Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1846-09-02
WHOLE NO. Iss
GBNPOWDER.

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from the Polytechnic Repiem, gives full account OF
the process connected with the manufacture Of this
belligerent compound:
Gunpowder is not chemical, (says the article)
but mechanical compound, composed Of salt-petre
or nitro, sulphur and charcoal, intimately comming-
led. The first of these ingredients not exactly
"digged out of the bowels of the earth," Shaks-
peare has it.. In parts of the wotld-in India
for example ii is found ef1orescence on tho
earth's surface, from which the immense manufacto-
ries Of England are wholly supplied. Other nations,
not having the commercial facilities of Great Britains
make it arcialIy, by process first perfected by the
celebrated chemist Bcrthollet. The origin Of the
manufacture is curious, and forcbly illustrates the
advantage which may accrue to a nation from the
cultivation of science. At one period OF the French
Revolutionary wars, operations had nearly ceased
owing to want of Saltpetre, which, on account o.
England, could no longer be imported. At this cri-
sis Bonaparte applied to Berthollet, who made this
confident reply-"Sire, ,cittin three days zoe icH
make our o,cn Saltpetre," and he kept his word
This he could do from the fact that the lime Of old
walls, combining with the oxygen and nitrogen OF
the atmosphere forms nitrate of lime, which, bJ tho
addition of potash, makes saltpetre. Napoleon rs
sued an order for the appropriation of all old walls,
ect, and in little while France rendered inde
pendent of foreign.supp!y.
Sulphur, the next ingredient of gunpowder, exists
to great extent in all volcanic countries, and IN
Sicily, is found nearly in state of purity, though
not enough so. Like saltpetre, it must undergo va
rious processes of publication ere it can be used.
The last ingredient is charcoal, the manufacture
of which has lately been carried to great perfection,
to which the great superiority of the gunpow
der of the presents above that Of the former t'mes'
is mainly attributable. The common plan of manu-
featuring charcoal, is inadequate to the production
of such an article needed for good powder. The
process now followed is that Of distillation. The
wood, (of which the willow, the alder, and other
light woods far preferable to the harder woods)
being cut into bllets, inserted into castiron cyl
inders, which are subjected to the operation of heat.
In this way pure charcoal is readily obtained. For
the very best kind of sporting powder, black dry wood
is used; for government powder, willow and alder;
and for the common sort, any woods are employed.
The materials being purified, the saltpetre is mel
ted into fat cakes and then reduced to coarse pow
der, as are also the Iphur and charcoal. Being
weighed out in proper quantities, the charcoal is
spread ina trough, and the sulphur and ntre sifted
on it. These ingredients then incorporated with
the hands, They are then taken to the powder-mill,
which is brick buildng..wth light boarded roof. In
the midst of this apartment is circular trough, pro-
vided with cast iron stone bed, on which revolve
two mill stones, and each weighing from three to
four tons. In England manufacturers are forbidden
hv Iaw fo in theco onor,fions mora
ty-two pounds of composition at time, on account
of the frequent accidents which take place.
The danger varies according to the degree of tritu
ration to which the materials have been exposed usu
aly however, it is not great, as the material is in
all cases, little damp-a little water being purpose
ly added during the operation. The time required
in this part of the process is from to six hours
Time, however, is not criterion, but great atten-
ton is paid to Elasticity which the at last re-
qures, when, in technical phrase, it is said to be
aliue. 1t then gldes from beneath the mill wheels
without sticking to them. 1t lis then taken up and
carried to the press-room, under the of mill
cake. Here being spread out on copper plates and
placed in layers, in the press, it is subjected to
heavy pressure.
The next operation is that of graining, without
which the powder would burn too slowly. 1t is thus
accomplished The material is placed in selves made
of thick parchment which Perforated with small
holes Each seivs contains two discs circular pie
ces Of wood, spd both rapidly revolved by ma
chinery, by, which the mll-cake is forced in grains,
into receptacle below.
'Gtdsiag,Nthe last operation, without which pow
der would look dull, is accomplished by placing tho
grains in barrel, fixed on horizontal axis, which
is made to revolye wthgreat velocity. The glazing
therefore, is due to friction. Powder is less
finely grained, according it is wanted for large
small arms Fineness of grain increases the rapid
ty of ignition, necessary quality for the projection
Of small weights--whereas for large weights, cer-
tain hardness of ignition is necessary. If several
pounds OF powder used the larger grained variety
will accomplish the greater distance. charge of
four drachms of fine gained or small armed powder
is expected TO project steel ball with sufficient force
to perforae certain number of half wet elm planks
placed three quarters of inch asunder-the first
being thirty feet from the muzzle of the barrel. A
charge Of four ounces of cannon powder must be
capable of projecting from eight inch mortar a
sixty eight pound iron shot not less than $50 feet
JACKS CoNoLussoS.--'Dld you take the note, and
did you Mr.. Thompson, Jaekr 'Ees, slr.' sAnd
how was he Why he looked pretty well, but he's
very blind Blind! what do you meanp Whv.
while wur in the room, he axed me where my hat
wur, and il wur on my head all the time.