Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1846-11-24

Dcay Sir:-Dne OF the most HonderfIl scientific dis
modern times has been exploded here and At
Basc, and, within the last few weeks Pro-
fessos Baltger. the place and schobein Of
the latter -ousy. ~ similar Of eXper
inentng, have invented method Of preparing cot
ton which viii. undoubtedly crentuate in TIL dscontn-
uance OF the of gunpowd~r. The article which
they prepare been submitted many ordeaIs
superiority for all explosive purposes over
gunpowder, Acknowledged by the first chemists AID
military officers in Germany. can scarcely believe my
when witness exhibition Of is extraor-
binary properties.
Upon my arrival in TINS city. invited ~ friend
,l,stin eltisled member German Diet dine h
him. ana declining his hospitality met with ana
was presented TO Professor Dsger, who il IS but proper
to remark distinguished for his attnments, and who
has charge of the public laboratory chemical iectuf
c Before the separation Of the party Professor B. took
from each his waist pockets paper containing
some raw cotton; a small portion Of that which III
one he placed upon sheet white paper ana it
some gunpowIc upon another sheet lie touched them
at the same with the hrnng end Of cigar, ani
with the qulckness OF the igtniHgs blast the cotton
consumed without smoke Tor, ashes, even
the slightest upon the white sheet Of foolscap;
while the ignition OF the gunrowler seemed 10 be slow,
although Of the best quality, by which the paper
and colored, and the filled with smoke. He
then took small quantity Of gunpowder, and placing
upon paper, entirely covered with prepared cotton from
the other paper-Iouching the with the blaze Of
a match, exploded without burning t.e eunpowdcr.-
subsequently, my apartments he exploded cotton
on the palm my hand. without my feeling the
ton of heat such the remark able raplty Of It's ig
hitting.
A short time, it by til. inventors, is only
quircd preparation the article and the process
exceedingly simple that it can be manufactured by
laborcrs, and without any danger whatever of
combustion. Itcan be fit for few hours after the
the bale, and without the aid of
chinery; and it may be thoroughly saturated with WATER
without affecting properties njuriousy rs soon as
re-dred again fit for There is nothing to ap-
prchcnd from spontaneous Combustion. VIII II g-
BY friction, ts loading Of ire or become
infanrd under temperature OF 900 CIesus 1t viii
! catch FIRE, either from = blaze spark
The fact has been ascertaned from repeated expar
nlcnts that forty-eghth part Of of III. pre-
pared will prop- bullet from American rifle,
as far ana as the twelfth part Of Of gum
powder. The sixteenth Part OF will drive a
three quarter ball distance of sixteen hundred
PAGES Moreover the barrel never requires cleaning
Forty Shots without nternssion, have been made and
without any perccpble accumulation Of iiltlwhile the
gun throughout entirely free from heat In firing
FOUNDER, the result the in this respect
The experiments in blasting rocks with prepared cotton
have also been cmnenty successful. AT Basic large
block granite, measuring 40 cubic feet, blown
M by four ounccs-whch could been effected
with less than pounds of superior gunpowder.
Last week, tn, power of the article tested at
meeting Of the 'Brtsh Scientific Association,
citation composed of the most profoundly learned ini
yiLuaIs in Europe ana they were amazed With what
accomplished. Sir J. Herschcl took remark,
Professor Schonbein being present that 1.-The discovery
| IN the next generation might mankind with the
! widest powers The inventor Titan, who could
tear off rocks and almost call down the liGltnings
understand that l25 pounds Of the
which found in the bale, when properly prepared
will weigh 65 pounds AMI that here. where the sta
pie is much earer than in the United Stats.
viii cost consi erubIv less than gunpowder. What the
other used thu manufacture. Will Of
course until patents secured among
the various One has already keen taken out for
Brtan and the States Of the Germanic confede-
have through the Diet consented TO give 100000
orins merely the right preparing i for the
provided commission, which has beer instituted to test
it in every conceivable way shall report favorabIy This
/ experiment will be made at Nayence IL few days
Should the prepared cotton superSade gunpowder en-
relv, new market Will he created for any redundancy
of WELD the material in the United States, and alb
solute consumption occur. Two or three hundred thou
sand bales a moderate calculation, Will be burned up
annually Mr.. Grove, celebrated chemist Of England
commenting upon the Importance of the discovery
says:-It necessary mix conbusble substance
which will bring forth sufficient quantity OF oxygen &c
catch fire. whereby, under certain temperature, the
whole viii explode These two substances contain
ed in the gunpowder; but in the best Of this ar
Gle that is manufactured part It remains after xplo
sion which fire require cleaning afte,
being discharged of their contents. The invention oil
Professor Schonbein without his fault while the pow
Of explosion is twice great that OF gunpow-
der
Germany is distinguished, above other countries,
many of the most important discoveries which have
been made the Christian This has resulted
from the character of the people, who have de-
lighted study of sciences, and who have endeav-