Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1888-10-26
BETTER THAN POWDER.
A Powerful Agent AdIe to tho Long List
of High Explosives.

A Powerful Agent AdIe to tho Long List
of High Explosives.
To the already long list OF so-called
high explosives-of which there are
about thirty-usel in industrial pur-
suits or for war purposes another very
powerful explosive agent has just been
added. AS its -carbo-dynamite
implies, carbon forms part OF its
constitution. 1t should be stated that
in ordinary dynamite soventy-fve per
cent. of nitro-glycerine is absorbed by
twenty-five per cent of kieselguhr, an
earthly mineral specially suitable for
the manufacture Of dynamite on ac-
count Of its absorbent property; but
lSieselguhr has this disadvantage-.th
it is incombustible. In carbo-dyna-
mito ninety parts by weight of nitro
glycerine are taken up by ten parts of
a specially prepared carbon of very
porous nature. AS carbon is COM
bustible IT adds TO the explosive effect
OF the whole mass, and in this respect,
it will be seen, carbo-dynamite is
superior to ordinary dynamite.
But it possesses other advantages,
which were demonstrated at other
trials carried out at Treherbert,
Rhondda valley, South Wales. In the
first experiment an eighty-pound
doublo-headod steel rail, placed on its
side, was smashed through by an ounce
and half of carbo-dynamitc, about
nino inches OF tho rail being blown
clean away. In the next large bowl
der OF hard sandstone, weighing about
two tons, was broken up by two
ounce charge of carbo-dynamite.
Equal charges of quarter ounce Of
carbo-dynamite and ordinary dynamite
were also exploded inside two thick
lead cylinders, of capacity Of four
and three-fourths cubic inches, with
the result that this capacity was ex-
panded to nearly thirty-six cubic |
inches with carbo-dynamite, but to
only twenty-one inches with ordinary |
dynamite. ta q
Similar charges OF the two explosives
were then placed inside two thick steel |
tubes, each one foot long. Tho ordina-
ry dynamite burst its tube we'll, but the |
carbo-dynamite did its work much bet
ter, bending the tube as well as burst
ing it, and sonding it some fifteen yards
from tho point Of explosion.
The last experiment in the open con-
sisted In placing ono ounce each OF
carbo-dynamito and ordinary dynamite
on FIAT steel disks, three inches in di-
ameter and flve-sixteenths of an inch
thick, and supported on rings or col
lars. After the explosion it was found
that the ordinary dynamite had indent-
ed its disk quarter of an inch, while
the carbo-dynamite had caused con-
cavity seven-sixteenths of an inch
deeper than the other, besides driving
its supporting ring deeply into the
ground.
In order to show that in using carbo-
dynamite In underground work no
noxious fumes arise, an experiment
was made in tunnel half milo long
constructing for the Rhondda & Swan
sea Bay railway. When shot had
been fired in the rock at tho heading
Of the tunnel with one pound OF carbo-
dynamite no deleterious fumes could
be detectcd, When, however, subse-
quently, a shot was fired with one
pound of ordinary dynamite, noxious
vapors wore plainly discernible. Car
bo-dynamite. consequently, will enable
miners to pursue their arduous work
without injury to health, and the ad-
vantage claimed for it, that no inju-
rious fumes are generated in its ex-
plosions, seems to be woll established.
As carbo-dynamite is not affected by I
moisture, not exuding or parting with
It's nitro.glycerine whom exposed to !
lamp or water, 1t may safely be mixed
With that liquid In any required pro- '
portion, and thus treated used In fiery I
mines, the large volume OF steam gen. Q
'rated at the moment of explosion, not {
'nly extinguishiug any flame which i
night have been produced, but also {
Idding considerably to the effect OF tho I
hot. It Is further stated that the man
fracture of carbo-dynamite is simple {
md inexpensive, and that its cost to O
he user will not exceed that of ordina- 9
y dynamite. These latter points re- S
nain, of course, to be proved, but from S
shat has been said OF its use and eff d
ect, there can be no doubt that very i
ormidable rival has arisen to ordinary h
ynamite, and that the introduction Of d
in mining or tunneling T
FORK is only a question of tlme.- q
,hdnlbers' Journal. n