New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-10
EXPLOSIVES NOT so POWERFUL rs sur
POSED

Letter nom me Manager Of Nobers Explosives 0o"spanS
10 The London Tines
observe that exaggerated statementsasto ne ne-
structve effects of poded nitrogycerine ann nyn
amite have appeared in the newspapers. AS inoso
statements are likely TO produce unnecessary sss
and augment the prevailing SCARF" 1t nay DC We'll
70 reassure the public somewhat bg giving them
instead of the grossly exaggerated assertions may
have Ape AIRED. exact figures from wnicn .noy w r
alarm. Nitro glycerine and dynamite 90 nor; VIE"
exploded exert such.n force as is pepnsrly Pc
sf
ton of nitro-qlycerine similarly exploded WI exsrp
sa poMDe 0, s@iary exploded 1880 foot-tons
These figures, although large. are not enormonsc
and need not excite terror. Seventy teonsa s
form of a cube would measure only % feet
on the side. and II 1t were possible to copcentfa1
the whole force Of ton OF blasting nnIy sece
would be to lift 1t 10 the height OF FOOT Inc iore
going figures are derived from experiments maze az
Ardeer with an INSTRUMENT which esvr nies,vss The
power exerfed bv q. explosion on snrrounding 90
tects Is in the inverse ratio Of the cube OF the az
feet from the exact point of explosion the power
is only the cube Of 1-10Otb, or 1-1O0O,0Qotn part
OF what 1t is at distance OF only one 1901 rom ,nas
point, or In other words, II the powet
al one foot from the spot be represented bX
1000 600, at the distance Of 100 feet II Will
be but /. IT is thus seen that the snsc.s ssv
intensely local but comparatively timing az
even short distances. II ton OF dynamite or nitrV
gvcerne we're exploded IN L9ndon ss.ses 'ne
fecis would be felt severely n the Ssvoed tbas
thew would b. confined to the mere breakage OF
windows Indeed. 1t would be impossible by SIM
Considerable extent beyond the immediate peigh'
borhood in which the explosion took place. On ono
occasionI happened to witness the explosion Oh ovSr
a tor of nitro CIV cerne from 9 distance OF only
sixty yards. The nitro-glycerine was anont zen
feet beneath the level at the ground. which was OF
sand and csvred With Tats few 1he DOORS IS
the surrounding buildings, there WIS no uaWsko
done. A little sand was thrown over me, but I re-
been from time TO time promngated to induce the
belief that there are stronger explosives than nitro
glycernc and nitro lycerine preparations, ana
the late attempts on public buildings etc.. are IN
possession of more powerful explosives than any
known to chemists The public may rest as sa Sc,
Known. The strongest Of these Is the material
sTrsrps as combined wts certain proportion Of
nitrated cotton IL Is much more difficult TO prepare
than either nitro-gIycerire or dynamite. and can:
1oT De s' BE- oy Sy that Of nitro
glvcerine will be l.4l6. and that OF blasting seia'
tine 1883.
police the other day would, IT. exploded exert
force of only 1883 foot-tons and II converted ins9
foot.tons. The conversion Of nitro ycerine into
dynamite reduces the power of the forn'er but rem
ders it more easy and safe to handle and use, Tho
power given above Is comparatively lnslgnincahts
and ma 4 Ia the maximum effect that could be pro-
duced under the most favorable circumstances on
the very spot Of explosion. 1t never could be OBJ
tanned In practice Ii Is therefore absurd to say as
was said the other day in London paper, that tho
ex pIoson of such o quantity Of nitro-glycerinS
would blow up tho whole of London. In fact, the
explosion could scarcely be heard over London, and
the damage done by il would be strictly local.
have Often by way Of experiment, exploded
pound of dynamite suspended from the end Of hsh-
ing-rod by a string about feet long. holding the
rod In my hand tho while. As there was no solid
matter 10 project received no injury and the eng
of the fishing rod was not even scratched. About3
left uninured.
IL will be seen from the foregoing that the scoun-
nowcrIess TO do much harm by their operationsy
They cannot by any means al their disposal lay
whole city In runs--not even street. They may
nure special buildings. but that Is the most they
A. L.