Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-02-22

SAtrrrrRE-Wc mud some bitctr.tus in relation
to .stp-te late number OF the Baltimore American
We have alrcady stated that the British Government
consequence ot the Immense consumption of ginpoW De-
il the Cne, aud the great advance that has taken pic
In the price of -altperc, OF the main ingredients
that explosive compound has cut of 10y ptuhibory
the nporton ct tue salt from colonies, The last 1j
vices from kngliud Aori but little hope that the PROFIT
btou will be removed. It Is stated that the stock
hand there rapidly diminishing. The stock in han
tai. country has also decreased while prices have al
vanced hundred per cent Heretofore nearly all o.,
saltprtre used in the United States imported
England aud her colonies. OF the tweny-siN millions o.
pound. received pots in 1858, tNen,y -four millions
were from British possessions in the East The remain
ing two millions, with the exception OF fy thousand
pounds brought from Belgium, were imported from Bat
s;petre though produced spontaneously is les album
dant than should be apt TO suppose. ~ compaci
with the East Indies, where it is found in great alu
dance this country is quite destitute OF the afticc L.
Kentucky and Tennessee, and believe in some otlt
localities in the United States salprtre X found, but IT,
manufacture here IL carried on 10 very limited extent
Consd' abc difficulty experienced during the war ui
the Revolution and our last with Great Britain So
obtaining quantity sufficient 10 meet the demands ct
our powder manufactures. Congress in OF it, earl,
sessions sought TO the difficulty 10y Offering
bounty Tor the production OF dipetre, but no import
results we're achieved We ought to have on hand h1s
ever this time good supply OF tne Ingredient, a. 400
nual appropriations have been regularly made by
nent purchase aud storage, Tor the last 20 wears
S4pere l. generally found in caverns, but sometimes
on the surface OF the ground Its an ehorcsceuce found
lmesOncs, ssndstOucS, mafle>, anu chhlk- IL J. Ire
Onentiv found glis.sn like the boar frost upon
brick walls of old buildings Ii Is also generltedn ol
mortar in cellars and may be found in plants IL
Cevlon there twenty-tSo caveFns which produce
Of that exported England and this county In Belgium
Hungary Spain and other counties is found upo.
the surface of the ground The rain and the action OF the
sun produce an ea,re-ccnee which Is swept oil Shen
sufficient quantity has been gathered. IL France it J.
manufactured by mixing beneath ashed oil mortar au
earth which intestrsded by material from the cattle
wards This is piled tive six feet high, is kept
moist and j. turned in two weeks tor yea
by which time material from the cattle yards
formed into sapetre The article thus Obtained hOwev-
or cannot be used ia the manufacture oi gunpOwer, the
pure Nitro being requisite tor this purpose There
processes of manufacture simple than the last
speciied But In this country the Mammoth Cave amt
other caves m the West sufficiently rich in
make its production the present price, profitable bu-
siness.
The great bulk of the sapete imported into the United
States Is consumed. for guupowder, but in the
in the manufacture OF acids, fire works flint gl>-, and
chemicals of every description proportionate advance
IN the prices of such articles these may also be expected
And doubtless has already taken place The tweutysix
million pounds OF saprtre imported in 1888 cost over
one million OF dollars millions of dollars will be
required To import the amount this year. Two nail
lions OF dollars will be paid during the wear
for what be readily produced in the United STATE,
France elsewhere SIpctre at fifteen cents per
pound can h. made profitable manufacture in this
ty.-LO'GsriNe Journal