Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-11-18
From European Correspondent OF the Union,
Explosive Cotton.
Frankfort on The Maine, Sept. 80.


Professors Baltger of the former place |
and Schonbein of the latter, sumutane-
ously, by similar experimenting, have
invented method of preparing rao cot |
ton which will undoubtedly, eyenluate inI
| the discontinuance ofthe use ofgunpowderl !
The article which they prepare has been
submitted TO many severe ordeals, and its |
vast superiority for explosive purposes,
over gunpowder, is acknowledged by the
first chemists and military officers in Ger.
many. ! can scarcely believe my own
senses when witness an exhibition of its |
extraordinary properties.
Upon my arrival in this city | was in.
yned by friend, distinguished member
of the German Diet, TO dine with him, and
not declining his hospitality, met with
and was presented to Professor Baltger,
who ii is proper to remark, is Distinguish
ed for his attanments, aud who has charge
of the public laboratory as a chemical lee.
turer. Before the separation of the par
ty, Professor B. took from each of his
waistcoat pockets a paper containing some
raw cotton; small portion of that which
was in one he placed upon a sheet of
white paper, and near it some gunpowdcr
upon another sheet. He touched them at
the same moment with the burning end of
a cigar, and with the quickness of the
Iighlnng's blast, the cotton was consumed
without smoke or odor, or ashes, or even
the slightest stain upon the snow white
) sheet of ioolscap; while the ignition OF
the gunpowder seemed 10 be slow, al
though Of the best quality, by which the
paper was burnt and colored and the room
filled with smoke. lie then took a small
quantity of gunpowder and placing it up.
on paper, entirely covered it with pre-.
pared cotton from the other paper
Touching the cotton with the blaze of a
match, il exploded without burning tho
gunpowder! Subsequently at my apart.
ments, he exploded cotton upon the palm
of 10y hand, without my feeling the sensa-
ton of heat, such was its remarkable ra.
pdiiy of igniting
A short time il is stated by the inven.
/, tors, is only required for the preparation
of the article and The process is SO exceed,
|, " simple, that it can be manufactured by
common laborers, and without any danger
/, whatever of combustion 1t can be Fl,
. for use in a few hours after the cotton is
y taken from the balei and without the aid
Of machinery; and it may thoroughly be
saturated with water without affecting It's
!, properties injuriously As soon as redriel
y il is again fit for use There is nothing
= to apprehend to it from its spontaneou,
combustion, nor will it ignite by friction
in lis transportation, or in the loading 0
: firearms, or become inhamed under tenn
Z peralure Of 200o Clesius. 1t will catch
= fire either from blaze or a spark.
:" The fact has been ascerlained from re
{ peated experiments, that the forty eight
part of an ounce of the prepared cotlor
: will propel bullet from an American ri
file as far aud fast as the tDelM part Of al
y ounce of glnpowder, The sixteenth par
u of an ounce will drive three quarla
y ounce ball distance Of six hundred pa
}" ces! Moreover, the Darrell never re-
y quires cleaning. Forty shots without in
= Permission have been made, aud wilhou
= any perceptible accumulation Of filth
y while the gun was throughout entil
10 y free from heat. In firing pounde
J the result was the same in this respect
=, The experiment in blasting rocks with pre-
Z" pared cotton has also been emnenly sue
. cessfuI At Ba3e large block Of gra
mite, measuring 2l0 cubt feet, was blow
y up by four ounces, which could not hay
III been effected with less than Two pound
\, Of superior gunpowder.
:" Last week the power Of the article wa
% ested at a meeting of the British Scier
llic A ssociatlon'--an association compo
-, ed Of the most profoundly learned indIv
~ duals in Europc-and they were amazed
Vi what was accomplished. Sir j. He
schel took occasion 10 remark, Profess
Schonbein being present, that the disc
very in the next generation might ar
m. mankind with the widest powers. III
he inventor was a Titan, who could tear I
ed the rocks, and almost call down Il
". lightnngs."
is / understand that 1875 lbs. OF cotton,
rtv the state in which il is found in The bal
me when properly prepared, will weigh II
md lbs q, and that even here, where the slap
m. is much dearer than in the United STATE
rdy the article will cost considerably less tn
,ey punpowder What the other materig
llet are, used in the manufacture, will Of couI
Al n remain secret until patents are secur
inc among The various nations, One has
- ready been taken out for Great Bria
the and the States Of the Germanic coniot
,eir ration have, through the Diet, consent
,cir to give 100000 forms, merely for
,me right Of preparing il for the army, prov
will ed a commission, which has been instl
or. cd to test it in every conceivable "