, 1888-12-29

HIell NdS Uldlt 10 prove UndU Uno expo
siv9 itself had been submitted to the
previous test.
Perhaps more interest attached to the
next series of trials, in which bellite COM
petpd with dynamite, the object being to
show that While e~Xerting even greater
force than Mr.. NObel'S discovery, the new
Swedish explosive diffuSpd its energy
over u wider Surface-in other words. the
gases generate Il little more slowly.
These successive tests were mule upon as
III. boiler plates and 20 ID. iron rails in
fairly good condition, the charges ranging
from | oZ. to 4 o., being laid upon the
plates, and in the rails-resting on their
sideS-0n the web. In most instances
the charges We're tamped with q handful
of wet mud, but i'll two tests were explod-
Ell without any covering except the usual
wrappers. With regard to these latter,
dynamite must be considered to have had
the best Oft, its quicker action bursting q
small hole through the plate, and also
through the rail web, the competing ex.
plosive merely causing extensive bullying
with prolonged fracture. In all the other
trials, however, belIite produced much the
most damage, the surface injured OF wreck
ed being some 80 per cent greater.
An earlier test, which had tailed, namely,
exploding a bellite cartridge upon the & in.
to in. lid of a deal box filed with the
same, and which resulted in the explosion
OF the contents, was now repeated on a
in. lid successfully, the box being merely
broken to pieces and the cartridges inside
fractured and dispersed the first days
proceedings ending with the explosion of
earth and submarine mines, 3 lbs. of bellite
raising masses of earth to a height certain
ly not less than 100 it. and probably half
us high again, and leaving a hole found
on after measurement to be IL #. in diane.
ter, and nearly as deep to the loose earth.
The submarine explosion was equally effec-
tive.
The second days experiments were
made in the irOnstOne mines at Middles-
borough, owned by MessrS. BOlckOw,
Vaughan & Co., and, in the opinion of the
experts present, were absolutely successful,
the stone being thrown out in large and
easily removable blocks, while the absence
of OtfenS i've gases was particularly re-
marked. In regard to the other claims
advanced for bellite, namely, its hameless
character and security against explosion
by lighting or electricity, no opportunities
were afforded for forming a conclusion,
out the fact that it is carried as ordinary
merchandise in Sweden leaves little room
Cor doubt as to the Sufficiencies of previous
tests in these directions. During the first
days trials a distinct flash was visible
when dynamite was exploded, but not so
when bellite was discharged. The new
explosive is a compound Of nitrate of am
monium with di- or tri-nitrO- benzOle, iu
the proportions of about five of the former
to one of the latter.-The above is from
the Engineer.
Bellite, says Industries, closely resem-
bles roburite and gremite, and consists of
five parts in weight of nitrate of ammonia,
mixed with one part of di- or tri- nitro ben
zole, and is Manufactured either in the
form of a loose powder, yellOwish in color,
or in compressed cartridges and in taste
and smell is similar to the nitrate of
ammonia of commerce.. 1t is claimed for
bellite that it is more powerful than gun
cotton or dynamite cannot be exploded
by shock, pressure, lightning, electricity +,
friction. fire, or indeed under any condi-
tons except by aid of a decorating cap,
and is therefore, perfectly safe; gives off
no offensive gas, as with dynamite and
other nitro-glycerine compounds is entire
Iy fameless when exploded, and can,
therefore, be safely used in coal mines
presents no danger in manufacture even
in tropical climates, and in Arctic cold
requires no thawing is absolutely safe in
transport, and is, i'll fact carried bg the
Swedish railway companies as ordinary
81 II, -1I