Worcester daily spy., 1861-09-30

since that time two more have been erected
one IN Georgia the other in Arkansas,
The materials aud proportions of which gun.
powder is composed, are seventy-fve parts of
satpetre to twelve and one halt parts of sui
phur and twelve and one-hat parts OF charcoal
The proportions vary slightly in different va
rietes OF powder and the standard proper.
tions OF different governments vary also, but
the proportions generally deemed best or
STANDARD" aIe as we have given them, Salt
petre is almost entirely imported from India,
where it is found in large quantities, and trans
ported from thence to various parts of the
world. Its price in the New York market
varies from five to fifteen cents per pound, its
average price is perhaps nine cents. But of
course our southern friends get none from the
New York market, or any other market while
the blockade is effectual and they. are de-
pendent upon the supply which they can
gather from their own soil, The Hazard
company informs us that when the sallpetre is
received by them, it contains from six to eight
per cent OF foreign substances, but after pass
ing through their cleansing process it docs not
contain one three hundred thousandh per
cent OF impurities, as tested by chemical anal.
ysis 1t is this nicely OF preparation that con.
stitutes much OF the difference in qualities of
powder.
Sulphur is also almost entirely imported and
mostly from the Island of Sicily, where it is
found on the central part of the southern coast
1t is found in tie craterS Of volcanoes and the
rebels may succeed in getting me from
Mexico they may also gather it in small
quantities in the neighborhood OF mineral
springs, from which suphuretted hydrogen is
evolved. The other ingredient, charcoal, is
more readily obtained, but great care is requi-
site in selecting the " ood and in charring it
after selection. In England, black dogwood is
used for making sporting powder, but willow
and alder Is generally used by our govern
ment These woods, however, are rendered
UNIT as the hardes. charcoal. Of they are char
red at too high a temperature. They should
be charred at a temperature of about 500 de.
grees, and when CHAIR d at this temperature
the coal will readily enter into combustion
when heated to $50 degrees if, however, it is
charred at higher temperature, it requires
still greater heat to ignite it, and when charred
at degree required TO melt platinum, it will
enter into combustion but slowly at $50 de-
grees.
The saltpetre and sulphur having been re-
fined, and the charcoal made from the right
wood and properly charred, they are mixed
together in the proportions alrf ady stated
The mixture is then placed on an iron bed
and sprnkled with water to prevent an ex-
plosion, and subjected to the pressure of large
wheels weighing seven or eight tons each, by
means OF watch it is soidilied into hard.
brittle cake 1t is then passed through mill
Which reduces it to any size required that
now used in firing cannon is very coarse, some
OF the pieces being nearly as large as doves
egg. 1t is then taken to the dry. house, and
dried by the heat of steam or fire. Afterwards
it is bolted to free it from dust, glazed by
means OF friction, and packed in various guam
titles from half pound canslprg to kpus ot 100
pounds each.
Gunpowder seldom explodes after having
been packed. The danger lies in the process
OF manufacture ; and even here the danger is
in the liability of the wOrkmep, from familiar
lty with the process, to become negligent of
duty. Each process has its peculiar danger.
The old screw press was abolished aud the
hydraulic press substituted in its place, because
the friction of the screw generated a heat
which at any time was liable to explode the
mill. Iron nails in the sho,s of the employees
confining the heads OF the kegs in which the
powder is packed wooden ones being used in
their place Although danger necessarily
and always accompanies the manufacturer of
powder, the employ ees receive no higher COM
pcnSatiOn for their labor on that account and
worlmen are readily found at dollar day.
Notwithstanding the amount required for the
present war, the manufacturers assure us thft
the business is now dull, less being used by the
army than is ordinarily employed for sporting
purposes and in the arts of peace. Our mills
produce annually a surplus for export, amount
ing in some years to two or three millions of
pounds Their ordinary production is more
than the government can possibly require,
and the supply now on hand would suffice to
send bullet to the heart of every traitor in
nd