New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-22
HANDLING EXPLOSIVES.
RULES FOR THEIR TRANSPORTATION.


TALKS WITH AGENTS OF RAILROAD AND EXPRESS
CoMPANIEs-THE MYSTERIOUS BOX AT MLwAU-
KEE-NEwARK PEOPLE ALARMED.
In view of the importance which dynamite
has assumed in the Irish troubles and the discovery Of
package supposed to be of that dangerous material at
/ Milwaukee on Friday, reporter Of The TRIBUNE
visited several express and freight offices yes
| terday TO learn how that and other explosives
were carried about the country by rail. The
package found at Milwaukee had been received
| by the Adams Express Company, and turned over
TO the American Express Company at Chicago. The
agents OF these companes denied that they ever
allowed explosives any kind In their when known
to be OF that character. r. A. Mckinney Of the Ameri
| can Company, said that he did not know of any
| law on the subject, but that his company
had floating insurance policy OF half a million dollars
on it's traffic between Boston and the Missouri River
which would become worthless If explosives COM
bustibles received at the offices We have fire.
quent Offers" continued Mr.. Mckinney of goods
but take them. We can't afford IT, Tie risk IL
too great a messenger discovers that package
tains material Of expo i've cOmbustbe nature his
orders open the cadoor and throw 1t into the FIRST
river he crosses. OF course, It is possible for
person smuggle dynamite and similar goods through
Offices in the of the box found at Milwau-
kee."
The agent OF the Adams Company to show how careful
protect itself and its patrons said that not
| matches were received for transportation. c. A.
De Witt, General superintendent OF the United
Company said that in his experience Of thirtydye
years he had never known al instance when an acct
dent occurred in consequence OF explosives being
ried as express matter. He added, however that his
company had strict regulations forbiddlng any agent
to receive such matter Mr. De Witt told several incl
dents OF who appealed to him, when refused by his
agents for permission TO send powder, ntrogyceriue,
and sO-called xplosves." zone man," he SAID.
| ask q ~ al TO
| a box containing 'non-expiosiye' powder Tie had II
labelled way and assured me that under con.
dtous could it be made TO explode In order to effect
an explosion other materials shipped separately
necessary. But. OF course, told him that would
allow him to send II, and referred him to the other
| press Offices
| H. b. Parsons, agent for Wells Fargo & Co., said
| that his company shipped dynamite or any
| explosive when known to be such. although the
component parts were sent sometimes. The
| greatest precautlon used with all
passages ad ressed to FOREIGN ports There many
houses" he aued, "whOse goods above suspicion,
IN which We " 9T NO eT@e fGR he s1Pe aS 9F
from sucn houses there no danger of receiving ques
in our mind regarding the contents OF package, we
open it. Many years ago. IN 1858 think, wien
from this city to san Francisco. Il was mark.
Ell .dry-gools' and reached its destination
delivery exploded, tearing down the building and kill
lug several persons Just imagine the explosion having
occurred on the snip. We tried 10 punish the person
Who's VINO sent i, but failed tGiak, to do 90"
r Ie OF gnnow.r' yiIIoi matches AMI eGposyes
| Zoe agent said tnat he frequently mad inventors
| materials wnt'h they desired to ship. few
years ago such an instance occurred and IN less than
! week the factory where the explosive was made was
While ali ils Of the express companies
denied that they ever endangered tho hives Of their
messengers and the railway PASSENGERS oy sending
| did receive ana carry theln Inc reporter then
called At the office Of the General Frsglt Agent
asked under wAat conditions shipper could send case
known to con ain dynamite 90 nItr1Sy cer.ne Under
r.presrulrd tue General Agent. We can't AFFORD 10
endanger the lives OF al the people who travel by
suung from accident, or from collision. The PROP
ability that It did not occur near village or city,
tue result Why we do not run our powder cars
IN Jersey CITY, but make the shippers outside OF the
city, away from the people ana valuable proporyo I'M
load dangerous freight There was an explosion or
carload d. mantle IN Canada short time ago,pn the
Grald Trunk line. The Joss terrible, aud not
least danger RON the TACT that all OF tue material
did explode at once An expert was sent IRON the
genera Office t. estigate the cause OF the explosion,
and ne carried back in regular express Train on tue seat
br.le MIN "A block that stuff which liable al any
to shatter the train to atoms The cause Of me
explosion was never known Tue car was IN train
standing still, and without any warning the explosion
took place" -. o.
tr1l Railroad 1t stated tnat explosives
were received An agent of the Merehan $
haa form ry Large business In carrying dynamite
from factory in Pennsylvania to tue
ABOUT two years ago two cpr.oads exloded IN
Counci Bluffs. hole tDrty feet dee. aud one hundred
aud long was duS by tue explosion. ana the
loss to tue very great, although the car was
mile away after that tiue the company refused
IN carry explosive cUmOustIble except black pow
business from tne dynamite factory in Penn
svvanu. The agent said, which then amounted weekly
10 several carlUads had been taken Dy the Penusy-
yania railroad. Inquiry nc tue iTeigat Office or tnat
company Jersey city showed mat dynamite was
snprd Dy special agreement with tue general agent
I'm Pniadel pnI. IL Is received at TINS end OF the
| road but Whatever Is TAX n east OF Pnll-
| drIunta IL shipped Perth AmbOy. Tue
cos of and tue other terms OF tue special
| agreement could not be learned
Ie package received at Milwaukee said to have been
| snpped from Newark, was sent from Railway by the
IIecia Powder Company On Tuesday To tho Milwaukee,
| Cement Company. IL Contained WHAT is
| book OF tue Adams Express Company. Experiments
| hnye shOSn that tuis VIII burn without
danger explosion being effected Only BY means OF aoaP
specialy made purpose, which is yer packed
| vim the The express company receive aud
| forward THIS material every day.
| A canal boat loaded Win HOO kegs OF glnp0wder.
weighing altogether ~ 800 pounds, Is lying the Nor
the RIVER street dock III tue city Oi New
Ark Tue boat arrived point on Friday, anu was
prevented from Onuuing jersey CITY oy break
Ia the level OF tIe canal lhe powder Is FROM Tue
| mills OF the Latin Il Rand Powder Company, at wayne
station near aud Is consigned 10 ne agency or
the works la NeAYOrk CITY Tue men in charge OF the
cargo re exreriencrd ana trusted hands. Ine deten-
top OF such tie ncudous explosive force within the
cty has caused uDeasnesS among people VINO are
| aware of tue nature OF the cargo OF tue boat