Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1846-12-14
GIN COTTON

The Charlottesville Jrliersonisn publishes
the following interesting letter from Professor
Rogers, of the University. in reference to hi.
mode OF preparing the Gun Cotton. His ex-
Penments appear TO have been peculiarly val.
liable IA sdouiing evidence that the explosive
properties oi the new iulminator are not ef-
iected By exposure, TO the atmosphere and light.
aud that the discharge will impart less h,st
than gunPowdrr does to q gun. II these facts
can be satisfactorily established, it is very pos
slble that this remarkable discovery nav lie
turned TO many useful purposes:
UsIvERsIrY OF Va. Nov. 3oth, 1916.
Dear Sir,--As prOmisad last week, / send
you q bnei account Oi the M Bie of prep,rny
Gun-Cot,on, which | and Others have iouni
most economical and successful. Tn. pro-
cess aSrecins NJ dpuOt la the main with that
oi Schn lbeiu, has tn ell yantag- over that uf
OttO's method, which at first endowed in
much greater economy Of material, and grrat.
er facility ia orSs~,,"s 80, ttt- ! uu- staiv. i'm.
stead oi ustnS nitud acid aluu. a. in Otto's
process, a mixture of this aud sulphunc acid
(oil oi vitriul) /, employed. The addition
OF the latter. BY robbing the nitric acid OF
the water with which IL j. combined. reduces
IT toa highly concentrated form. This con.
ccniraiing elect of the suiphuric acid, ens.
b'es as TO use a weaker nitric acid than could
b. employed alone, AMI a. the latter is by lar
the most costly OF tle materials used. Wa
Thereby secure much greater economy In the
operation.
As The nitric acid OF aqua FORTS Of the shop.
II rarely Of Sufficient strength Tor the ptocen.
unless by frequent immersions, a stronaerscid
may he prepared by adding IFS parts by
weight, OF sulphuTic scid. To about 100 uf nj.
trate oi potash or ssllpetre, ia u retort, aud
dislilling by o gentle lamp heat.
To one part of this acid. which has the
speCihc gravity oi shout l.3, we add one mari
OF even two parts, Of sulphunc acid. and the
liquid Is prepared TO ~receive the cotton. The
cotton need not be immersed in the mixed
acids longer than two minutes, although No
injury sppesrs TO result from an immersion oi
several hours. When Withdrawn from the
liquid II should be carefully washed 40 asen.
lreiy TO remove any adhering acid. Upon
being thoroughly dried al moderate temnet.
allure II is TT iof use.
j would add that the observation. have
made on the Gun cotton thus prec red A.
not confirm the sta which has hreu
published OF is loss OF explosive pores h,
exposure to The air and light. A specineT
mus exposed Tor The last ten DAYS in . s;tus
U'oi " receive the suns rays, il a. sctir,
I. now as when FIRST prepared.
ny numerous experiments on small ,csl.
have become satisfied Of The correctness 81
TIE assertion that this substance IN eIplodin,
Z communicates mnch less heat to the snclosiD,
vessel 'han gun.Powdcf. II IL howe,e,. a.
3 eh'I'e mistake To suppose that IL is produc
tive OF no rise Of temperature.
lie almost entire sbsence "a smoke .I,.
= IT'S combustion would naturally sugg,., 4,
> superior value a. e blasting agent in minr,
i, 'unPowdef under such circumstance. a. !
wen Known, IS attended with seriou. incoD
'enicnce to the OPERATORS. and generally eau
"s delay and a temporary suspension of m
T. Notk. Experiments very lately mad, !
CoTn"slI have demonstrated the great ad,sn
'sgs OF gun-cotton as thus spplitd.
Very respectfully. yours. &c.
r. r.. ROGERS.