The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-11-13
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

| We find in the Washington Union the sub
lined accoun, of most extraordinary invention
Of substitute FOR gunpowdcr, communicated by
an European correspondent of that paper. The
reader will very naturally inquire what degree o
! credit is due 10 statements So surprising. The
editor Of the Union, anticipating this, vouche;
fr the integrity Of the writer. This is ore oil
the NEST cxiraordinary discoveries Of the nge.--
Here is the l,ttcr:--
European Correspondence Washington Union
FHANE Eonr-ov-rpr-N MAINE, }
September 30, 'Si6. s
DEAR SlR-One Of the most won
Gcrful discoveries of modern times
has been erpioied here and at Basic,
in Switzerland, within the last few
weeks. Professors Baltgcr of the
former place, and Schoubein Of the
latter, simultaneously by a similar
course of experimenting, have in
vented a method of preparing r0,C
couOn, which will undoubtedly even
tuatc in the discontinuance Of the
use of gunpowder, The article
which they prepare has been sub
mitted to many severe ordeals, and
its vast superiority for all explosive
purposes, over gunpowder, is ac-
knowledged by the first chemists and
military officers in Germany. | can
scarcely believe my own senses
when | witnessed an exhibition OF
its extraordinary properties.
Upon my arrival in this city ! w as
invited by friend, a distinguished
member of the German Diet, to dine
with him, and not declining his hos
pitaIity, met with and was presen-
ted to Professor Baltger, who it is
but proper to remark is distinguish
ed for his attainments and who has
charge of the public laboratory as q
chemical lecturer. Before the sep
aration Of the party, Professor b.
took from each of his waiStcoat peck
cts paper containing some raw
cotton; a small portion Of that which
was in one he placed upon sheet
of white paper, and near it some
gunpowdcr upon another sheet. He
touched them at the same moment
with the burning enc of cigar, and
with the quickness of the lightning's
blast, the cotton was consumed with
out 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 quail
ity, by which the paper was burnt
and colorcd, and the room filed with
smoke.-He then took a small guam
tity Of gunpowder and placing itup-
on paper, entirely covered it with
prepared cotton from the other pa
per.-Touching the cotton with the
blaze of match, it exploded with
ont burning the gunpowder!-Su
scqucntly, at my apartments, he eX-
plodcd cotton upon the palm OF my
hand, without my feeling the sensa-
ton of heat, such was the remarka-
bic rapidity of its igniting.
A short time, it is stated by the
inventors, is only required for the
preparation Of the article, and the
progress is so exceedingly simple
that it can be manufactured by COM
mon laborers, and without any dan
ger whatever of combustion. 1t can
be fit for use in few hours after the
cotton is taken from the bale, and
without the aid of machinery; and
it may be thoroughly saturated with
water without eGecting its proper
ties injuriously. AS soon as redried,
it is again fit for use. There is moth
ing to apprehcnd to it from its spon-
taneous combustion, nor will it ig-