Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-04-16

pound of saftpetre each day, contilbs,es IN tact
more to the ultimate success of his country, than
he shoulaefcd his musket and marched win all MS
sons to the tented field
Gunpowder is made Of over three fourth parts of
ntre (purified satpetre fourteen parts OF charcoal
and ten parts Of sulphur, all by weight hence, the
nitre is much the largest portion OF gunpowder ma
terisl, requiring consequently the largest daily
supply. =
The crude satpetre from the caves, called CROUCH
saltpetre in commerce. requires TO be purified before
It Can be used for gunpowder, and for this purpose
government has established refinery at Nashville.
capable Of refining daily 5000 pounds of CROUCH
saltpotre into pure nitro, as white as snow, and
ready for the powder mills. In the extensive Gov
ernment Powder Works, now in course Of rapid
erection in Georgia under the direction of the writer
over five tons of sallpere vii, be refined each day,
if required, and converted into 4,npowder.
ARTICLES WANTED TO MAKE sALTPETRE ON SMALL
SCALE
One ordinary iron pot, for boiling; three or four
tubs, pails barrels cut off two or three small
troughs; sone coarse bags or wheel barrow to
bring the earth from the cave and four strong bar
rels, with one head each-elnpty vinegar whiskey
or pork barrels very good-are about all the ar
ticles required for small saltpetre mandatory
To these, however. must be added some ash bar
rels to make potash ley, it is better that this
should be pade at the time and place, the
ashes from the fire under the pot for boiling assist
ing in the production.
HOW TO PROCEED.
First bore hole about the size of the finger
through the head end of each barrel near one
side, and tit wooden plug to each lole-thea set
the barrels on some pieces of timber each 9TH
err the heads down, and the hole of each projecting
over the timber. Put some twigs into the bottom,
Of each barrel, ard on these place straw or hay
about half foot thick when pressed down; then,
having brought some of the earth from the cave,
and broken up all the Jumps fill each barrel full,
without pressing it down. Put the plugs into the
holes tightly, and fill up the barrel with as much
water (hot water is best in winter as 1t will hold
allow the whole to remain until next day. then pull
out the plugs, having placed tub or pail under
each, and pour all the water from the first barrel
into the second barrel, and all the water or liquor
which drains from this barrel must be poured ON
top Of the earth Of the third barrel and finally the
liquor which drains from this last barrel must be
poured into tub or other vessel. Now. having
previously made some strong ley from wood ashes,
pour small stream of it into tub and stir it well;
Immediately the clear liquor will become muddy,
and as long as the ley continues to curdle or cloud
the liquor, it must be poured in; Of course, you
will have to wait now and then, for the liquor to
settle, to see if it requires more Icy No more must
be used than is necessary for it not only wastes the
ley, but is an impurty which the refinery must af
forwards get rid Of. We will now suppose that the
proper quantity Of ley has been used and the liquor
allowed to settle or drain through cloth until it be-
comes clear; it is then poured into the pot and
boiled away until drop taken up on the end Of
stick becomes hard or solid when let fall upon cold
metal or upon plate.
The liquor is now to be dipped GU. Of the pot and
poured into cloth placed tub or barrel, and
allowed to strain through into the tub below and
become cold AS aSt tho liouor IN
crystals Of saltpetre will commence forming and
when cold the liquor left-caed mother LIQUOR
must be poured OF from the saltpetcr back into the
pot with The fresh liquor for boiling, as it still has
considerable satpetre in it There will be found at
the bottom OF the pot after the liquor is dipped out
when the boiling Is completed, some earthly salts,
which, after draining can be thrown away as it,,.
puntes; II, however, some long needle shaped
crystals should be seen in it when cold it contains
some saltpetre and about quart of hot water
should be added, and then poured off after time,
when 1t VIII have dissolved all the satpetre left
among the earthly salts; this wash water can then
be put back into the pot after the impurities shall
have been cleaned out.
The saltpstre, formed by the 70 ccoine process.
must be first allowed to drain we'll, and then placed
on cloths stretched before the fire or out in the sun
put into sacks or barrels and is ready to be trans
ported to the nearest ordinance officer who will paw
Tor the same on receiving the bills of its shipmen,
| on the railroad
1t the crystals Of saltpetre are wet and brown
ana wiii not keep dry, it is because too much I've
ron Ihe wood ashes has been used this can De re
moved ny nearly filling tub or barrel with the
sapetre and pouring cold water on it. as much as tht
w., w.. VIII holo and utter remaining about one hour
the water can be drained off from the hn.o,n ,rha
WIN carry with it most of tho Iva. th;s wa
wafer must DC poured into the I've Of tb. wooc
ashes so as not to lose the saltpetre which l. oo
| tains. F''S Which II con
The foregoing process evidently co,+.;n. Ill 81, j..
Is required IN principle for the making of salt,etr,
on large scale, since nothing more ~ to hs i,',.
than to increase the number Of barrels .nd t IoI
ers. Casks would be better, perhaps than /. .so,
in such case, and watts made by placing tho low,
ends of pieces of plank about four feet ,on NV.
trough, and opening or spreading out The NM.
ends about three feet then making ends ~ ~ app.
is an economical and convenient arranoemant 80
may be used a small as well as iarve col, =;
stead Of casks or barrels In making nse of tha ~
watts strips of wood should be placed over tho eas
o!the plsnks on the inside and thick LAYER of
sha straw should be placed at the bottom betwee,
sas panks on the inside, as well as along the Side
an d sus to about one foot of the top Of the va,
a. Asps taers BY pieces of wood leaning aeains
~. e: g whilst 1t il 6lled.with earth from III
ss,ss d.. =" e not done, tho liquor will, IN mar
1850 o.sn through very slowly. and time lost !
~ purpose hollow or channel about foot dss
snouia oe MADE along tho centre Of the earth in a
}. va, TO coit9ct the -gster na,reJ .NSS ~ ~