The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-05-25
ROsSA'S GREAT AGENT.
A Practical chemist Talks About
Dynamite and its Powerful Prop

n frdCClCul CnclntSC I0tkS About
Dynamite and its Powerful Prop
critics.
From the Philadelphia Times.
"You want to know something about
dynamite?" said S. G.. Rosengarten, who
has been christened, like Baron Liebig,
zone of the Fathers of Modern Chemis-
try" looking at the reporter curiously.
"Well, dynamite is a pasty, dark mass,
almost perfectly safe to handle with
proper care, of which enough can be
carried in side pocket to destroy the
lives of hundred men if favorably stu
ated, or to shatter building Us COM
pletely as half a barrel of gunpowder
placed beneath it would. It does not
explode on contact with fire, like gun
powder, but requires to be subjected to
or brought in contact with another ex-
plosive agent, such as illuminate"
GLOW is dynamite nader" asked the
reporter.
''By saturating pulverized or infusori-
about three times it's weight of nitro
glycerine, the earth being aided mere
ly to make its transportation easy and
comparatively SALE"
''But these ingredients appear harm
less enough" interjected the reporter.
ooh, yes" rejoined Mr.. Rosenearten;
harmless enough separately. We can
eat glycerine on our puddings and fat
ten on it; we can use the earth to polish
our tableware or clean our glasses. But
when equal parts of strong nitric and
sulphuric acids are gradually added. in
small portions at a time and at tenn
perature below the freezing point, to a
certain quantity of glycerine we have a
bright yellow liquid which possesses ex-
traordinary explosive energy and is
called nitro-glycerine. 1t is this destruc-
tive compound which is used to saturate
"Where was it discovered and how?'
swell, that is disputed point. Some
say that young nun in Wilmington,
Del, discovered the explosive properties
of dynamite accidentally, while working
with glycerine and nitric acid, the re.
sulting explosion seriously injuring his
eyes. Others maintain that it was first
discovered in Germany by somewhat
similar chance. I am inclined to wholly
reject the accident theory, however.
In 1864 Alfred Nobel. Swede, of Ham.
burg, made its character known, his
brother Icing killed in the experiments
they conducted. Do not misunderstood
what said at fsrt about
| its being comparatively safe to handle,
with proper-that is, the greatest-care
there is no very great danger of it's ex.
ploding unexpectedly, but familiarity
leads to carelessness, and its potential
| energy is too terrible for absolute safety
under any circumstances. Excepting
| chloride OF nitrogen and hypochloril
acid in gas or liquid known to chemistry
( yielding lC.6S4 measures of gas, while
gunpowder yields but 500 measures. It
is highly dangerous under almost any
conceivable conditions, and hope Eng
land will be successful in her efforts t
suppress its manufacture. She is abou
the only power that can do it, as her ter.
ritory is exceptionally compact and the
laws enacted under recent panic give
her officials extraordinary powers"
Other chemists in the city disagreed
with Mr.. Rosengarten's views rs to the
excessive danger of dynamite. One
| gentleman thought the English fright
ridiculously puerile. He said he woulc
not be afraid to carry half pound o
dynamite in his trousers pocket; "but,
he added, II should be very careful tha
no one knocked me down or gave me 6
| kick ON that pocket"