lon-
don : E. and F. N. Spon, 48, Charing-cross.
Lieut.-Colonel Charles B. Norton and W. J.
Valentine, Esq., United States Commissioners,
have published the report to their Government on
the munitions of war at the Paris Exhibition of
last year. This book is well got up, containing 80
illustrations, and being printed by the authority of
the Secretary of State is therefore in every respect
an official report. The Commissioners modestly
express their sincere regret that the Government
had not commissioned officers of the regular army
to fill a position requiring seence, research, and
technical knowledge, and they admit having made
a liberal use of the official documents within reach,
and of the published accounts in the leading scien-
tific and other journals of different countries, be-
lieving that they could thus obtain a more complete
view of the entire field. After dealing fully with the
war materials exhibited, the Commissioners
feel it their duty to notice important improvements
elsewhere, and such events as the English trials of
the Rodman gun at Shoeburyness, which occurred
while they were writing their report. The success
of the 15-inch smooth-bore gun against the 8-inch
Warrior target, which fairly established the supe-
riority of American. ordnance, afforded them much
gratification. It is true that fuller experiments
must qualify the decision, yet enough remains, to
justify the Commissioners in the high ground they
have taken. The first chapter is devoted to cart-
ridges. It commences by remarking that most of
the rifles exhibited were invented to suit the
cartridge, instead of the cartridge to suit the
rifle. The American is a simple metallic cart-
ridge, consisting of the shell, the fulminate,
the charge of gunpowder, and the bullet. The
Boxer cartridge for the Snider rifle is a
compound metallic cartridge, for, though like the
American, formed of four parts, they are com-
pound in themselves, really consisting of fourteen,
some, the Commissioners think, unnecessary. A
report of General Hay's is given, and though the
defects he describes have been since overcome, the
Commissioners deem it " strange that the British
Government should persevere at great expense in en-
deavouring to improve a very faulty cartridge, when
a superior article is already in the market and suitable
to the regulation arm. " We allude to the cartridge
lately invented by Mr. Daw, of Great Trinity-lane,
London, a compound cartridge, and which, among
recent inventions, is worthy of special men-
tion, as containing some peculiarities of a novel and
ingenious description. The cartridge is composed of
four parts, two of which are compound. The bullet,
as in the Boxer, has the wooden picket through
half its longer axis, and the clay plug in the base
for expansion. The shell is also of brass and in
three parts, retaining the copper cap for the fulmi-
nate in the centre of the base. In almost all other
respects the cartridge differs materially from the
Boxer. It is much shorter than the present service
cartridge, and the inventor consequently claims for
it greater facility of extraction from the regulation
arm. The cylindrical portion of the case is com-
posed of a little over one fold of thin metal, which
being united is perfectly gas-tight, and from the
slightness of this one fold of little or no weight, and
of great flexibility and toughness. The latter is a
marked advantage over stouter metal, as the case,
on the ignition of the charge, cannot fail to take the
form of the breech or chamber in which it is enclosed,
and cannot impede in the least the extraction of the
shell after the explosion, as the sudden alteration of
the temperature, after the gas leaves the barrel,
causes a slight contraction of the metallic shell. It
is waterproof as well as gas-tight, requiring no
paper covering or lubrication, as, in addition to the
shell being joined by cement or solder, it grips the
bullet closely above the cannelures, or grooves, and
thus the projectile, with the powder and fulminate,
are held together in one compact body by the slight
shell. 'The weight of sixty rounds of this cartridge
is 51b. lloz., the weight of bullet 465 grains, that
of shell and fulminate 105 grains, and the charge
of gunpowder is 65 grains." The Chassepot cart-
ridge consists of six parts ; the priming, the pow-
der case, the powder, the pasteboard wad, the ball
case, and the ball, and is not, correctly speaking,
a metallic cartridge. That of the Prussian needle
gun is peculiarly its own, and being made for the
gun can only be used in it, or in one having a
needle arrangement, to reach the fulminate
through the powder. It consists mainly of
four parts, not enclosed iu a metallic but a
paper cover, the powder—the fulminating cap
—the carrier wad—and the bullet. The lat-
ter is of an acorn shape and weighs about an
ounce, the charge of powder being 76 grains. The
Commissioners consider that the requisites de-
scribed by Captain O'Hea in his paper read before
the Society of Arts in London to make up a good
cartridge are combined in the American with the
exception of a sufficient charge of powder, a defect
easily remedied. The thin cylindrical case
of Mr. Daw's cartridge possesses some ad-
vantages over the heavier shell of the Ameri-
can, but Mr. Daw's is a central fire car-
tridge, and therefore unsuited to magazine arms.
The Small Arms Committee awarded to Mr. Daw
the first prize of £4OO for his cartridges, which,
though noticed in a foot note, was granted after the
report had been written. But it is evident, from
the tone of the American Commissioners, that they
agree with the committee in estimating Mr. Daw's
as .the best cartridge ; at any rate, after the Ameri-
can. " Like the Boxer," they say, "it is uncertain
whether Daw's cartridge can be refilled after firing,
an advantage possessed by the American which,
combined with its simplicity and cheapness, gives it,
in our opinion, the first place among the many
cartridges that have come under our observation."
This interesting work will furnish the subject of
further remarks hereafter.—Anglo-American Times.

The aggregate number of patients relieved at the
Metropolitan Freo Hospital, Devonshire-square, City,
during the week ending Aug. 16, was—Medical, 910 ; sur-
gical, 810—total, 1,750, of which 818 were new cases.
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