The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-01-05
Blowing Up Stumps.

Late experiments by Mr. John O'Don-
nell, of Jamaica, L. l., have shown that
by the use of dynamite the cost of
stump-eradicating can be surprisingly
reduced. An oak stump, two feet in
diameter, costs by hand labor at least
one dollar to remove. Dynamite will
send it flying at cost of TWENTY-FIVE
cents. Mr.. ODonnell recently invited
a-party OF farmers to see its effective
ness. Five stumps were attacked. The
first was of oak, partly decayed. The
men employed punched hole with a
crowbar between two projecting roots,
but, not being experts, did not insert the
instrument fully under the stump. Con-
sequently, only two-thirds of it was
blown out The partial decay of the
wood was another hindrance. 1t did
not offer the necessary resistance. A
partially-rotted chestnut stump was
blown to fragments. The crowbar was
badly inserted under an apple-tree
stump, and that, like the oak, was
shattered to the extent of two-thirds.
With sound and sturdy oak stump,
however, the dynamite was fully tri-
umphant. The stump was blown out
utterly.
A charge was placed under q rock
weighing about two tons. 1t was thrown
from its bed and shattered to pieces. A
rock half its size was thrown twenty
feet, but not broken. A hole about a
foot deep was then drilled into we'll
imbedded rock, and charged with four
ounces of dynamite. 1t was much
broken, and the pieces not dislodged
were easily pried out with the crow
bar.
About two inches of cartridge an
inch in diameter had hitherto been used
upon the stumps, but the closing ex-
pertinent was made with an entire cart
ridge eighteen inches long upon fresh
oak stump twenty inches in diameter
Many of the fragments were thrown
125 feet
Mr.. Palmer, Superintendent of Maple
Grove Cemetery, near Jamaica, has
been successful in the use of dynamite
upon both stumps and stones. He drills
a hole from six to twelve inches deep,
according to the size of the stone, and
speedily meets with success. In sink
ing a well a flat rock was found at a
depth of over sixty feet, but it was
quickly shattered, and the pieces were
hauled up in buckets
The dynamite is put up in packages
of oiled muslin, shaped like candle,
and impervious to water. One end is
opened, and hole is made in the pow
der with a stick for the insertion of the
| percussion cap, which is an inch long,
and loaded for half its length with full
inmate of mercury. A fuse is inserted
in the cap, which is squeezed with nip
pers, that it may fit tightly. The little
interstices must be filled with soap, to
render the cap waterproof. After the
cap is in position in the powder, the
top of the cartridge must be tied tight
around the fuse, so that no water NAV
enter. On the cartridge being placed
against the stump, water must be
poured into the hole and the
ground around thoroughly soaked and
pressed, that it may offer a strong re-
sistance. A little semi-circular dam
should then be heaped around, within
which more water should be poured. by
| way of adding to the resistance. The
fuse, which should project outside of
the dam, is then lighted 1t reaches
the cap in less than two minutes, which
affords ample time for the operator to
reach a safe distance. The explosion
makes little noise, and, after viewing
dance in the air of myriad of frag-
ments, spectators find large hole,
with few loose roots around, and the
ground ready for the plow.-N. Y. Sun.