The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-10-24
AN OBSERVER.
COMMUNICATION.

The particular attention of the inhabitants
of Brooklyn, as well as thofe of New-York, is
reGuelted to the following Communication, as it
Involves fubject with which not only the pre-
fervation of their property, but of their lives, is
intimately connected.
A Powder Magazine has been lately erected in
the town of Brooklyn, (and that two within the
limits of the fire dftriet, in direct expedition to
the wiiiies of the Inhabitants ofthat place. Dur
ing the time that the carpenters were at work
upon this building, and iun before the compile
ton, thert tools and variety of iron utenfs,
fuch as nails, fpikes, bolts, SC. were indifcri-
Intimately thrown about the different apartments,
when 1T that very moment no lefs that 10000
weight of powder was depolited within its walls,
and carts were confantly employed in adding
to the quantity. The Magazine, under the di-
re6tion OF the Corporation of New York, is not
fnppoted TO contain one tenth part OF the guam
tity of powder which is generally ftored in the
Powder-boufe at Brooklyn; and it ought to be
obierved, in publication of the former, that it is
erected al fuitable ditance from the city, and
is under proper regulations but this, as will af-
forwards appear, is very far from being the cafe
with that which is now under confederation.
Another very important difference between the
Puwder-houfe on York iflaDd, and that at Brook
lyn is, that the one is efab!iihed with the view
ofguardiug and defending our rights as natl
on, whereas the other is merely inittuted for the
pnrpofes Of individual interef and of private
Ejaculation. The dimen6ons of this Magazine
are 50 by 10 feet It is two tories high, its des
a I'd end was are of Newark ltone, its roof is
covered With ilate, and the lower floor is about
10 inches above the furface of the ground. The
floor Of the fecond ftory is made'of plank, and
ftcnred by large iron nails there are four doors
10 the Magazine, two in front and two in rear of
the building, each of which contains two iron
hiuges four feet long by half an inch thick, with
latge aaples extending through the walls they
have alto large iron rivets through them with
Hut heads for the purpofe 1--WE prefume) of fe-
caring the inner fahenings they are conftruet-
el OfdouhIe plank with one iron lock, and each
dor is alnoit covered with nails driven 70 as TO
form diamond fquarcs which are about two in
ches diaagt from each other. There have OF
late been erected at each end Of the Magazine
two lightning rods which are fiIpported by pie
ces of old timber, and we very much doubt whe-
Their they extend a fnliicient depth into the
ground to communicate with motif or wet earth
IN dry ieafon, - as to anlwer any ufeful pur.
poies as conductors. II is alto Of importance
that the public fhould be informed in what man.
ner the powder is landed at our town from or
board offhipping. The importer or con6gnet
knowing fuch powder to have arrived, applies
- the owner Of the Magazine for forage, which
Of couTfe is readily granted. When powder is
unloading from vellels (Which generally lie il
the Rream6 it is flowed away by the ferrymer
10 their horie boats, with degree of carele6nefi
totally incredible. After the boat has received
her load (which ufual!y conits of from 8 TO SOC
oaiks) ilie then proceeds to iome one of the