The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-04-14
HIGH EXPLOSIVE POWDERS.
Their Components and Their Consumption
In Montana.

The project Of establishing works near
Silver Bow for the manufacture Of high ex-
plosiye or glycerine powders leading to the
belief that something In relation to the CON-
ponents and manufacture of these explosives
30 largely used in mining, railroad copstruc-
ton, ETC., would be of especial interest, we,
q few days since, interviewed Mr.. Sonntag,
representing the Safety Nitro-Powder Com
many, and obtained the following items:
Nitro-glycerine powder is made largely, al
most exclusively, on the Pacific Coast, and Is
composed of sulphuric and nitric acids, gly-
cerine and an absorbent. Nitric acid is
powerful corrosive acid containing five
equivalents of oxygen and one Of nitrogen
in the proportion Of two equivalents OF the
former to one of the latter, and Is made by
placing sulphuric acid with nitre under in
tense heat which creates fumes that are con-
centrated and conveyed to glass bottles or
carboys. The fumes are conveyed from one
carboy to another until the concentration Is
brought to standard of 49o. This acid is
sold in San Francisco at fourteen cents per
pound. Sulphuric acid is formed by an
equivalent of sulphur combined with three
equivalents of oxygen. This is made by
burning sulphur and concentrating the fumes
until 1t reaches standard of 66'. Glycerine
Is a sweet, viscid liquid formed during the
saponifcation of fatty substances consisting
of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen and is prin-
cipally obtained from the drippings Of can
dies and by forcing hot air into fatty matter.
This gives the three ingredients which make
nitro-glycerine. The nitro-glycerine is
mixed with an absorbent, such as chalk,
earth, saw-dust, magnesia, or any substance
which will absorb it, and is then packed in
cartridges in the shape of candles. Glycerine
is sold at about thirty-eight cents per pound.
In No. powder sixty to seventy-ive per
cent is nitro-glycerine. An important item
of expense in manufacturing nitro-glycerine
powder Is that much is lost by evaporation,
it taking in the neighbsrhood of six pounds
of crude materials to make one pound OF
nitro-glycerine; beside, the danger attaching
to the manufacture compels companies to
pay large wages. The amount of capital in
vested in powder works ranges from $3.50 900
10 81 ,000, 900 each, The profits in manufac-
ture have been greatly reduced by competi-
ton.
Within the past century many leading
chemists of Germany, France and Austria
have tried to introduce chloride of potash as
an explosive, but SO far have been unable to
control 1t and most of them have lost their
lives in the attempt. Chloride of potash is a
powerful alkali, the protoxide Of potassium
having a strong affinity for oxygen. OF late
the attempt has been almost entirely aban-
dsned. A few reckless chemists have tried
to introduce it but without success.
At present all glycerine powders-except
such as may have come from the east by the
N.P.R Rare sent here from California by
way of Corinne at freight rate Of about
seven cents per pound from California. The
Mp r. r. does not exclude these explosives
and when that road reaches here 1t is antici-
pated the freight rates will be reduced about
one-half, which with the competition at Sill
yer Bow will inure to the benefit of the min.
ing interest.
Ordinary black powder can be manufac-
tured here so as to compete with the east or
west. 1t is made simply of saltpet,r, sulphur
and charcoal, sepa, ately pulverized, then
panulated, mixed and died. There are
three grades-fne, medium and coarse. The
finer the powder the quicker the blast.
In manufacturing glycerine powder sui
phuric acid might be made here cheaper than
to import it. In the year 1851 there were
$50, 900 pounds-fourteen car loads-of glyce-
rine powder shipped to Montana.