Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-03-12
NO. g..
Misfellanrons.
HOW GUNPUWDER Is NADIA HOUSE
WHERE men NEVER LAUGH.

How do you think you would like to
live. fearing every moment to be blown
up; not daring to speak loud, to jar any,
thing, for fear Of starting an explosion
that would send you in an instant to the
other world?
You don't think it would be very pleas
ant? Well, it isn't; yet hundreds of men
I'VE IN Just that state, work, receive pay
and live, year after year, in the very sight
OF death, as it were; all that the world
may have gunpowder.
You can easily guess that those men 90
about very quietly, and never laugh.
You know that gunpowder is very dam
gerous in gun, or near fire, but perhaps
you don't know that it is equally danger
Gus all through the process OF making.
A powder mill is a fearful place to visit,
and strangers are very seldom allowed to
go into one. They are built far from the
town. in the woods, and each branch of
the work is done in separaae building.
These houses are quite Iii, ,ance from
each other, SO that if one blows up, it
won't blow up the rest. Then the lower
parts Of the building are made very strong,
while the roofs are we're slightly set on.
So that if IL explodes only the roof will
suffer. But in spite of every care, some.
times a whole settlement of the powder
mills go OF almost in an instant, and
every vestige of the work of years will be
swept away in few seconds.
But though you feel like holding your
breath to look at it, it is really very in
teresting process to see. 1t is made, per-
haps you know, of charcoal, saltpeter and
birthstone. Each OF these articles is pre-.
rad l. - l~..A L. l.
where they are mixed is the first terrible
one. In this building is an immense mill
stone, rolling round and round in an iron
are put the three fearful ingredients Of
gunpowder. There they are thoroughly
mixed and ground together.
This is very dangerous operation. be-
cause if the stone comes in contact with its
iron bed, it is very apt to strike fire, and
the merest suspicion of spark would set
Oft the whole. The materials are spread
three or four inches thick in the bed; the
wheel, which goes by water power, is
started, and every man leaves the place.
The door is shut, and the machinery left
to do its terrible work alone. When it has
run long enough, the mill is stopped, and
the men come back. The operation leaves
the powder in hard Jumps or cakes.
The next house is where these cakes are
broken into grains, and, of course, is
quite as dangerous as the last one. But
the men can't go away from this, they are
obliged to attend to it every moment; and
you may be sure no laugh or joke is ever
heard within its walls. Every one who
goes in has to take off his boots, and
put on rubbers, because one grain of the
dangerous powder, crushed by the boot
would explode the whole in an instant
The floor of this house is covered with
leather. and is made perfectly black by the
dust of the gunpowder. 1t contains set
of selves, each one smaller that the last,
through which the powder is siited; and
an immense ground and laboring mill.
where it is ground up. while men shovel
it in with wooden shOvels. The machinery
makes a great deal of noise, but the men
are silent. as in the other houses. The
reckless crashing Of the machinery even
seems to give greater horror, and one is
very glad to get out OF that house.
The glazing house comes next. Glaz-
ing is done by mixing black lead with the
powder. to give it black and shiny look
The powder is put into barrels, which re-
vOlve for several hours. That polishes
the grains by their rubbing together. The
black lead is then put with them and they
rcvolve several hours more. Of course
the dust flies from all these operations,
and the workmen, silent, like the rest.
look like very black negroes, working in
the blacklist of powder, in room whose
walls and floors are blacker than the rest,
il possible. 1t has very singular look
to a stranger. and added to the horrible
silence, makes one feel that the whole
world has gone into mourning. Often.
the gunpowder, revolving so rapidly in
the barrels, gets very hot; SO this, too, is
a dangerous operation.
The storing house is the next on the
list, and there the gun powder is heated on
wooden trays. 1t is very hot and no
workmen stay there. From there it goes
TO the packing house. and is put up in
barrels, kegs and canisters.
Safely through all these houses, it goes
ut last to the storehouse. One feels like
drawing II long breath to see the fearful
stuff safely packed away out of the hands
hands OF men in this curious house.
You've heard OF things being as dry as
a powder house. but you wouldn't think
this house very dry. 1t is almost imbed-
ded in water. The roof is one big tank,
kept full of water. Did you ever hear of a
water roof before Instead Of steps to 20
in, there are shallow tanks OF water,
through which every one must walk to
the door.
In none of these powder houses is any
light allowed except sunlight. The
wages are good, the days work is short,
ending at three or four O'Clock. But the
men have serious look. that makes one
think every moment of danger. and glad
to get away.
Though curiosity may take man once
to visit powder MILL he has no desire to
| c,,, tho eooonI t;c1a. aud ha fails all the