Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-01-16
How GunpOwder Is Made.

How do you think you would like to live
fearing every moment to be blown up? none
during to speak loud to jar anything, 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 pleasant
Well, it isn't, yet hundreds of men live 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 these men 60 about
quietly and never laugh.
You know that gunpowder Is very danger
GUS In gun, or near fire, but perhaps you
don't know that it is equally dangerous all
through the process of making. A powder
mill is fearful place to visit, aud strangers
are very seldom allowed to 60 into one They
are built far from any town, 10 the woods, aud
each branch of the work is done In separate
building. These houses are quite distance
from each other, 80 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 very lightly set on, 50 that if 1t
cxplodes only the roof will suffer. But, in
spite of every care, sometimes whole settle.
mcut of the powder-mills will 60 Oft almost IN
an instant, and every vestigs Of the toll of
years will be swept away In few seconds
But, though you feel like holding your breath
u III,
cess to see 1t is made, perhaps you know, Of
these articles is prepared in house by itself,
but the house where they are mixed is the first |
terrible one In this building is an immense
milestone, rolling round and round in an iron
bed, and under the stone are put the three fear
full ingredients of gnnpowder, There they are
thoroughly mixed and ground together. This is |
very dangerous operation, because it the stone |
comes in contact with its iron bed it is very apt
to strike fire, and the merest suspicion OF O
spark would set of the whole. The materials |
are spread three or four inches thick in the bed
the Wheel which gees by water-power, is start
ed, and every man leaves the place. The door |
is shut, and the machinery is left to do its ter
rible work alone. When it has run long enough
the mill is stopped, and the men 90 back. This
operation leaves the powder in hard Jumps or
cakes.
The next house is where the cakes are brok- |
en- into grains, and, of course, is quite as
dangerous as the last one. But the men cant
20 away from this; they are obliged to attend !
to it every moment, and you may be sure no
laugh or joke is ever head 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 leath-
er, and is made perfectly black by the dust of
the punpowder 1t contains set OF sieyes, |
each one smaller than the last, through which |
the powder is sifted and an immense ground
and laboring mill, where it is ground up, while |
men shovel it in with wooden shovels. The |
machinery makes 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 stoving house is the next on the list,
aud there the gunpowder is heated on wooden
trays. 1t is very hot, and no workmen stay
there. From there it goes to the packing:
house, and it is put up in barrels, kegs and
canisters.
Safely through all these houses, it goes at
last to the storehouse. One feels like drawing
a long breath to see the fearful stuff safely
packed away, out of the bands 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 imbedded IN wat
er The roof is one big tank, kept full of wat
er. Did you ever hear of q water-roof before
Instead of steps to 20 in, there are shallow
tunks of water, through which every one must
walk to the door.
In none of these powder-houses is any light
ever allowed except sunlight. The wages are
good, and the days work is short, ending al
ways at three or four o'clock. But the men
have serious look, that makes one think
every moment of the danger, and glad to get
away.-dmatcdn Sportsman.