The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1858-04-09

WOOD AND GUNP0WDER INCoMBUSTIBLE.-
The day OF fire annibilators does not seem to have
entirely gone by. A French artillery officer
has made singular discovery, by which all
danger from explosion Of powder magazine
may be prevented. His method is to mix the
powder with common coal dust. It's efficacy has
been demonstrated on a large scale, by filling
magazine with the mixture, and then setting ii
on fire, but 40 explosion took place, and after
burning a considerable time, the fire was ex-
tinguished by applying water. The gun pow
der burned like other combustl5le matters, such
as pitch and tar, from which it Is presumed the
dust must have been thai Of bitumnous coal.
When the powder is required for use, nothing
more is needed than 10 separate it from the dust
by means of sieves, when it resumes its original
explosive property. The theory of this curious
discovery is very simple-the dust prevents the
several grains of powder from coming in contact
with each other hence, as one e1plodPs, the
dust prevents the explosion from reaching an
other grain. Bat decentralization discovery,
which is much more likely TO become generally
useful, has also been made in France By NJ. Car
peroa, who has proved lis value By numerous
experiments made in presence of the Emperor.
The process renders wood, tissues Of all sorts,
dresses, decorations, SC, absolutely incom5usti-
bic. Ladies' dresses Of the most gauze-like ma
terals were set fire TO, aud would not burn. An
officers tent, containing bed with muslin cur
tains, resisted successfully the application of
numerous flaming torches. A cottage, half OF
which was secured by NJ. Carperoa's preparation
and the other half filled with straw, was srt on
fire on the unprotected side. The flames quick
Irrs ssA a,,I
half the uilding but the fire died away when
it reached the prepared part, and left it sound
and altogether uninjured. 4 theater was then
prepared, with all It's scenery, robes and decora-
tions, and repeated attempts Were made TO des-
troy ii by fire, but in vain-it would not burn
Such discovery Introduced into our cities, and
applied 70 the dress OF the ignorant Irish and
German girls, who are 50 frequently burned
alive by using camphene, would be great bless
ing. Another French contriyance not exactly
OF the same order, Is noticed 10 recent pu5lca-
tions. It's object is 10 economic fuel, an article
which is enormously dear in Paris and all over
the French towns. /; consists of a mere pipe
of thick sheet iron, into which logs of wood are
d. thrown, aad beneath which the fire is lighted.
This Contriyance produces so much heat that the
apartment is thoroughly warmed during the day,
and at night the logs, completely charred, but
not consumed, are Withdrawn as charcoal, and
will sell for double their original cost as wood.
The inventor OF this chimney is NJ Renaud, and
the French journals anticipate great things from
it. But il would seem to be only nodilica-
tion ofthe well-known American air-tigla stove
which was highly recommended bv an oi wo-
man about the time ii 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
moraing she had sixpence worth Of charcoal 10
sell.