Evening journal., 1892-11-28
ANOTHER NEW PLANT.
Keokuk, Iowa, Powder Works
Bought by the DuPonts.
THE PRINCIPAL POWDER MAKERS.

GoNlMou0Nt "a Aht OANht@H'N 80
partment Comes to Wilmington TO
Negotiate with Il. 1. DUPONT de Me-
mours 4 Co., For smokeiess Powder.
what the Commodore Says.
Deeds conveying the immense powder
works plant, covering over 300 acres, at
Keolxuk, Iowa from Henry r. Dupont,
attorney at law, Wilmington, TO
Eugene Francis, Henry A. Alexis,
Charles and Alfred DUPONT, f. l.. Du-
Pont, DeNemours & Co., were filed with
the County Recorder of that county on
Saturday
The mills were purchased several years
ago by the late General Henry DUPONT
for the company, Of which he was presi-
dent. Two years ago the company was
reorganized and since that time there
have been number of transfers.
Samuel f. DUPONT says that there Is
no particular business significance in the
KeokulS transfer. II is only one of many
made since the generals death and the
company's reol ganization.
The works of the company are being
extended all the time and in few years
Wilmington can boast of the largest
powder-making firm the world has ever
known.
Experiments in smokeless powder are
being made from time to time In a
short while 1t is expected that they will
produce an article which will meet the
| governmental requirements.
Ordinance Departments Sends TO VIII
mington.
Commander Folger, of the United
States Ordnance Department, was in
/ l. co..
the DuPonts in relation TO powder
The improvements effected in smoke
less powder at the Newport torpedo sta
tion have produced some very gratifying
results, and have shown that this M N
product, as Il is called, is believed by the
naval ordnance authorities TO be better
than the French B N. or any other
powder.
Instead Of the square, fiat grains at
first used, the macaroni form has been
adopted. the diameter of the sticks
varying from about one thirty second Of
an inch for the small arms to about two
tenths Of an inch for the 6-inch gun, the
larger sticks being perforated. A year
ago tests had been made only in small
arms. 3.pounders and 6-pounders, and
once in the 4-inch gun; but since then
they have been continued In calibres,
including the 6-inch.
AS TO its stability. Commander T. Il.
Jewell, Inspector Of Ordnance in charge
of the torpedo station, says that portions
, of the substance have been exposed for
hours without changing to temperatures
that would have quickly caused the
) decomposition Of compressed gun cotton
D which is considered most stable eXplO
e sive.
3 Commodore Folger Says 10 shows Marked
superiority.
I Commodore Folger says that, consid
z ering the difference both Of the lengths
of bore and the weights of projectile
this American smokeless powder shows
a marked superiority over foreign pow
ders so far as published results indi
cate, since it yields higher and NOR,
regular velocities, with much lower anC
/, more uniform pressures.
Very soon, therefore, Americans ma,
10 expect smokeless powder to be used il
all navy rapid fire guns, and then b,
q degrees in the larger calibres. All tha
is needed is its manufacture on q larg,
{ scale. But as 10 small arms the Difficult
u ties encountered elsewhere are still
u experienced in our own service
The results for pressure ant
b velocity have been excellent
e but as the powder is in square, fla
a grains, irregularity in loading mus
I. occur, with the flame not always uni
q formly communicated from grain T.
o grain. and a few grains sometimes re
;, naming unconsumed Another objection
is the need of using a small primin
charge of rifle powder TO effect ignition
Il The question OF the primer is important
as experience with the smokeless sport
ing powders shows One powder mad
at the torpedo station burns slowly an
u i uniformly enough, but is not perfectl
n ignited by q percussion cap, Will
Z; another which VIII so ignite is to
y brusque But it is believed that bot
I, the problems of ignition and perfec
IL combustion in a powder admitted, tl
machine loading of the cartridges wi
J; yet be overcome At present the sma
"a macaroni grain with the needed metho
l. of ignition makes machine loading in
n practicable, and the square grail
l. more easily ignited and loaded. from il
3 irregular packing in the cartridge cas-
!. gives irregular results in velocity an
-, "a pressure.