Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-09-26
BLOWING UP FLOOD ROCK.
Thousands Of Dynamite G.,t.sA~ea.

BLOWING UP FLOOD ROCK.
Thousands Of Dynamite Cartridges.
THE EXPLOSION SOON TO rAKr p1Acr-How
THE WORK OF PREPARATION Is BEING BONE.
A New York Tribune renor,er ,vsrt a veek
ago to the shabby, rusty old government dock
at Astoria, just opposite Flood Rock. where the
excavations have been going on for ten years
ana drills nave been driven into the solid rock,
preparatory 70 blowing the rock and reef into
The ar or breaking 1t in pieces so that dredge
can deepen the channel. The blasting of Flood
Rock and the reef will do away with one of the
most troublesome impediments to navigation
between new York and the Sound. He'll Gate
mas Deen ougbear to navigation since the time
OF Hendrick Hudson. Before the mine was ex-
Pioded nine years ago. at Hallett's Point, the
West cnannei, between Mill Island and New
~ LOTT was the one most used by vessels, though
W1nding. Since that time the channel between
nr;n"; nEck and Long Island has been the one
PrdhEclpaiIy used: This is also winding and
W Siear away the reef and Flood Rock entirely,
an ease straight channel for vessels out into
hieut. Derby, superintendent Of the work. was
III H.,, nnI wharf, waiting for the steamer A. A.
.ainp4reys to take him OF to the works on the
beard n and Is young man, with sandy hair aud
S ahu Hght blue eyes, Of rather slender
ng9re. but with decided manner Of speaking
anu acting. While waiting for the steamer he
fuses and explosives, which were stored in a
r'v;u9gn,iookfng shanty on the wharf The man
pttaet up handful of coiled fuses with caps
eHSSaCiBu, Ior inspection, after which he threw
he had taken them. A'' VIC 'f''n ''A "Aen'e
my man, said th the Ie9tsnan e a00"' ~ '"''' way
Inc Humphreys had come up by this time,
ana an the Lieutenant and the reporter embarked
III III Eli island coming around to the west
sue OF the island, wherea big scow was moored
o ore Tug went humping into her, Earring grim
n nno 81 pig brass cartridges which were spread
Mele each about foot and a-half long and two
incnes ID diameter. Upon the reporter inquir-
not sei lou w whether slight concussion might
planned that The Explosive e1'' which Hs the
heavy ctncussion. He tested one, by rigging a
pistol aboutf four feet from it, in such way that
he c9uid discharge the latter with string. The
pan from the pistol penetrated the big cartridge
put failed to explode it. This makes it compar-
atively safe tor ordinary handling, though great
= united quantity, about seventy pounds,
handled at q time This explosive, called rack
rock, is comparatively new to science, and has
not been experimental with on large scale.
II is made by combining the chlorate OF potash
OF commerce with di-nitro-benzol Either com
pound is, in itself, entirely harmless, but com
Dlned forms an explosive which is II per cent
more powerful than dynamite. Furthermore,
the cost of the rack-rock IS only 231,, cents per
the work was 43 cents per pound.
Gong ashore from the Humphreys, large
ssiggnooardS on which were painted the words
danger! Nitroglycerine!" met the eye at every
point: This Is not meant for the workmen on
the island, but Is to warn of curious passers-by
me bald faces of the rocks offer tempting sur
races as targets for markSmen with various
KINDS OF weapons, who were injudicious or
id1otic enough actually to shoot at them befo0e
pu gg m spite Of
there was danger of setting off. The scene on
the island is busy one. All Of the rack-rock
on this island, the chlorate of potash being
placed at the north end and the nitro-benzol at
the southern extremity. The latter is yellow
OH, Win the peculiar, somewhat pungent Odor
OF some OF the cheap soaps, being, in fact, the
same substance which is used in the odorizing
OF soap. Inc chiorate Of potash is white
about the center of the island. The CELEBRATE is
sffted Through wire sieve, into metal lined
tank md the oil then poured upon it in the
proper proportion and stirred and mixed until
1t Is about the consistency of the lower grades
OF brown sugar and about the same color,
though OF somewhat brighter tinge.
The process is then complete and man with
big sugar scoop takes the substance out in
portions and distributes it to the men ranged
around the outer wall Of the shanty at q con-
tinuous bench Each OF these is supplied with
brass shells and a pestle or ramrod. Putting
the explosive into shell, the man rams it and
packs IL with an energy calculated to make the
nearer heart thump at each thud when he
considers the deadly character of the substance
ulSd 10 illus uuCcEeuOnlOuSly handled. After
the cartridges are almost filed a smaller brass
case, filed with dynamite in which is inn
6edded stu smaller cartridge, containing
being entirely filed up with the rack rack. the
cartridge is taken to the soldering man to be
sealed sci up. This Is the most hazardous stage of
the Whole process. The rack-rOck eXplodes at q
temperature of $500 F., and. as the ordinary
soldering iron, when heated, is hotter than
that. 1t would be impracticable to this explo-
siye were it not for the discovery of the process
which is employed on the island. The solder
used is an alloy called Wood s.metal, which
melts at temperature of 1902 r. This is
melted by escape steam, which cannot go
above 212oF. This assures the safety of the
operator.
In a smaller cabin, labeled with the one ap-
paliing word, "dynamite,' the smaller cart
ridges referred to are made. The dynamite is
not made on the island, but is carried there in
limited quantities as Is practicable There
have been at times as much as 1000 pounds of
dynamite in store there at one time It was
Kept two feet under water, out of harms way.
facture Of the cartridge, the Humphreys took
the two inspectors over to Flood rock. There
were on board besides the crew and two passen-
gers. about seveAty cartridges, ready to be
placed in the mine. The drilling and excaya-
ton were completed and the putting In of the
present In the mine about 21S, 900 pounds of
explosives. When completed it will contain
the tremendous change OF 100000 pounds of
explosives, representing about 81 100000
The charging of the mine is almost completed.
and the explosion will take place soon after
October /, depending upon the promptness
with which the contractors fill orders When
the explosives are in, every stick will be re-
moved from Flood Rock, and as much of the
island itself as is practicable, though the por-
ton above water forms small proportion of
what will be acted upon by the blast. The ex-
plosion will not be controlled from the shore of
the river, but by an automatic device, placed
with the battery, over the shaft on the island
The instrument will probably be set by Briga-
dier General Newton, chief of the corps OF engi-
neers, United States army. who has had charge
of the work from its beginning; Col. Walter
Mcfarland, senior assistant. and Lieut. Derby.
who has superintended the work for the last
four years. immediately after the blast there
will be four feet less water on the reef than
there is at present. The rock will be broken up
and pulverized SO much, however, that it can
be dredged out, and there is money on hand to
begin this work Immediately after the mine is
fired.
Things Worth Knowing.
From the Ladies' Home Journal
half teaspOOnful OF soda in half O cup of
water will relieve sick headache caused by in
digestion.