The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-08
THE SCIENCE OF THE MATTER.

THE SCIENCE OF THE MATTER.
Apropos Of the Bergen Tunnel explosion IL may be
proper here to say word or two generally OF that
class Of explosions effected by gunpowdcr aud
tho vulcan powder stored the crest OF tho Jersey
City Heights. An explosion arises simply from thu
sudden and rapid expansion OF the gnsos contained In
TING explosive compound. Tho report attending ex-
posion from the sudden displacement Of tho air
and equally sudden reoccupaton OF the space pro-
vioasly filled by IT, An idea of the explosive power Of
the vulcan powder which Saturday night startled
half dozen cities out OF their proprcty and set the
glazicrs rejoicing VIII be best arrived ut by
parison between It and ordinary gunpowdcr.
EXPERIMENTS.
The experiments OF Hutton ann Count Rumford fur
nish tho most reliable data upon this matter. CON-
mon gunpowncr when exploded, possesses enormous
iorco by OF its sudden conversion INTO gases
The volume OF these gases supposing hcm ut the
time OF the explosion to DO at freezing point IL about
$50 times that Of the powder used But In the highly
heated condition attending their production these gases
attain volume Of from 1000 to 5000 times that Of
tho powder Hutton has calculated that these
gases expand with velocity OF 10000
cct per second, and with pressure OF 1000 atmos-
sphcrcs that is to say every square inch Of tho re-
sistng body would be exposed 10 pressure OF 1456O
pounds six and half tons. great force OF gum
ford series of interesting experiments In Of
these he loaded with twentieth OF
of gunpowder, closed mp every aperture, and placed
upon the charge with ,ressurc OF 0Sl
pounds. On being ired the mortar burst with loud
explosion raising tho cannon. In another experiment.
he filed cylindrical space with twenty Oght grains of
powder which exactly fitted It. Upon exploding, is
burst bar OF iron capable OF resisting strain OF 200
tons.
POWDER HAVE
These two experiments sufficiently show tho cxplo-
sive force OF ordinary gunpowdor Now, Is calcu-
lated that tho lithofracteur, rcnd-rock powder.
possesses from eight ftccn the explosive force
Of gunpowder Consequently, IL used In the cxper
mens OF Count Rumford. one twentieth or an ounce
placed In the mortar would have raised weight VI
81 6is pounds. II used similarly In the second export
men twenty eight grains OF It would havc burst bar
capable OF resisting OF 900 tons, 1904 00d
pounds Assuming this basis OF calculation for tho
explosion OF Saturday last, and conceding tho fact
that only 500 pounds OF the powder were stored
Bergen Hill, that amount would, If rod in close
chamber. have raised the prodigious weight VI
a. 700 900 pounds Some idea may hence no formed
of tho power for destruction of such mass Of rend-
rock powder; and the Inhabitants OF Hobokcn, Brook
lyn and New York have be thankful that 10
was loosely stored. Tho general concusson at con-
siderable distances from the theatre Of tho explosion,
tho brcaxagc OF glass the front and Of build
ings IL easy OF explanation. The sudden air
blast caused by tho displacement OF tho
atmosphere and the quasi instantaneous rush
OF tho mir to Ill the created
plain tho conclusion. By the former windows facing
the Of an explosion are shattcred by the latter
those in tho suffer rho majority Of people but
little acquainted with the terrific power OF air blast
More than village tho Alps has been destroyed
by the air blast tho lightning like crash OF
lanchc into tho plain cncctuaiIy II swept away
with cannon Sometimes the OF avalanche
can DO traced down tho side Of n forest along which
II has Numbered from the PROSTATE forms Of giant frs
untouched by the avalanche bun RACED by the blas
as close as n sawed OF lovel with the ground.
The comparatively small amount OF heavy damage
done is matter for thankfulness when remembers
tho Wilmington. Del explosion Of May, 1854, thsa
OF Brcscia, in 1907, when tho lightning exploded
207 pounds Of powder In that city destroying
sixth OF it and killing 5000 people.
Tho Bergen Hi. explosion has sct many people talk
Ing about the Hell Gate blast which is 10 take
place. The HERALD had occasion short time ngo 10
advert this subject and tho sake OF those fearful
Of the consequences or the Hell Gate blasting opera
ton IT Is well that what was then said should
DO here repeated General Newton says there IL noe
the slightest for fear tho part Of those
living on tho river banks tho mine. The idea
that the explosive charge will DO fred In bnlk Is
erroneous one There about 5000 small charges,
not one Of which win be larger than contained
In q boring OF three inches diameter, tapering on
gradually TO two inches and half Tho difference be-
the popular notion and the real iaci is precisely
the difference the effect produced by the firing
dono during battle and that which would DO brought
about by the simultaneous explosion OF all the powder
used said battle II ared at In closed chambers
so people have not the slightest cause for fear