The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1873-02-12

MISCELLANY.
THE POWER WHICH MoyEs MoUNrA
HOW NITRo-GLYcERINE is MADE AND MANI
PULATED.


A correspondent of the Springfield Union
writes as follows concerning the nature of the
formidable explosive nitro glycerine, the pro-
cess of its manufacture at North Adams, Mass,
and how it is disposed of
So much has been said and written about
much more afraid of it than he is of the evil
one or any of his most powerful agents but
like all other subjects this is Invested of most
of its terrors by careful examination. The
nitro-glycerine manufactured by Prof. Now
bray, and which, as its name indicates, is
composed of three atoms of nitric acid to one
of glycerine, should not be eonfonnded with
Nobefs nitro-glycerine made in Germany,
and which caused the terrible explosions at
the Wyoming Hotel in New York, on board
the steamer European at Aspinwall, and in
the Office of Wells, Fargo & Co., at San Fran
cisco in 1865 and 1866. The combining pro-
portions are entirely different; the Nobel gly
eerine expands one-twelfth in freezing, while
frost contracts Mowbray S to the same amount
and last and most important of all, the trio
nitro-glyeerine is free from those impurities
which are believed to have caused nine-tenths
of the disasters by which this terrible fluid
has hurried hundreds of human beings into
eternity.
The works are situated about twenty rods
north of the west shaft in plot of ten acres
surrounded by high board fence. Over the
gateway are to be seen the ominous words
eNitro-glycerine works. All persons are
warned to keep away from the grounds
statement, for visitors are so thoroughly afraid
of the very name that they keep as far away
as possible and the workmen say they are
never troubled with company. Entering the
grounds, with Prof. Mowbry for our guide,
we pass between a row of irregular wooden
buildings, where ten men are employed MAX
ing the most powerful explosive ever known.
On the left is the acid house, where eleven
stills are located, each of which could, if de-
sired, manufacture six hundred pounds of the
mixed nitric and sulphuric acid used in the
manufacture, every twenty-four hours. After
the mixture is prepared-and this is done by
process of the Professors own invention-it
is carried to the-converting room. The acid
is weighed, seventeen pounds are put into
each of one hundred and sixteen stone pitch
ers, and these are placed in troughs, filled
with ice cold water, which rises within four
inches of the top of the jars. On shelves above
are arranged row of glass jars one to each
pitcher, and in every one of these is put two
pounds of pure glycerine, which is allowed to
run, drop by drop, through a syphon into the
mixed acids below. This mixture is nitro
glyccrine. &SH
So great is the heat produced by the union
of the substances, that the ice cold water is
not sufficient to prevent the mixture from
taking fire, and a current of air which has
been forced through an ice chest by steam
power, is passed through each jar in a rubber
tube If the mixture take fire it will not ex-
plode, but will produce oxalic acid and noxious
vapors at fearful rate. In about two hours,
when the glycerine has all run down through
the syphons, into the jars below, the COM
pound, which only contains three and three
fourth pounds of glycerine to each jar (the re-
mander of the ten pounds being acid and
water), is poured into vat, which looks ex-
actly like huge soap kettle, such as may be
seen at any of our large factories. After re-
manning in this vat fifteen minutes the water
is drawn off and the nitro-glycerine runs out
at the bottom. 1t is then washed six times
more to remove all traces of the acid This
washing must be performed very cautiously,
as if particle of the oil should get on the
floor and be stepped on, the unfortunate work
men who are near would never. know what
hurt them. Yet the Professor has exercised
such great care in the manufacture and in Sc
lecting his men, that no accident has ever hap
pened at the factory proper.
4 As we stand by the doorof the wash-room
with just the least (9) wish that we were some
where else. a man comes leisurely along carry
ing what looks like sap-yoke and buckets
across his shoulders. Each of these innocent
looking buckets contains about one hundred