Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-05-04
CAUSE OF TIE EXPLOSION.

The fact that the destruction of the
mills in Minneapolis was for some time at
tributed by very many persons to an e1plo-
sion of nitro-glycerine, shows that popular
SCIENCE has yet abundant scope for the
education of the people in matters belonging
to every day life. The idea of death-deal-
ing explosion of such q commonly innocent
substance as -four appeared unnatural and
preposterous, even in a community SO largely
interested, directly or indirectly, in the
manufacture of flour that its members might
have been supposed to have pretty fair
general acquaintance with the properties of
that substance. This lack of knowledge is the
more noticeable because occurrences similar
in their main features to the explosion in the
Washburn mill are by no means rare. It is
altogether likely that of the many instances
of four-mill explosions now cited some at
least might have been avoided if the men
employed in subordinate places in tho mills
had had even slight knowledge of the
chemical qualities of the article which they
we're manufacturing.
The definite causes of such explosions are
as yet the subject of debate among scientific
men. Elsewhere we copy from the american
Miller an article replete with interest, at the
present moment especially, setting forth
some of the theories advanced in explanation
of events of the kind that startled Mime
apolis on Thursday evening. The diff
Guilty in determining the precise causes of
any particular explosion lies in the
fact that the work of destruction is usually
so thorough as to leave no testimony, either
that of men or of inanimate matter, by which
to trace the disaster to it's origin. Such was
the case in the Washburn mill. Neverthe-
less, instances in which evidence of the orr
gin of the explosion did exist are numerous
enough to warrant the statement that the
danger to which Touring mills are chiefly
exposed comes from the careless handling
of unguarded lights. Here is a danger
against which mill owners can readily pro-
tect themselves by the instruction of their
employees, and the exercise of personal vigi-
lance. Explosions by ignition caused by
friction may be more difficult of treatment
and this branch of the subject comes within
the special province of practical mill men
and scientists. 1t may be presumed, since
the danger has for such length of time been
known to exist without an efficient
remedy being invented, that there are serious
obstacles to the application of such safe
guard. All the more reason is there for an
untiring watchfulness to prevent, as far as
possible, the recurrence of calamities like
that which has befallen our neighboring
city. The disaster in Minneapolis will doubt
less instigate persons particularly interested
in the theoretic and practical science of such
affairs to renew their efforts to elucidate the
subject. So vast are the interests at stake,
and they are SO general throughout the
world, that in this inventive age it will be a
wonder if some solution of the problem be
not arrived at before long. Meantime it is
the part Of mill owners to never neglect for
an instant every precaution that may posi-
bly, avert the slaughter of men and the an
initiation of property.