The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1885-02-18
Hom ann Cotton d Made.

II is not generally known that there Is
but one place in the United States where
gun cotton is manufactured, but such is
tho case. This is at the torpedo station
in Newport (R l. harbor In the man
ufacture Of gan cotton the best cotton
waste and the strongest and purest nitric
and sulphuric acids are used for the ex-
plosive, The cotton waste, after it has
been handpicked for the purpose of re-
covering the dirt and grit, is placed in
boiling tanks, where it is allowed to re-
main for four hours. 1t is afterward
subjected to thorough washing and l.
reboiled. This operation removes all
oily matter and leaves the cotton harsh
and stiff. It is then dried in the rooms
heated with the waste air from drying
box After undergoing this treatment
the cotton rolls up into snarls and
punches, and in order that the acid may
have a freer access TO it it is passed
through shredder and converted into q
fluffy state. 1t is afterward exposed in an
air tight box for several hours to tom
perature of 200 degrees which practically
deprives it of all moisture. From the
air-tight box 1t is removed to the
dipping room, where there are iron
troughs filed with one part nitric
acid and two parts of sulphuric acid.
Into those troughs the cotton is placed,
one bundle at time, and allowed to re-
main about ten minutes, long enough foi
it to be thoroughly soaked. The acid is
hand-pressed from the cotton, which is
then placed in covered earthern jars,
where it remains twenty-fou hours un-
dergoing chemical transformation. In
view of the fact that much heat is evolved
during the chemical reaction, it is found
necessary to place the jars in pots and
surround them with flowing water, which
serves to keep them cool. The cotton is
now nitrated and is practically gun-cot.
ton, but the acid, still mechanically held,
must be wholly removed or it would be
apt to quicklv .deteriorate and become
extremely dangerous. The charges,
theref1fe, are taken one by one and
plssed in an acid wringer and plunged
into large tub which is kept filled with
running water, in which a large wheel is
rapidly turned in order to subject the
cotton to thorough washing. This lat
ter process is continued till no acid is
perceptible to the taste. 1t is then sub.
jected to still further washing and boil.
ing in an alkaline mixture, this being
necessary to remove every trace of
acid. The cotton is now in long
shreds and balls, which can be
used or stored without danger, the pro.
cess of conversion and cleansing
being completed, but for military
use it must be put into more
compact form. For this purpose the
gun-cotton in charges of 800 pounds is
thrown into pulping tub, where, mixed
with water, it is ground by steel cutters
into fine pulp. The grinding and break
ing up of the cellular tissue Of the cotton
has made it more or less dirty, and it is
necessary, therefore, to expose it to fre-
quent washings in the poaching tubs,
from which, after treating it with lime
water to make the moisture slightly aka
line, it is drawn up into large iron tank,
where it is fed to the molds, which un-
der moderate pressure, press the water
from the pulp and trim out cylinders of
cotton about eight inches high and three
and half inches in diameter. These
cylinders are then placed under hydrau-
lie press and exposed to a pressure of
about 1,700 pounds to the square inch
or bout eight tons on EACH The cylin-
dc fare pressed into hard dakes or disks,
: Ae two inches high and three and
Alf inches in diameter, with a specific
gravity little greater than water. They
are then packed in boxes of fifty pounds
each and kept in magazines for general
use. Gun cotton is, from its great ex-
p!osive power and the conditions OF
safety attached to its storage, superior to
my other known explosive for naval
warfare. e.-Nelo York Times.