Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-05-27
GgHEahl: WaWS.
rgs ,a,vrr4crysx OF SAzraEras.

now TO ASCERTAIN TIE PRESENCE OF sALTFE7HE
lNEAnTu.
! Take the earth that you may TRa 10 test,
and pass water through 1t; then a,if l}c--
nade OF common wood ashss-to Tia wac:
until the clouding ceases; afterwards boil
down lbe water until it is thick, then lnmerBo
slio of usper in the wafer, which, Wien
thoroughly dried, apply to 1.-Two coal 81 Tire
| ii it burns with cracking noiSh the earth has
mora or less sallpetre in it: Nearly al the
limestone caves in East Tcnnessre and West.
ern Virginia that are free iTnu running water
ur drjus, contain more or loss salipe'ro-
now 10 MAKE sALTrETRE.
Put up tour noppers. such as are used in
making I've, fill them with pulyerized saltpa--
ire earth, pass the same waller through No.
twice. and once--it being tho third time pass
cl through saltpstre es1th-through No 2. AT.
ter the beer, as it is called by saltpetre-makc1s,
has settled, draw it of into another vessel and
ada common lye to it until it ceases to curdle
or cloud, then it may be boiiad until it thick
ers. or unit! drop OF tho beer thrown on
| cold surface crystalises. The beer should then
DO suffered to cool, when ths saltpetre will
form in beautiful white crystals. The saltpe-
| ire should then be dried i'll the sun, and after
wards put up in bags or boxes for shipment.
Tho mother beer--a!er the cryatalizsd salt.
petru has been taken oul-siouid be put back
in tbs boiler again, for il contains considerable
| saltuetre not crystalized. Should the saltpelre
have lingy color, It IS because too much I've
has been put in it. The petre may be purified
| by soaking it in tub o: clear water, and In
that case the water should afterwards no put
into the boiler, because it contains great deal
Of tho saltpetre i'll solution.
It will be remembered that the beer, follow
ed through tho ontiro process Of manufacture,
was first passed through hopper No. twice,
and then cnco through hopper No. 2 This
was done to give a bsei holding large quan-
tity OF saltpelre in solution, and thereby MA
king the boiling process that much less. Now,
to keep this up, pass the water through NO.
/, then through No. 2, and afterwards through
No 8, and thsnce TO the boiler, NV, No.
has besn dripped three times, aud il Exhausted
OF saltpeire, aud may be cmp.,cd and ctiilled
with new earth. While this is b,!ng done to
No. l, pass water through No. 2. then through
No. 8. and lastly through No. 4, and then to
the boiler No. 2 may nov rs rehlled, .nd
while it is hciug done, pass water through No.
8, then through No. 4, then 4. then through
No. l, rhd then to The boiler. BY this mode
you always have one hopper being fehl!et Tlih
now earth, and making The beer Tor the boiler
without STOP You can increase the number
Fof hoppors to twelve ii you bavo three hands,
and then you can make proper DIVISION OF
Kshe work-one engaged il boiling one refill.
ing tho hoppers, and the third making lyo:
When the earth contains an average amount
OF saltpetre, three hands ecu make about one
hundred barrels per day.
Tho government is giving 80 cents per pound
for all saltpetre delivered at any depot on
IA load, in good condition for transportation
ca the cars until tho fist da7 Hi January,
1863, and payment will be- Iate on tho ~
ceipt BY the depot agent, By any guartermast'
in the Confederate service.
P. S.-Common alum may o. use to cTgS-
tslize the saltpetre ii::!tcad OF I've, but tito
wr:tsr is not familiar with tins uss OF alum IN
making satpetre, AID therefore cannot give
the quantity To ia used Tho manufacturer
can experiment, until he gets 1he proper PRO
portion.