The morning call., 1892-03-30

When two tons Of nitro glyeerine explode
near a city an immense amount of damage
results from atmospheric conclusion. a
little more than this quantity of the expio-
siye went into the air at the Pinole Point
works, and we are not surprised to learn
that the effect Of the shock WAS perceptibe
ninety miles distant At Pinole all the
glass in windows was shattered; at Oak
land windows were also smashed, and
houses vibrated southwark as far as San
Jose. Naturally the greatest amount of
damage occurred at the works, but it is
unlikely that the damage comes to $40, 600,
unless the acid making buildings were de-
stroyed. Such a sum would 90 very long
way in providing such buildings as are
needed for the manufacture of dynamite.
AT NobeFs factory in Scotland operations
have been In progress for nearly twenty
years without an explosion at any of the
mixing -houSes. On one occasion a car
fridge hut took fire and six girls were burned
to death. but almost the only explosion was
that OF magazine containing 600 or 700
pounds OF samples. How this occurred can
never be known, for the man who caused it
was killed. He had entered the magazine
to deposit sample of nitro:gycerine and
probably be dropped the little phial of
LIQUID on the wooden floor. An explosion
would follow the breaking OF the
bottle. In mixing nitric and sulphuric
acids with glycerine jet of air is
a thorough circulation of the liquids. and
while the combination into nitro-glycerne
is taking place great amount OF heat is
evolved. Within certain wel-defined limits
OF heat, no danger can arise, and it should
be the duty OF one man TO keep his eyes
fixed constantly on a thermometer hanging
within the receiver. Ii there is any ten
dency In the temperature TO 60 above the
safety limit the mixing should be instantly
stopped, and If necessary the whole of the
contents should be drowned in cool water, a
good supply of which should be at hand
available for instant use. The remainder
Of the process Of mixing the nitro glycerine
with diatomaceous earth or kiesselguhr is
attended with very little danger. and pro-
vided there has been very careful sitting
and grinding of the earth cartridge-flling is
ever so much safer than the handling of
gunpowder. In the interest both Of work
men and Of the public ii is desirable that
high-exploslye works should only be per-
mitted in isolated places at a great distance
from towns. and tina, in planning the works
some control should be exercised by re-
sponsible authorities. Periodical inspec-
tons by United States engineer officers,
could they be arranged. might avert many
q disaster.
The French are rushing to frenzied ex-
IRENE in imposing the death penalty upon
any one using dynamite nefariously to blow
up buildings. When the time comes to act
upon this drastic penalty, juries will refuse
to convict The average Frenchman is too
sentimental on the subject of judicial death
He finds eXtenuatlng circumstances in the
cases of the guilty under the most horrible
circumstances. and the result is that many
who deserve to pass under the guillotine are
sent to penal servitude. Those who have
only succeeded in making big noise inside
building and in smashing a number of
windows are not likely to be sent to execu-
ton. But In the event of any person being
killed by such dastardly crimes the case of
the culprits would come under the ordinary
law applicable to murder, aud therefore n
special enactment Is unnecessary. To re-
quire those who make dynamite to take out
license and to register all sales would be
proper legislation in the direction of eau
ton, and it would also he prudent to
make the possession of this explosive a
crime, unless reasonable explanation ia
Forthcoming. 1t is evident that at present
the Parisians are thoroughly worked up
into fright on the subject OF explosives. and
their threat to lynch any one caught In the
act Of setting off a bomb or cartridge Is con-
eeiyably made in grim earnest. The mis-
fortune is that when an explosion does
occur they very likely will execute the
wrong man. The concierge OF Paris, always