State journal & flag., 1846-11-13
Explosive COttOn-Emportant.

Explosive COttOm-hmpOftamt
The Washington Union contains some
interesting statements in relation to the dis.
covery of explosive cotton. The European
correspondent of the Union says this ar
ticle "will undoubtedly eventuate in the
discontinuance of the use of gun pow
der = II this should prove true, the de-
mand for cotton will be greatly augmented.
The Union says:
'The question comes up, whether. with
these experiments before US, SO directly
vouched for, as they are, by one of our
most intelligent citizens. it does not be-
come the duty of the War and Navy De.
pariments to investigate the subject, and to
institute series OF experiments as soon as
they can communicate with the authors or
patentees. We say paIentees, because We
understand that the first step has already
been taken to take out patent right in our
own Patent Office
The European correspondent of the
Union, writing from Frankfort on the
Maine," says:
Upon my arrival in this city was in
vited by friend, a distinguished member
of The German Diet, to dine with him, and
not declining his hospitality, met with and
was presented to Professor Baltzer, who it
is but proper 10 remark is distinguished for
his attainmenls. and who has charge of the
public laboratory as chemical lecturer.
RAJ tho rati ~ h.
sor B. took from each of his waiscoat
pockets paper containing some raw cot
ton; a small portion Of that which was in
one he placed upon sheet Of white paper,
aud near 1t some gunpowder on another
sheet. He touched them at the same mo-
ment with the burning end of cigar, and
with the quickness OF the lightning's blast,
:he cotton was consumed without smoke or
odor, or ashes, or even the slightest stain
upon the snow white sheet OF foolscap; while
the ignition of the gunpowder seemed to
be slow, although of the best quality, by
which the paper was burnt and colored,
and the room filled with smoke. He then
took small quantity of gunpowder and
placed it upon paper, entirely covered it
with prepared cotton from the other paper.
Touching the cotton with the blaze of
match, it exploded without burning the gun.
powder Subsequently, at my apartments,
he exploded cotton upon the palm OF my
hand, without my feeling the sensation of
heat, such was the remarkable rapidly of
its ignition.
"A short time, it is stated by the inventors,
is only required for the preparation of the ar
ticle. and the process is so exceedingly sim
pie that it can be manufactured by common
laborers. and without any danger whatever
of combustion. 1t can be fit for use in
n few hours after the cotton is taken from
The bale, and without the aid Of machinery
and it may be Ihoro ughly saturated with
water without affecting its properties inju.
riously. As soon as re-dried. ii is again fiji
for use. There is nothing TO apprehend to
it from lis spontaneous combustion, nor will
it ignite by friction in its transportation, or
in the leading of fire arms, or become nfa.
med under temperature of 200 d. Clei
sus. 1t will catch fire either from blaze
or spark. The fact has been ascer-
tanned from repeated experiments, that the
forty eighth part of an ounce of the prepared
cotton. will propel bullet from a Ameri-
can rife as far and as fast as the t,celfh
part Of an ounce Of gun powder. The sir-
,teenM part of an ounce will drive three.
quarter ounce ball a distance Of sixteen
hundred PAGES Moreover, the barrel never
requires cleaning. Forty shots without in
Permission have been made and without any
pefceptbe accumulation of filth, while the
gun throughout was entirely free from heat
In firing three FOUNDER. the resul. was
the same in this respect The experiments
in blasting rocks with prepared cotton have
also been eminently successful. At Ba-
sic large block of granite, me assuring $40
cubic feet, was blown up by four ounces,
which could not have been effected with less
than two pounds of superior gun POWDER"