The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1885-03-07
How Guncotton is Nj 10.

1t is not generally known that there
is but one place in the United States
where guncolton is manufactured,
but such is the case. This is at the
torpedo station in Newport Harbor.
In the manufacture of guncotton the
best cotton waste and the strongest
and purest nitric and sulphuric acids
are used for the explosive. The cot
ton waste alter it has been hand
picked Tor the purpose OF removing
the dirt and grit, is placed in boiling
tanks, where 1t is allowed to remain
for four hours. 1t is afterward SUBJ
jeeted to a thorough washing and is
reboiled. The operation removes all
oily matter and leaves the cotton
harsh and stiff. 1t is then dried in
the rooms heated with the waste air
from a drying box. After undergo
ing this treatment the Gotten rolls up
into snarls and punches, and in order
that the acid may have freerer ac-
cess to itit is passed through a shred
der and converted into fluffy state.
1t is aiterward exposed in an air
tight box for re 'e a he u $ to tenn
perature OF 200 degrees, which prac-
tically depriyes it OF all moisture.
From the air tight box it is removed
to the dipping room, where there are
iron troughs filled with one part nj
trio acid and two parts OF sulphuric
acid. Into these troughs the cotton
is placed, one bundle at a time, and
allowed TO remain about ten min
utes, long enough for it to be thor
oughly soaked. The acid is hand
pressed from the cotton, which is
then placed in covered earthen jars,
whore it remains twenty-four hours
undergoing chemical transformation.
In view OF the fact that much heat is
evolved during the chemical reac-
tion, 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
nitraied and is practically gun cotton,
but the acid, still mechanically held,
must be wholly removed or il would
be apt to quickly deteriorate and be-
come extremely dangerous. The
charges, the e.ore, are taken one by
one and placed in an acid wringer
and plunged into a large tub which is
kept filled with running water, in
which large wheel is rapidly turned
in order to subject the cotton to a
thorough Washing. This latter pro-
cess is continued TIL no acid is per-
ceptibie 10 the taste. 1t is then SUBJ
jected to still iufther washing and
boiling in an alkaline mixture, this
being necessary to remove every
tlace OF acid. Ihe cotton IS now III
lons slreds and balls. which can be
used or stored without danger, the
processes OF conversion and clean
sing being completed, but for military
use it must b. put into a more com
pact form. For this purpose the gun
cotton in charges OF 800 pounds is
thrown into a pulping tub, where,
mixed with water, it is gfound by
steel cutters iato a fine pulp. The
grinding and breaking up OF the cell
ldlar tissue OF the cotton has made it
more or less dirty, and it is necess-
ary, therefore, 10 expose it to fre-
quent washings in the poaching tubs,
from which, after treating it with
lime water to make the moisture
Hletl H. II II VI a. u UP AAlND
a large iroa tank, where it is fed to
tine molJs. Which under a moderate
pressure, press the water from the
pulp and trim ont cylinders OF cotton
about eight inches high and three
and half inches in diameter. These
cylinders are then placed under a
hydraulic press and exposed to
pressure of about l,70) pounds 10 the
square inch or about eight tons on
each. The cylinders are pressed into
hard dakes or disks, some two inches
high and three and half inches in
diameter, with specific gravity lit
tie greater than water They are
then packed in boxes OF fifty pounds
each and kept in magazines for gem
eral use. Guneotton is, from its
great explosive power and the con-
ditions OF safety attached to its stor-
age, superior to any other known ex-
u, L.. L