The Dillon tribune., 1886-12-31
DILLON, MONTANA, DEC. 81, 1856.
DYNAMITE.
Written for the Dillon TRIBUNE
ARTICLE FOURTH.

ARTICLE FOURTH.
The explosive department Of our factor
is separated from the other works by
ridge Of high ground extending to tn
north and east in the arc Of a circle. Tn
powder works are located on the slope Q
the hill beyond this ridge. Two .ramway
pass over the ridge. The one at the ives
end takes the crude materials over the all
to be converted into powder, the othe
passing through cut at the east end
brings back the finished product for ship
ment. Taking the west tram wav as patti
we pass the ridge ard find ourselves in the
vicinity Of the nitro glycerine works. Two
mixed acids and the glycerinc. Lowe,
down the hill is the nitro.glycerine house
arranged in a succession Of huge steps
down the hill. On the upper floor are the
two mixers-lead-lined wooden tanks in
which the nitro.glycerine is made. In
each are coils Of lead pipe which convey,
during the run, streams Of cold water for
keeping down the temperature. The acid
is drawn into the mixer through the lid,
the exact charge ;eing mixed aad cooled
beforehand in the store house above. The
glycerine for each run is held in a small
tank above the level Of the mixer. The
foreman in charge tas just drawn down a
charge Of acid. He tries its height in the
tank by gauging it with an iron rod. Next
through hole in the lid he lowers q
thermometer about three feet long. This
is luted in place with clay. Then he turns
cock on the outside Of the tank-a slight
kissing noise is heard. Looking through
glass plate in the lid we cen see that the
acid is greatly agitated. A stream Of com.
pressed air carried down by small pipe is
now passing through and disturbing it.
The thermometer which before marked
81 deg. Fair. rises to 62 deg. In few
minutes i. subsidies to 60 deg. and below.
This shows that the mixing is pc, feet.
The cocks controlling the water coils are
now nicely adjusted, and then the cock Of
the glycerine tank is turned SO that slow
heavy stream Of glycerine is run into a
circular groove in the lid and falls in fine
streams into the acid. The temperature
rises slowly but steadily. The foreman
watches his thermometer and also looks
occasionally through the glass plate.
White fumes rise s'ugglishly from the sur.
face of the acid and pass off through a
sewer pipe chimney. The foreman ex.
hibits no anxiety or nervousness unless he
is new hand, but he is watchful and at.
tentive-every faculty is on the alert. II
everything goes right, he makes no change
In his cocks. Ifthe temperature rises toe
rapidly, the glycerine is diminished o,
mere air is turned on. This has a cooling
effect in itself, though its chief office is &c
mix the glycerine with the acids and pre-
vent any local and sudden rise Of tempera
ture. Sometimes there is trouble. Rec
fumes are seen to rise and the temperatur.
goes up rapidly. A man Of nerve ane
great presence Of mind is required to NEE
all the possible emergencies. Toda,
everything works to charm. In littl,
over an hour the run is finished and til,
charge is allowed to stand. The air /.
shut off but the cooling coils are left in full
play. A glass gauge at the side Of tn,
mixer soon begins to show separation o
the contents. The nitro. glycerine, being
little lighter than the acids, rises to the top
When the separation seems to be com
,plete, the acids are drawn off underneath
A glass joint in the large draw pipe show
when the nitro glycerine is coming. Tn
cock is then shut and the oil is run into
washing tank COT taining cold water. tn
adhering acid is taken up aud diluted b.
the water, while the nitro'glycerine settle
to the bottom. The acid water is draw
off and run away and fresh water is added
This is thoroughly agitated with the nitro
glycerine by stream Of compressed al
arranged as in the mixer above. Thi
operation is repeated several times wit
both fresh water and a weak solution Z
soda till blue litmus paper shows that tn
nitro. glyccrine is free from acid. TIL
charge is then run into tank on a seal
and weighed. From this it runs throug
a pair Of oblong filters to clear It Of di,
and the adhering water. These filters ar