The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1823-05-07

Gunpowder within this Common
wealth.
SEC. /. Be 1T enacted By the Senats md
House Of Representatives. in General Court as
ssnlbled, and ythe authority Of the same, That
His Excellency the Governour be, and he is
hereby authorized, by and with the advice of
Council, to appoint some suitable person an
Inspector of Gunpowder, in every town and
place within this Commonwealth, where there
is a publick magazine or powder mandatory,
and in such other places as he may think
necessary; such Inspector to hold his Office
at the pleasure Of the Governour and Council,
and before he enters on the duties thereof, to
give bond with sufficient sureties to the Treas
nrer of the Commonwealth, in the penal sum
Of one thousand dollars, for the faithful dis
charge of his duty, and to be under oath faith
fully to perform the same. And His Excel
lency the GOVERNOR is hereby authorized, with
the advice Of Council, TO establish some suit
able and as far as may be accurate mode of
testing the strength, purity, and other impor-
tant qualities Of Gunpowder, and the same
10 prescribe to the Inspectors so appointed,
with such alterations and improvements, from
time to time, as may be usefully adopted in
the inspection thereof.
SEC. 2. Be ii further enacted, That all Gun
powder, manufactured in this Commonwealth,
shall be put into good tight kegs or casks of
twenty-five, fifty, or one hundred pounds nett
weight, each Of which shall be made of sea-
soned white, grey, yellow, or black oak, or
ash or chestnut timber, and bound together
by at least ten hoops, the chine to be fastened
with pegs, and the head shall be paned
smooth, and have hole bored in EACH Of the
diameter at least of one third part of an inch,
we'll stopped with corks, that the contents
thereof may be conveniently inspected.
SEC. 3. Be farther enacted, That it shall
be the duty of the Inspectors, or some one of
them, to inspect all Gunpowder which shall
be manufactured in this Commonwealth, or
which shall be brought into the same by land,
and all which shall be brought into the same
by water and landed, and all which shall be
exported from this Commonwealth, to see that
the same is well manufactured and composed
of proper materials, and that the casks in
which it is contained are such as are required
by this Act. And all Gunpowder of mer-
charitable quality shall be divided into two
general classes; and every cask containing
such powder as shall appear to be manufac.
tured in the best manner, properly composed
OF the purest materials, and which possesses
the greatest strength and density, shall be
marked in black paint, by the inspecting Off
Ger, Mass. No. ; and that which shall be of
inferiour strength and free from damage, but
which shall not appear to be made of as pure
materials nor so well manufactured, and the
quality of which shall not he so durable as the /
former, shall be marked, in black paint, by
the inspecting officer, Mass. No. 2; and all
ether powder shall be marked in black paint,
with the word condemned on both heads of
the cask, and on the sides thereof; and the |
inspecting officer shall pour into each and
every cask of condemned Gunpowder, one
pint Of clear water for every twenty-five
pounds Of powder contained therein and the |
inspecting officer shall also mark in black |
paint, in plain letters and figures, on one head |
of every cask of powder by him SO inspected, |
the initials Of his christian name with his sur |
name at large, and the word Inspector and |
the year and month in which the inspection is |
made, and the quantity of powder contained |
therein. And on the other head of the cask |
shall be marked, previously to the inspection,
the name of the manufacturer of the powder. |
SEC. a. Be ii further enacted, That ifupon
inspecting any cask of Gunpowder, suspicion
should arise that the same does not contain its
proper quantity Of Gunpowder, the Inspector
shall cause the same to be emptied and the
powder to be weighed, to ascertain the de.
ticiency, if any, and if the same be deficient,
to be filed to its due weight out of any cask
belonging to the same person.
SEC. 5. Be IL further enacted, That the
Inspector shall be paid by the owner or own.
ers Of the GunpoWder whether tho same be