The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-11-20
ABUUT GUAFONOAR.

The principal gunpowdsr mills 10 the Unite
States are Da P0ass. in DsAsars; Hsxzsrd'a
At Eu6eid, Conn. Lain, Smith 4 Bolss. q
Saugerties; the Oriental Guupoxder Company
OF Boston; and the Schaghtic0ks Gunpowde
Company At Schaghticoke. Pre-. ious 70 the q
eession OF South Carolina there we're but to,
uiils IN al the Southern States |; since that tim
two more have been erected, one in Georgia, th,
other in Arkansas
The materials and proportions of which gun
powder Is composed, are seventy five psrts Q
ssitpetre TO twelve aud one-baif parts Of sulphu
aud twelve and One-half parts of charcoal
These proportions vary slightly in different W
rieties OF powder; and the standard proportion
OF different Governments vary also, but the pro
portious generally deemed best or standard
are ~ We have gwen them. SAltpesre 70 almss
entirely imported from India, where it 10 tounc
in large Quantities, aud transported from thence
to various parts OF th. world. Its price in the
New York market varies from i've to fifteen
cents Per pound; its average is perhsps nine
cents. But, OF course, our South friends gel
none from the New York market, or any other
market While the blockade is sfectral and they
are dependant upon the supply which they can
gather from their own soil. The Hazard Com.
pany Inform us that when the sal,petre is receiv.
4
cent. OF foreign substances, but after passing
through their cleansing process it does not con.
tam one three hundred thOusandth per cent Of
imPurities, ~ tested by chemical analysis Il 10
thus nicely OF preparation thar constitutes much
OF the difference In qualities OF powder.
Sulphur Is also almost entirely imported, and
mostly from the Island OF Sicily, where il is
found on the central part Of the southern coast
II - found IN the crsters OF volcanoes; and the
rebels may succeed in getting some from Mexico;
they may also gather il in smsll quantities ip
the neighborhOod OF mineral springs from which
suiphuretted hydrogen is evolved. The other
Ingredient, charcoal, 10 more readily obtained,
but great care is Quisite in selecting the wood,
and III chsrring it alter selection. In England,
black dOgwOOd is used for making sporting pow
der, but willow and alder 10 generally used by
our Government. These wOOds, however, are
rendered unit As the hardest charcoal, il they
are chsrrsd at too high . temperature. They
should be charred M = temperature Of about
500 and when charred 1t this temperature, the
coal will readily enter into combustion when
heated to 6sOa; il, however, it 10 charred at
higher temperature, il requires still greater heat
TO ignite il; and when charred at . degree re
quired to melt platinum, it will enter into CON-
bustiOn but slowly At 2sOs.
and the charcoal made from the right wood and
properly charred, they are mixed together in
the proportions already stated. The mixture 10
then placed on an iron bed, and sprinkeed with
water to prevent an explosion, and subjected to
the pressure OF large wheels weighing seven or
eight tons each, BY means of which il 10 soIidifi
ed into hard, brittle cake. 1t is then psssed
through mill which reduces it to any Size re-
quired; that now used in firing cannon being
nearly as large as doves eggs 1t is then taken
to the dry.hOuse, and dried BY the heat of steam
or IRE. Afterwsrds it is bolted to free il from
dust, glazed by means of friction, aud packed in
various Quantities, from halt pound canisters to
kegs OF one hundred pounds each
GunpOwder seldom exp odes after having been |
packed. The danger lies in the process Of man |
ufacture; and even here the danger 10 in the |
liability Of the workman, from familiarity with |
the process. TO become negligent Of duty. Each |
process has its peculiar danger. The old screw J
press was abolished and the hydraulic press |
suostitu ed in its place, because the frie ion OF
the screw generated q heat which at any time /
was liable TO explode the mill. Iron nails in the
shoes OF the employees are carefully avoided |
nor are they used in cOn6ning the heads of the |
kegs in which the powder 10 lacked-woodeu |
ones being used in their place. Although dau.
ger necessarily and always accompauies the |
manufacture Of powder, the employ ses receive
no higher compensation for their labor on this
account, and workmen are readily found at
dollar day. Notwithstanding the amount re-
luired for the present war, the manufacturers
assure US that the business 10 nov dull, less be
ny used by the army than is ordinarily employed
or sporting purposes and in the arts of peace
Dur mills produce annually surplus for export,
amounting in some years TO two or three millions |
,f pounds: Their ordinary. production is more
han the Government can possibly require, aud
he supply now on hand would suffice to send /
bullet 10 the heart Of every traitor in our land |