The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-06-20
MAKING DYNAMITE.
How The DANGEROUS Explosive is lInnuiac.
tnred In Scotland.

On the coast of Ayrshire, Scotland few
miles south of ArdrosSan, are located the
works of the British Dynamite Company.
Though not in any way offensive, as regards
bad odors, or inimical to health nor injuri-
Gus to either animal or vegetable life, yet
they are located one mile from the nearest
village, no doubt with view of reducing the
loss of life in the event of an explosion,
though so perfect are the police regulations
Of the place itself that the danger is almost
nil Some $50 men and women are en-
ployed In the works, and when they enter
the gates in the morning they become virtu-
ally priAvners for the day. but their healthy,
contented faces and CHEEKY voices give am
pie evidence that they like the work and do
not fret at their confinement The days
work is commenced by all hands changing
their ordinary clothing for uniform, differ.
ing for each gang, and each distinctive of
the special work to be performed by this
particular gang. This uniform plays an mn
portant part in the safety precautions of the
establishment. Realizing that accidents
usually occur in dangerous occupations, on
account of some one undertaking to do
something with which he is not thoroughly
familiar, the management have adopted these
distinctive uniforms Gin one instance bright
red, so that the police can tell at glance
whether any one is out of his or her province.
Four men from the country police force,
paid by the company, are constantly patroll-
ing the premises, (Which cover an area of
square mile), and they can neither speak
nor be spoken to. The superintendent is
man intimately acquainted with all the
theoretical and practical aspects of the ques-
ton of manufacture, besides which, at ir.
regular and uncertain intervals, govern
ment official visits the place to see that the
acts of Parliament relative to the manufac-
ture of dynamite are faithfully carried out
The process followed in tho manufacture il
based on the discovery of Mr.. Noble, that by
the use of an inert substance the power of
the explosive is not lessened while the risk
attending its application is reduced The
substance used is a porous, silicious earth,
resembling flour, into which nitro. glycerine
is poured and by it absorbed, when the CON-
pound is passed through various processes
each with view of lessening the danger OF
handling. 1t is then made up into car
tridges of various lengths and power. The
cartridge material, Invested of the agency OF
detonator may be handled and subjected
to percussion without explosion There are
limits as to the quantity which may be sent
out at any one time, and there are rules laid
down for the arrangement no less than for
the size of the cases holding the material
That it is n profitable undertaking in which
the company are engaged is apparent from
the high premium on the original shares
and that their product has become ere
source of civilization is shown by the de-
mRnd for it from every part of the globe
where man, warning with nature, is uproot-
ing the stumps that hinder the progress of
his plough, leveling the rock that comes be-
tween him and straight poih, unloosenine
from its firm foundation the stono that is to
build his house, breaking irto The seam of
the coal that s to cook his dinner or making
deep and navigabe the streams that give
him communication with his neighbors. -
From tie Medicat and Surgical Reporter.