The Shasta courier., 1862-10-25
About Gunpowder,


United States are Dupont's, in Delaware ];
Hazards at Hazardsyille Conn. Lain,
1Mqkh & Boies, at Saugerties the Oriental
Gunpowder C0hpany, at Sohaghtsake.-.
Previous to the secession of South Carolina
there we're but two miles in all the Southern
States since that time, two more have
been erectcd-one in Georgia, the other in
Arkansas.
The materials and proportions of which
gunpowder is composed, are seventy FIVE
parts of saltpeter to twelve and one. half parts
sulphur and twelve and one-half parts of
charcoal These proportions vary slightly
10 different varieties Of powder and the
standard proportions of different Govern
ments vary Also but the proportions gener
ally deemed best or =" standard" are as we
have given them. Saltpeter is almost entire
ly imported from India, where it is to be
found in large quantities. and transported
thence to various parts of the world. Its
price in New York market varies from FIVE
to fifteen cents per pound its average price
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 depen-
dant upon the supply which they can gath
er from their own SOIL The Hazard Com
pany inform us that when the saltpeter is
received by them, it contains from six to
eight per cent. of foreign substance, but af
ter passing through their cleansing process
it does not contain one three hundred-thou-
sandth per cent. of impurities. as tested by
chemical analysis. 1t is this nicely of prep
araton that constitutes much of the differ.
ence of the qualities of powder.
Sulphur is almost entirely imported, and
mostly from the island of Sicily. where it is
found on the central part of the southern
coast. 1t is also found in the craters of vol
canoes and the rebels may succeed in get
ting some from Mexico; they may also
gather it in small quantities in the neighbor
hood of mineral springs from which sulphu
retted hydrogen is evolved. The other in
gredient, charcoal, is more readily obtained,
but great care is requisite in selecting the
wood, and in charring it after SELECTION
In England, black dogwood is used for sport
irg powder, but willow and alder arc gener
ally.used by our Government. These woods,
h. wever. are rendered unfit as the hardest
charcoal. if they are charred at too high a
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 charred at
higher temperature, it requires still great
er heat to ignite it and when charred at
degree required to melt platinum, it will en-
ter into combustion but slowly at ., 800 de-
grees.
The saltpeter and sulphur having been re-
fined, and the charcoal made from the right
wood and properly chaRred. they are mixed
together in portions al eady stated. The
=, Nod nd
sprinkled with water to prevent an explo-
sion, and subjected to the pressure Of large
wheels weighing seven or eight tons each,
by means of which it is solidi6ed into hard,
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 as large as doves
eggs. 1t is then taken to the dry house.
and dried by the heat Of steam or fire. At
terwards 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 explodes after having
been packed The danger lies in the pro-
cess Of manufacture; and even here the
danger is in the inability Of the workmen,
from familiarity with the process. to become
negligent of duty. Each process has its Pc
culiar danger. The old screw press was
abolished and the hydraIie press substituted
in its place. because the friction Of the screw
generated heat which at any time was lia-
BILE to explode the mill. Iron nails in the
shoes of employees are carefully avoided;
nor are they used in confning the heads of
the kegs in which the powder is packed
wooden ones being used in their place. AL
though danger necessarily and always ac
companies the manufacture of powder, the
employees receive no higher compensation
for their labor on this account. and work
men are readily found at dollar day
Notwithstanding the amount required for
the present war, the manufacturers assure
US that the business is now dull. less be-
ing used by the army than is ordinarily
employed in sporting purposes and in
arts of peace. Our mills produce annually
q surplus for export, amounting 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 the
land