The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-12-17
FIREWORK MAKING.

FIREWORK MAKING
y iirework factory is not very impos-
ing establishment to look at 1t is nee
essary to have almost us many work
shops us there are various processes in
the manufacture. and the law requires
that only a certain amount of explosive
material shall be accumulated in each
/ shop: that only 4 certain number of
hands shall be employed in it, that the
centre of each shop shall be at least
twenty-five yards from the centre of any
other shop. and that finished fireworks
shall be stored i'll quantities strictly linn
tied and clearly specified in magazines
sunk in the ground at least fifty yards
from any other magazine or factory or
Workshop. \ large iirework factory
therefore has the appearance Of a rathei
querr-loolling little industrial village,
the open spaces of which may perhaps
be piled up with the debris of one sort
and another. while some of the roadwayS
ABOUT it are fringed with a display of
iron mortarS. which. to any one who
should chance to come upon the place
without any knowledge of its character,
might very probably suggest the idea
that the heaps Of broken frames, rocket
sticks, barrels, and so forth. were the
outcome Of a recent bombardment.
1t is not altogether an inviting enclos-
ure for il stranger to make his way into.
There is II big notice of danger in
capital letters near the entrance. and all
sorts Of notices of pains and penalties
and warnings to treSpasSers. There are
some fifty workshops and magazines dot
ted over about twenty one acres of grass
land, and the rules and regulations post
ed up here and there about the place
convey the idea-quite an erroneous one,
no doubt that a general blow-up may
be expected at any moment Every
workshop is foored with kamptulicon
and lined with paper. Not scrap of
iron is employed in their structure, all
nails, etc, being of copper. The people
employed in them are compelled to wear
overall boots made specially for the
purpose, without nails, and garments of
WOODEN, all pockets in "hich 'ucifers or
other cDntrablnd articles might be |
brought into the place being strictly for
hidden. To ensure that this prohibition
is adhered to, every person is searched
before commencing work. If it is nee
essary, as it sometimes is at busy times,
to carry on work after dark, each work
shop must be lighted by gas-lamp
shining through the window from the
outside.
Perhaps the most delicate and inter-
esting feature of modern tirework max
ing Is the charging of Roman candles
those coiGred balls which are pulled out
softly into the ali one after the other
without any report, and which are always
recognized as such pretty feature of
the Sydenham displays. The public like
to see these balls thrown out with exact
~ an equal force, so as to play just with
in the same sphere. In order to secure
this. very careful adjustment is neces-
sary.
The fiery balls of colors are little Jumps
of composition filled into the case and
separated from each other by a layer OF
dark fire. a little charge of gunpowder
being Just underneath each. 1t is this
little charge Of powder which blows them
into the air, and if all the charges We're
alike. every ball would be thrown out
little further than its predecessor. be-
cause the deeper down in the case an ex-
ploSion takes place the more violent it is
the resistance being greater. To Obviate
this. the charge of powder is made to in
crease as the tube is filled up. The work
man who fills Roman candle. therefore,
has bsforc him 4 series of little scoops OF
different sizes for measuring the powder.
and uses them in succession, the smallest
being used for the first ball put in and
the largest one for the ball at the mouth
OF the tube. The clark fire " is a com.
position which only shoulders and which
therefore does not burn down to j second
ball until the first has performed its grace
full progress through the air. OF all fire
works the rocket is perhaps the most
beautiful, and it certainly is the most
curious in its structure. Some Of the
best of them are said to rise to 4 height
of more than third of mile. and this
amazing power of flight is secured by
runnin" in very tightly into the rocket
case composition viii III burns tiercely,
and generates gas very rapidly when once
lighted. but which has only very small
vent for its fury at the lower end of the
case. The gas generated insiGe rushes
out with such violence against the air
outside that the rocket is driven upward
by it. the tail of the comet consisting of
the sparks of the fire burning within.
Rocket making of course forms large
part of the work of any firework factory.
In one shed the cases are being made; in
another building sticks are being split
mp and rounded at the head SO at to fit
llllO Tue IOcktI-CdSt III Il lHlIu ali SDItS
of curious burdens are being prepared for
the fiery messengers whose heads are
hollow chambers capable of holding tail
stars" comets, colored stars, golden rain,
floating lights, and a score of other sur
prices when the rockets can rise no high
er. These floating lights, by tn, way
are well worth a passing notice. They
are produced by little tubes of color
borne aloft by small Silken parachute,
which, together with the tube is skill
fully packed into the head of the rocket.
-LnHdon Nf}Cs.
- No man can 60 in bad company
thout suffering for it. The homely
Cd proverb has it very tersely: " y man
cab I bite the bottom out of frying ran
without shutting his nose,