The Placer herald., 1862-11-01
About Gunpowder.

ard S, at 1aZardSvllle. Conn; Lat1n, Smith
Il Boies, at Sangerties; the Oriental Gunpow-
der Company, OF Boston; and the Schaght.
coke Gunpowder Company, at Schag ghticoke.
Previous to the secession OF South Carolina
there were but two mills in all the Southern
States; since that time, two more have been
erected-one in Georgia and the other in
Arkansas.
The materials and proportions of which
gunpowder is composed, are twenty five
parts of saltpeter to twelve and one half part,
Of sulphur and twelve and one half parts Of
charcoal. These proportions vary slightly
in different varieties of powder; and the
standard proportions of different Govern
ments vary also, but the proportions general
ly deemed best or "standard," are as we
have given them. Saltpe'er is almost en-
trely imported from India, where it is found
in large quantities, and trans ported to vari
Gus parts of the world. Its price in the
New York market varies from five to fifteen
cents per pound; its average price perhaps
nine cents. But, of course, our Southern
friends oct none from the New York mar,
ket, or any other market while he blockade
is etfectual; and they are dependent upon
the supply they can gather from their own
soil. The Hazard Company inform US that
when the satpeter is received by them, it
aims from six.to eight per cent. of for.
eign substance, but after passing through
their cleaning process it does not contain
one three hundredl lhousandth per cent. Of
impurities, as tested 10y chem cal ana yss. -
1t is this nicely of preparation that consti
inf 90 ,nu.h ,f tho II, Of tho ou.titiao
of powder
Sui phur is almost entirely imported and
mostly from the island of Sicily, where it is
found on the central part o. The southern coast.
1t is also found in the cratels of volcanoes; and
the rebels may succeed in getting some from
Mexico; they may also gather it in small
quantities in the neighborhood Of mineral
springs from which sulphuretted hydrogen
is involved. The other ingredient, charcoal,
is more readily obtained, but great care is
requisite in selecting the wood and in char
ring it after selection. In England, black
dogwood is used for sporting powder, but
willow and alder are generally used by our
Government. These woods, however, are
rendered unfit as the hardest charcoal if
they are charred at too high temperature
They should be charred at temperature of
about 500 degrees, and when charred at this
temperature, the coal will readily enter into
combustion when heated to $50 degrees; if.
however it is chalred at higher temperature,
it requires still greater heat to ignite; and
when charred at a degree required to melt
platinum, it will enter into combustion but
slowly at $500 degrees
The saltpeter and sulphur having been re
fined, and the charcoal made from the RIGHT
wood and properly charrel, they are mixed
together III the proportions already 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 tuns
each, by means of which it is sodltied into
bard brittle cake. 1t is then passed
through a 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 eggs. 1t is then taken to
the dy house, and dried by the heat of
steam or fire. Afterwards it is boIted to
free It from dust glazed by means Of friction,
and packed in various quantities from half
pound canisters to kegs OF 100 pounds each.
Gunpowder seldom exp'odes after having
been packed. The danger lies in the process
of manufactures; and even here the danger is
in the liability of the workmen from tami'
ari'y with the process, to become negligent
of duty. Each process has its peculiar dan
ger. The old screw press was abolished and
the hydraulic press substituted in its place.
because the friction of the crew genera,ed
a heat hlch at any time was liable to ex
plode a mill. Iron nails IN the shoes of em
ployers are carefully avoided, nor are they
used n confnine the heads Of the kegs
in which the powder is packed l. wooden
ones being used in there place. Although
danger necessarily and always accompanies
the manufacture Of powder, the employees
receive no higher compensation for their la
Dor on this account, and workmen are read
lily found at a dollar n day. Notwithstand
the manufacturers assure us that the business
is now dull, less being used by the army
than is ordinarily employed for sporting pur
poses and in arts of peace. Oar mills produce
annually a surplus for export, amounting in
some wears to two or three millions Of pounds. |
Their ordinary production is mere than the
Government can possibly require, and the
supply now on hand would suffice to send a
bullet to the heart Of every traitor in the
land.
ES- Some Of Rarey's sayings are max.
inns of wisdom. For instance: mature new
er lies The horse is honest. The mind of
a Eorse governs a horse, as the mind of
man governs a man. If you wish. therel
fore, to get control of horses body, first
learn to direct his mind.-The gentle
touch is more powerful than blows. Wo'
men are better drivers than men, because
they have gentler touch. Firmpess and
kindness are all the magic there is to my
method. Fear or anger in the mind Of bis
driver, is instantly known to the horse"
DISCRIMINATION. Wright has rescinded
Al. H. IL ~