Kimball enterprise. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1883, 1883-05-11
The Power of Dynamite.

Within the past ten years, a new in
strument of havoc and destruction has
been added to the agencies with which
men make war upon one another. The
murder of the Car of Russia, two years
ago; the blowing up, a few weeks since,
of a government ~buildingi in London; the
seizure of explosive machines in the
hands Of suspicious characters, and many
other circumstances, have called the
startled attention of the world to the
terrible power of dynamite.
What is this immensely destructive
substance? 1t is a compound, usually
made in the form of a paste, of nitro
glycerine and gun-cotton. Nitro.glycer-
inc, as the reader may know, is an oily
liquid of highly explosive and dangerous
qualities. Gun-cotton saturated in GER
tain acids, which make it also a very ex-
plosive agent. The two, combined in the
form OF dynamite, make a substance
which carries death and destruction
The glass bomb of dynamite which not
only killed the Gar Alexander, but
wounded half-a-dozen of his escort, and
broke the window-panes of houses sew
eral hundred feet away, could be carried
easily concealed in the palm of mans
hand of medium size. No doubt the
explosive agent-whatever it was
whichdealt such havoc in London, vas
quite as small and as easily concealed.
There are many possible forms and
combinations of %gun-cotton, nitro.giyce-
rine, and dynamite. Nitro-glycerine
will not explode by the mere applica-
ton of fire; on the contrary. if lighted,
it will burn slowly and harmlessly. But
it will explode by a sharp conclusion.
A dynamite bomb, too, supplied with
a small percussion cap, will explode if
thrown violently, just as does u toy tor
pedo.
The most common way Of exploding
fuse attached to it. The further end Of
the fuse is lighted, and then the opera
tor hastens way. By the time the fire
reaches the destroying agent, the opera
tor is able to get to a safe distance, and
to defy detection,
The explosive power of dynamite or
n~itro-glycerine is generally stated to be
about ten times as great as gun-powder
of the same bulk. The explosion pro-
duces no smoke whatever, but creates a
deafening decoration.
Dynamite and other forms Of nitro
glyeerine and gun-cotton, are taking the
place of gun-powder, to a large extent,
in the operations of mining and Of blast
ing rock; and this kind of work is much
more raLidly done by their means. Such
explosive agents are also being intro
duced into the operations of warfare.
Gun-cotton is used in artillery opera
lions and i'll naval actions, it being found
far more effective than gun-powder, as
well as more clean in its use. 1t is also
adopted in the operations of military en-
%gineering.
Thus we see that the discovery of nj
tro.glycerlne, gun-cotton dynamite,
with their various combinations and the
improvements constantly made in them
has given to men a and most potent
material force, which they use both for
wicked and for benefcent ends.
Henceforth, not only will mining,
blasting, and similar work be done more
rapidly with less labor, but wars will be
shorter because more destructive.
But we cannot regard the tremendous
destructive power of dynamite, and the
ease with which enough Of it to destroy
a palace or a prison can be carried con-
cealed about the person, without per-
celying what g terrible weapon it sup
plies to the criminal and the assassin.
Nor can we wonder that the English
and other governments are earnestly
considering how the manufacture and
sale of agents so formidable in their ac-
ton, and indeed in their very existence,
can be restricted without limiting their
proper and beneficial use in saving hu-
man labor and making it more effective.