American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-04-23
Wood and Gunpowdcr Incombus,ib!e.

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The day of fire annihilators does not
seem to have entirely gone by. A
French artillery officer has madea sim
gular discovery, by which all danger
from explosion of a powder magazine
may be prevented. His method is to
mix the powder with common coal dust.
Its efficacy has been demonstrated on
a large scale, by filling a magazine
with the mixture, and then setting it
on fire, but no explosion took place,
and after burning considerable time,
the fire was extinguised by applying
water. The gunpowdcr burned like
other combustible matters, such as
| pitch or tar, from which it is presumed
the dust must have been that of btu
minous coal. When the powder is re-
Iquircd for use, nothing moro is need
cd than to separate it from the dust by
means Of sievcs, when it resumes its
original explosive property. The the
Dry. of this curious discovery is very
simplc-the dust prevents the several
grains of powder from coming in con-
tact with each other; hence, as one cx-
plodes, the dust prevents the explosion
from reaching another grain. But n
fire annihilating discovery, which is
much more likely to become generally
useful, has also been made in France
by Nj. Carperon, who has proved its
value by numerous experiments made
in presence ofthe emperor. The pro-
cess renders wood, tissues of all sorts,
dresses, decorations, &C., absolutely
incombustiblc. Ladies dresses ofthe
most gauze-iko materials wero set
fire to, and would not burn. An Off
GERS tent, containing a bed with mus
lin curtains, resisted successfully the
duplication ofnumcrous flaming torch
os. a cottage, half of which was Sc
cured by NJ. Carpcron's preparation,
and the other half filed with straw, was
set on fire on the unprotected side. -
The flames quickly spread and ragged
with fury, and consumed half of the
building; but the fire died away when
it reached the prepared part and left it
sound and altogether uninjurcd. a
theatre was then prepared, with all its
scenery robes, and decorations, and re-
pcated attempts were made to destroy
it by fire, but in yain--it would not
burn. Such discovery introduced
into our cities, and applied to the dress
cs OF the ignorant Irish and German
girls, who are SO frequently burned
alive by using camphene, would be a
great blessing. Another French con-
trlvancc, not exactly Of the same order,
IS noticed in recent publications. It's
object is to cconomisc fuel, an article
which is enormously dear in Paris and
all other French towns. 1t consists of
a mere pipe of thick sheet iron, into
which logs of wood are thrown, and be-
meath which the fire is lighted. The
contrlvancc produces 50 much heat that
the apartment is thoroughly warmed
during the day, and at night the logs,
completely charrcd, but not CONSUMED,
are Withdrawn as charcoal, and will
sell for double their original cost as
wood. Tho inventor of this chimney
is Nj. Renaud, and the French Jour
mails anticipate great things from it.
But 1t would seem to be only a modi-
iication of tho well.known American
air-tight stove, which was highly rec
commended by an old woman about the
time it was first offered for sale, who
declared, that in the morning she put
three cents worth of wood into it, which
kept her room warm all day and night,
and that next morning she had six
/ pence worth of charcoal to sell. -
Who ARE Engdged IN tie iWave
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