The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-02-25
Wood aud Gunpowder Uncomfortable.

The day Of Ere annihilators does not seem
to have entirely gone by. A French artil-
lery officer has made singular discovery,
by which all danger from explosion of a
powder magazine may be prevented. His
method il to mix the powder with common
coal dust. It's efficiency has been demon
strated on a large scale, by filling the maya
zine with the mixture, and then setting it on
fire, but no explosion took place, and after
burning considerable time, the fire was ex-
tinguished by applying water. The gun
powder burned like other cOmbustible mat
tiers, such as pitch or tar, from which it is
presumed the dust must have been that of
btumnous coal. When the powder is re
quired for use, nothing more is needed than
TO separate it from the dust by means of
sleeves, when il resumes its original explo-
sive property. The theory Of this curious dis
covery IL very simple-the dust prevents
the several grains from coming in contact
with each other; hence, as one explodes. the
dust prevents the explosion from reaching
another grain. But fire annihilating dis
covery, 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 Of the Emperor
The process renders wood tissues of all
sorts, dresses, decorations, &c, absolutely
incombustible. Ladies dresses of the mos I
gauze.like materials were set fire to. and
would not burn. An officers tent. contain.
ing bed with muslin curtains resisted sue
cesstully the application Of numerous flaming
torches. A cottage, half OF which was a..
cured 10y NJ. Carperon'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 tirc
died away when il reached the prepared part
and left il sound aud altogether uuinjured.
A theatre was then prepared, with all its
scenery, robes and decorations and repeated
attempts were made to destroy it by FIRE,
but in vaint would not burn. Such a
discovery introduced into our cities. and ap-
piled to the dresses of the ignorant Irish
and German girls, who are So frequently
burned alive 10y using camphene, would be
great blessing.
Another French contrivance not exactly
Of the same order, is noticed in receu, publ.
cations. Its objec; is 10 economic fuel, an
article which is enormously dear in Paris
and all other French towns. Il consists OF
mere pipe Of thick sheet iron, into which
logs Of wood are thrown, and beneath which
the fire is lighted. This contrivsnce pro
duces so much heat that the apartment j.
thoroughly warmed during the day, and a,
night the logs. completely charred. but no,
consumed, are withdrawn as charcoal, and
will sel for double their original cost ~ wool.
The inventor of this chimney is NJ Renaud
and the French journals anticipate great
things from it. But i, would seem to h.
only Modification Of the wel-snown Amer
lean air-tight stove, which was highly ~
commended by an old woman about the time
il was first ofer,i for sale. who declared
tina, in the morning she put three cents
worth OF wood into II, which kept her room
warm all night, and that nex, morning she
had sixpenc worth of charcoal 10 sell.-N
!. Tribune.