Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-10-14
About Gunpowder.

The principal gunpowder mills in the United
States are Dupont's, in Delaware Hazards, at
Enfield, CT; Lain, Smith d Boles, at SAUCER
ties; Oriental Gunpowder Company, of Boston;
and the SchaghticOke Gunpowder Company,
at Schaghticoke. Previous to the secession of
South Carolina there were but two mills In all
the Southern States; since that time two more
pave been erected, one in Georgia, the other
in Arkansas.
The materials and proportions Of which gun
powder is composed, are seventy-fye parts of
saltpetre to twelve and one half parts of sui
phur and twelve and one half parts of char
coal. These proportions vary slightly in diff
ferent varieties of powder; and the standard
proportions Of different governments vary also,
put the proportions generally deemed best or
standard" are as we have given them. Salt
petre is almost entirely imported from India,
where IL is found in large quantities, and
transported 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 efectuali and they are de-
pendent upon the supply which they can
gatner from their own soil. ThesHazard Com
pany informs US that when the saltpetre is re.
celVed by them, it contains from six to eight
per cent. of foreign substances, but after pass
does not
contain one three hundred thOusandth per
cent. OF impurities, az tested by chemical anal
ysls 1t is this nicely of preparation that con-
sltutes much of the difference in the oualities
of powder.
Sulphur is also almost entirely imported, and
mostly from the Island of Sicily, where il h,
found on the central part of the southern coast
II is found IN the craters of volcanoes and the
reoels may succeed In getting some from Mex
leo; they may also gather it in small quantities
IN the neighborhood If mineral sprfugs from
which sulphuretted hydrogen is eyoIy ID. The
otner ingredient, charcoal, is more readily OBJ
tanned, but great care Is requisite in selecting
the wood, and in charring il after selection. In
England, black dogwood is used for making
sporting powder, but willow and alder is gem
orally used by our Government. These wood
however, are as unfit as the hardest charcoal
II II, they are charred at too high a temperature
Iney should be chsrred at temperature of
ABOUT 9OO degS., and when chsrred at this
temperature, the coal will hardly enter int
combustion when heated to $50 deg; if, how
ever, 1t Is charred at higher tenn perature, il
[equires sun greater heat to ignite it; and
WheA chsrred to degree required to melt
platinum, 1T will enter ints combustion but
slowly at $50 degs
Inc saltpetre and sulphur having been re-
nned, and the charcoal made from the right
wool and properly charred, they are mixed
together in the proportions already stated.
Inc mixture Is then placed on an iron bed
aud sprinkled with water to prevent an explo-
sion, and subjected to the pressure of large
wheels weighing seven or eight tuns each. 6y
means OF which ii is solIdifed into a hard
brittle cake. 1t is then passed through a m;li
"hlcn reduces 1t to any size required that
now used IN firing cannon is very coarse. some
OF the pieces being nearly as large as dsye's
eggs; 1t is then taken to the dry-house, and
dried oy the heat of steam or FIRE. Afterwards
II Is o0lted to free it from dust glazed by means
OF friction, and packed in various quantities
from half.psund canisters to kegs of 100
pounds each.
Gunpowder seldom sxplodes, after having
been packed. The danger lies in the process
OF manufacture; and even here the danger is
In the liability of the workmen, from famil.
iarity with the process, to become negligent of
DUTY. Each process has its peculiar danger
The old screw-press was abolished and the
hydraulic press substituted in its place, be-
cause the friction of the screw generated n
neat which at any time was liable to explode
the mill. Iron nails in the shoes of the en-.
ployees are carefully avoided; nor are thew
used In confning the heads of the kegs in
Snlen the powder is packed wooden ones
oelpg used In their place, Although danger
necessarily and always accompanies the man
uiaeture OF powder, the employees receive no
higher compensation for their labor on this
account, ana workmen are readily found at a
dollar day. Notwithstanding the amount
required for the present war, the manufac-
turers assure us that 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 amounting in some years
to two or three millions of pounds Their
ordinary production is more than the govern
ment can possibly require, and the supply
now on hand would suffice to send bulIet n
the heart Of every traitor in our land.